Blog
- World’s first superconducting quantum heat engine could help unlock massive quantum computers 21/08/2026 A tiny superconducting engine has successfully converted heat near absolute zero into useful work, demonstrating the first cyclic quantum heat engine of its kind. Future versions could operate autonomously inside quantum computers, potentially eliminating huge numbers of costly, noise-producing microwave cables.
- Controlling the rotation direction of light without complex new materials 20/08/2026 A new pathway has opened for controlling the rotation direction of light simply by changing how molecules are arranged, without having to synthesize complex new materials. Circularly polarized light is a special form of light that travels while rotating like a pinwheel to the left or right. Because different rotation directions can carry different information, it is drawing attention as a key light source for next-generation displays, optical communications and security technologies.
- World-first photonic time crystal opens a new era of light control 13/08/2026 The first all-optical photonic time crystal could unlock ultrafast computers, adaptable communications, and entirely new kinds of lasers.
- New catalyst with 75% less platinum promises to reduce the cost of hydrogen fuel cells 11/08/2026 The high cost of platinum is one of the main barriers to the wider adoption of hydrogen fuel cells. Now, researchers at IMDEA Materials Institute have developed a catalyst that delivers the same performance while using 75% less of this expensive metal. The study, published in Electrochimica Acta, demonstrates a breakthrough made possible by applying controlled mechanical compression to the catalyst. This modifies its atomic-scale structure, enabling it to achieve energy efficiency comparable to that of pure platinum.
- Seven exotic quantum phases predicted in ultracold magnetic atoms, including topological superconductivity 14/07/2026 Strongly interacting quantum particles are key to some of the most fascinating phenomena in modern physics—from magnetism and superconductivity to topological states. Yet the complexity of such systems makes many of their properties difficult to understand even today. A research team from Innsbruck and Turin has now proposed a new theoretical framework for generating and studying these exotic states of matter in ultracold magnetic atoms in a one-dimensional lattice.
- Geometric anti-spring works near absolute zero, suppressing vibrations below 0.185 hertz 09/07/2026 Physicists and instrument makers in Leiden have succeeded in optimizing a spring that almost completely filters out vibrations at temperatures near absolute zero. This breakthrough opens the door to a new generation of highly sensitive experiments. The research is published in the journal Measurement Science and Technology.
- Topological suppression of quantum tunnelling in a lanthanide single-ion molecular magnet 07/07/2026 Quantum coherence can be preserved by exploiting topology, encoding information in global geometric properties that resist local perturbations. These properties depend on the trajectory of quantum operations and curvature in parameter space, offering a topology-based route to fault-tolerant quantum computation. While geometric phase interference (Berry phase) is widely studied to probe a system’s topology, its direct detection in 4f-based molecular magnets—promising qudit platforms—has remained elusive. We present a magneto-spectroscopic μSQUID-EPR approach to resolve tunnel splittings in the Gd-based molecular magnet [160GdPcâ‚‚]â» (Pc = phthalocyanine). By irradiating single crystals with microwaves under transverse magnetic fields, we map the spin (S = 7/2) manifold and observe pronounced oscillations in tunnel splitting—a hallmark of quantum phase interference. These oscillations reveal topological quenching and higher-order anisotropy, underscoring the role of topology in 4f systems and opening pathways toward holonomic quantum computation.
- IBM Debuts World’s First Sub-1 Nanometer Chip Technology 30/06/2026 Built with revolutionary “nanostack” 3D chip architecture, IBM’s sub-1 nm chip to propel semiconductor industry forward for the next decade
- Ultrathin nanotubes reach 1 nanometer, opening path to smaller electronics 10/06/2026 Researchers in Japan have created some of the world's smallest semiconducting nanotubes, structures 100,000 times thinner than a human hair. By growing molybdenum disulfide inside protective tubes of boron nitride, the researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo, produced highly uniform tubes just 1 nanometer wide, a scale at which it's difficult to make stable nanotube structures. The work confirms decades-old theoretical predictions about how these ultrafine materials behave and could also provide a new route toward miniaturized electronic devices.
- Quantum Design Completes Second Acquisition of 2026 09/06/2026 Quantum Design closes acquisition of Qnami, expanding its portfolio serving the quantum technology space.
- Nickelate superconductors share a common electronic fingerprint 09/06/2026 Superconductors, materials that conduct electricity with zero electrical resistance at specific temperature ranges, have proved very promising for the development of quantum computers and other cutting-edge technologies. While most of these materials become superconducting at very low temperatures, others exhibit superconductivity at higher temperatures.