In a recent study, researchers share their novel work on coupling free electrons with nonlinear optical states investigate, leveraging microcomb generation in photonic chip-based, high-quality-factor microresonators. They also highlight other technologies, including attosecond electron microscopy via free-electron homodyne detection, probing polariton wavepackets with free-electron resonant interferometry, generation and characterization of chiral electron coils, and ultrafast Kapitza-Dirac effect.

Land use is at the heart of the many emergencies facing our world today: climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice and food insecurity. These – exacerbated by unsustainable practices such as industrial agriculture – combine to create simultaneous and interconnected crises. To overcome these challenges, large parts of the Earth's surface must meet several demands at the same time – from species conservation and food production to human well-being. This is where multifunctional landscapes come in, because they can meet many ecological, social and economic goals at once. Researchers at the Universities of Göttingen and Kassel have evaluated how using land in such ways can support nature conservation and ecosystem restoration. Their review article shows ways to redesign land use and nature conservation using integrated approaches. This was published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity.

The University of Copenhagen today launches a new AI Package aimed at helping Denmark and Europe harness the potential of artificial intelligence in a responsible and sustainable way — for the benefit of many.

The era of AI requires new educational taxonomies that prepare AI natives for personal and professional success. In a new breakthrough, a researcher from the Educational University of Hong Kong has proposed, in TAO, the novel SCALE taxonomy that integrates scientific literacy, computational thinking, AI literacy, learning to learn/metacognition, and engineering and design thinking. It equips AI natives to engage in meaningful experiences and promotes “authentic learning through creating” in the age of AI.

This study evaluates virtual 3D scanned prosections in gross anatomy education. Twenty-nine medical students were divided into physical or virtual teaching groups. Both groups showed significant post-test score improvements, with no significant difference between them. While students found 3D scans effective for learning and exam preparation, they preferred dissection for lab experience. Results indicate virtual 3D scans are a valuable supplementary tool but not a replacement for traditional dissection in medical education. 

Researchers have developed a photonic transformer chip that runs on optical interference instead of electronic multiplication. The chip introduces a novel Kramers-Kronig attention mechanism, eliminating the need for SoftMax activation and supporting fully dynamic inputs. It achieves 94% accuracy on MNIST, with potential throughput exceeding 200 POPS and energy efficiency over 500 TOPS/W—ushering in a new paradigm for energy-efficient, high-speed AI.