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From layered transition metal oxide to 2D material: Scientists make 2H-NbO₂ discovery

2H-NbO₂—a novel van der Waals oxide synthesized by researchers from Japan—exhibits strongly correlated electronic properties with two-dimensional flexibility. By chemically extracting lithium ions from the layered sheets of LiNbO₂, the researchers transformed a three-dimensional oxide into a two-dimensional material—unlocking unique properties like Mott insulating states and superconductivity. Bridging transition metal oxides and 2D materials, the discovery paves the way for realizing advanced quantum materials in next-generation electronic devices.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have become a cornerstone of next-generation electronic research. These materials—with their layers held together by weak van der Waals (vdW) forces—are celebrated for their unique quantum properties and promising applications in electronics. However, despite significant progress in 2D materials like graphene and , one attractive family of materials called “” or TMOs, remains unexplored for 2D application.

TMOs are a versatile class of materials known for their complex like superconductivity, magnetism, and metal-insulator transitions. But due to their inherently strong ionic bonding, these oxides do not typically form vdW structures and therefore remain absent from 2D materials basically.

Plasma propulsion system could help remove space debris without contact

Space has a trash problem, with defunct satellites, rockets, and smaller broken bits orbiting Earth at high speeds. The amount of space junk is only increasing, raising the risk of collision with active satellites and spacecraft, according to Kazunori Takahashi, associate professor in the Graduate School of Engineering at Tohoku University in Japan. Takahashi may have a solution, though.

“Owing to their uncontrolled motion and velocity exceeding that of bullets, orbiting around Earth pose a serious threat by significant increase in the potential risk of collisions with satellites that support sustainable human activity in space,” Takahashi said.

“Most current space debris removal methods are direct-contact approaches and carry the risk of becoming entangled in the uncontrolled motion of debris. More recent work has focused on using a to decelerate the debris, forcing it out of orbit.”

New MIT Tech Sees Underwater As if the Water Weren’t There

The color-correcting tool called “SeaSplat” shows underwater features in colors that appear more true to life. The ocean is filled with life, yet much of it remains hidden unless observed at very close range. Water acts like a natural veil, bending and scattering light while also dimming it as it

Inexpensive New Liquid Battery Could Replace $10,000 Lithium Systems

Monash scientists designed a fast, safe liquid battery for home solar. The system could outperform expensive lithium-ion options. Engineers have created a new water-based battery designed to make rooftop solar storage in Australian homes safer, more affordable, and more efficient. This next-ge

A New Weapon Against Cancer: Cold Plasma Destroys Hidden Tumor Cells

Cold plasma penetrates deep into tumors and attacks cancer cells. Short-lived molecules were identified as key drivers. Scientists at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), working with colleagues from Greifswald University Hospital and University Medical Centre Rostock, h

Scientists Watch an Atom’s Nucleus Flip in Real Time for the First Time

Researchers at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have observed the magnetic nucleus of an atom flipping between states in real time. Researchers at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have succeeded in observing the magnetic nucleus of a single atom switching between

Decades-Old Quantum Puzzle Solved: Graphene Electrons Violate Fundamental Law of Physics

Electrons in graphene can act like a perfect fluid, defying established physical laws. This finding advances both fundamental science and potential quantum technologies.

For decades, quantum physicists have wrestled with a fundamental question: can electrons flow like a flawless, resistance-free liquid governed by a universal quantum constant? Detecting this unusual state has proven nearly impossible in most materials, since atomic defects, impurities, and structural imperfections disrupt the effect.

Detecting quantum fluids in graphene.

World First: Physicists Created a Time Crystal That We Can Actually See

Physicists have just made a new breakthrough in the enigmatic realm of time crystals.

For the first time, a time crystal has been built that can be directly seen by human eyes, rippling in an array of neon-hued stripes. The material’s construction could open up a whole new world of technological possibilities, including new anti-counterfeiting measures, random number generators, two-dimensional barcodes, and optical devices.

“They can be observed directly under a microscope and even, under special conditions, by the naked eye,” says physicist Hanqing Zhao of the University of Colorado Boulder.

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