Researchers at Kanazawa University, in collaboration with Diamond and Carbon Applications (Germany), have developed a buried-growth process for nitrogen–vacancy (NV) centers in diamond using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD). By employing nitrogen-radical selective etching, which simultaneously enhances metal-mask durability through nitridation, the team enabled a continuous etching–growth sequence within a single MPCVD process. Optical measurements confirmed highly aligned NV centers selectively buried in predefined regions. This integrated approach provides a stable and scalable platform for orientation-controlled diamond qubits and future room-temperature quantum technologies.

Heavy metals, an indispensable part of many industries, are serious environmental and public health threats. Detecting these contaminants, which is essential for tackling them effectively, often requires sophisticated equipment and expensive testing procedures. To tackle this, researchers have used five commonly available medicinal plants in India and presented a simple and time-efficient approach to developing highly sensitive, eco-friendly carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), which contain nanosized carbon elements. Other than the optical and sensing features, these CNPs also exhibited biomedical capabilities. 

As heat waves become more frequent, leafy vegetables face rising risks of yield loss, quality decline, and shortened production windows.

Fruit quality is not determined by genetics alone. Water availability, salinity, heat, and cold can all reshape fruit color, sweetness, acidity, aroma, texture, antioxidant activity, and ripening behavior.