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Proximity effect enables non-ferroelectric materials to gain new properties

Ferroelectrics are special materials with polarized positive and negative charges—like a magnet has north and south poles—that can be reversed when external electricity is applied. The materials will remain in these reversed states until more power is applied, making them useful for data storage and wireless communication applications.

Now, turning a non-ferroelectric material into one may be possible simply by stacking it with another ferroelectric material, according to a team led by scientists from Penn State who demonstrated the phenomenon, called proximity ferroelectricity.

The discovery offers a new way to make without modifying their chemical formulation, which commonly degrades several useful properties. This has implications for next-generation processors, optoelectronics and quantum computing, the scientists said. The researchers published their findings in the journal Nature.

Simulations of supercooled liquid molecular dynamics may lead to higher-quality glass production at lower cost

Glass might seem to be an ordinary material we encounter every day, but the physics at play inside are actually quite complex and still not completely understood by scientists. Some panes of glass, such as the stained-glass windows in many medieval buildings, have remained rigid for centuries, as their constituent molecules are perpetually frozen in a state of disorder.

Similarly, supercooled liquids are not quite solid, in the sense that their fundamental particles do not stick to a lattice pattern with , but they are also not ordinary liquids, because the particles also lack the energy to move freely. More research is required to reveal the physics of these complex systems.

In a study published in Nature Materials, researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo have used advanced computer simulations to model the behavior of in a glassy supercooled liquid. Their approach was based on the concept of the Arrhenius activation energy, which is the a process must overcome to proceed.

New Quantum Particle Discovery Set to Revolutionize Physics

Scientists at Brown University have discovered a new class of quantum particles known as fractional excitons, which exhibit both fermion and boson characteristics.

This groundbreaking finding could pave the way for new phases of matter and enhance quantum computing by providing unique ways to manipulate quantum states.

Novel Quantum Particles Discovered

Tiny Chips promise Swift Disease Diagnosis from a Single Breath

In a world grappling with a multitude of health threats—ranging from fast-spreading viruses to chronic diseases and drug-resistant bacteria—the need for quick, reliable, and easy-to-use home diagnostic tests has never been greater. Imagine a future where these tests can be done anywhere, by anyone, using a device as small and portable as your smartwatch. To do that, you need microchips capable of detecting miniscule concentrations of viruses or bacteria in the air.

A new computational model can predict antibody structures more accurately

Using this model, researchers may be able to identify antibody drugs that can target a variety of infectious diseases.

MIT researchers have developed a computational technique that allows large language models to predict antibody structures more accurately. Their work could enable researchers to sift through millions of possible antibodies to identify those that could be used to treat SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases.

Check out the full article here: https://www.wevolver.com/article/a-new-computational-model-c…accurately.

Ultrathin conductor surpasses copper for more energy-efficient nanoelectronics

As computer chips continue to get smaller and more complex, the ultrathin metallic wires that carry electrical signals within these chips have become a weak link. Standard metal wires get worse at conducting electricity as they get thinner, ultimately limiting the size, efficiency, and performance of nanoscale electronics.

In a paper published in Science, Stanford researchers show that niobium phosphide can conduct electricity better than copper in films that are only a few atoms thick. Moreover, these films can be created and deposited at sufficiently low temperatures to be compatible with modern computer chip fabrication. Their work could help make future electronics more powerful and more energy efficient.

“We are breaking a fundamental bottleneck of traditional materials like copper,” said Asir Intisar Khan, who received his doctorate from Stanford and is now a visiting postdoctoral scholar and first author on the paper.

Smarter memory: Researchers introduce next-generation RAM with reduced energy consumption

Numerous memory types for computing devices have emerged in recent years, aiming to overcome the limitations imposed by traditional random access memory (RAM). Magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM) is one such memory type which offers several advantages over conventional RAM, including its non-volatility, high speed, increased storage capacity and enhanced endurance.

Although remarkable improvements have been made to MRAM devices, reducing energy consumption during data writing remains a critical challenge.

A study published in Advanced Science by researchers from Osaka University proposes a new technology for MRAM devices with lower-energy data writing. The proposed technology enables an -based writing scheme with reduced energy consumption compared to the present current-based approach, potentially providing an alternative to traditional RAM.