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Electric control of ions and water enables switchable molecular stickiness on surfaces

What if a surface could instantly switch from sticky to slippery at the push of a button? By using electricity to control how ions and water structure at the solid liquid interface of self-assembled monolayers of aromatic molecules, researchers at National Taiwan University have created a molecular-scale adhesion switch that turns attraction on and off.

Why do some surfaces stick together while others repel each other? At scales far too small to see with the bare eye, this question is controlled by a complex interplay of intermolecular forces that arise when charged particles, called ions, and water organize themselves at the boundary between a solid and a liquid.

Understanding and controlling this behavior is essential for technologies ranging from lubricants and coatings to sensors and electronics.

Superconductivity for addressing global challenges

High‑energy physics has always been one of the main drivers of progress in superconducting science and technology. None of the flagship accelerators that have shaped modern particle physics could have succeeded without large‑scale superconducting systems. CERN continues to lead the efforts in this field. Its next accelerator, the High‑Luminosity LHC, relies on high-grade superconductors that were not available in industry before they were developed for high-energy physics. Tomorrow’s colliders will require a new generation of high‑temperature superconductors (HTS) to be able to realise their research potential with improved energy efficiency and long‑term sustainability.

Beyond the physics field, next‑generation superconductors have the potential to reshape key technological sectors. Their ability to transmit electricity without resistance, generate intense magnetic fields and operate efficiently at high temperatures makes them suitable for applications in fields as diverse as healthcare, mobility, computing, novel fusion reactors, zero‑emission transport and quantum technologies. This wide range of applications shows that advances driven by fundamental physics can generate broad societal impact far beyond the laboratory.

The Catalysing Impact – Superconductivity for Global Challenges event seeks to accelerate the transition from science to societal applications. By bringing together top-level researchers, industry leaders, policymakers and investors, the event provides a structured meeting point for technical expertise and strategic financing. Its purpose is not simply to present progress but to build bridges across sectors, disciplines and funding landscapes in order to move superconducting technologies from early demonstrations to impactful applications.

Historic Physics Breakthrough as Scientists Catch Dark Matter Behaving in Real Time | Highlights

The universe is mostly invisible. Dark matter, the mysterious substance making up 85% of cosmic mass, has been detected through a stunning gamma-ray signal. Join us as we break down the research by a University of Tokyo astrophysicist who believes he has caught WIMP particles destroying each other a finding that redefines our place in the cosmos.

#universe #space #darkmatter #wion.

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Entanglement-enhanced optical lattice clock achieves unprecedented precision

Optical lattice clocks are devices that measure the passing of time via the frequency of light that is absorbed or emitted by laser-cooled atoms trapped in a repeating pattern of light interference known as optical lattice.

These clocks are significantly more precise than classical clocks and could pick up subtle physical phenomena. They could also be used to test the predictions of various physics theories and could help to improve the performance of existing timekeeping, sensing and communication systems.

Researchers at JILA National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado recently introduced a new strontium atom-based optical lattice clock that achieved unprecedented precision.

Physicists Discover Brand-New Isotopes of Heavy Rare-Earth Elements

Never-before-seen ratios of particles making up atomic nuclei have emerged in a landmark experiment involving the fragmentation of heavy elements.

By breaking apart the nuclei of platinum, physicists led by Oleg Tarasov of Michigan State University have discovered new isotopes of rare-Earth elements thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium. It’s an achievement that scientists believe will help them understand the properties of neutron-rich nuclei and the processes that forge new elements in the collision of neutron stars.

The work, the researchers say, also demonstrates the power of Michigan State University’s recently completed Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), which conducted its first experiment in June 2022.

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