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Quantum spin currents in graphene without external magnetic fields pave way for ultra-thin spintronics

Scientists from TU Delft (The Netherlands) have observed quantum spin currents in graphene for the first time without using magnetic fields. These currents are vital for spintronics, a faster and more energy-efficient alternative to electronics. This breakthrough, published in Nature Communications, marks an important step towards technologies like quantum computing and advanced memory devices.

Quantum physicist Talieh Ghiasi has demonstrated the quantum Hall (QSH) effect in graphene for the first time without any external magnetic fields. The QSH effect causes electrons to move along the edges of the graphene without any disruption, with all their spins pointing in the same direction.

“Spin is a quantum mechanical property of electrons, which is like a tiny magnet carried by the electrons, pointing up or down,” Ghiasi explains. “We can leverage the spin of electrons to transfer and process information in so-called spintronics devices. Such circuits hold promise for next-generation technologies, including faster and more energy-efficient electronics, quantum computing, and advanced memory devices.”

A new atomistic route to viscosity—even near the glass transition

We rarely think about how liquids flow—why honey is thick, water is thin or how molten plastic moves through machines. But for scientists and engineers, understanding and predicting the viscosity of materials, especially polymers, is essential.

Viscosity governs how substances deform and flow under stress, which in turn affects how they are processed, how they behave in industrial pipelines, in environmental settings, or in consumer products, and how they respond to changing temperatures.

Traditionally, to calculate the of a liquid or polymer melt based on molecular simulations on computers, people rely on a method called the Green–Kubo formalism. It works by tracking how internal stresses fluctuate and decay over time inside a simulated material at thermodynamic equilibrium.

Google rolls out text-to-image model Imagen 4 for free

Google Imagen 4, which is the company’s state-of-the-art text-to-image model, is rolling out for free, but only on AI Studio.

In a blog post, Google announced the rollout of the new Imagen 4 model, but reminded users that it’s free for a “limited time” only.

Unlike the old text-to-image model, Imagen 4 offers significant improvements and takes the text-to-image generation quality to the next level.

Confirmed — Texas imposes new rules on autonomous vehicles and will require official permits before they can be driven on its roads

A blue-and-white Waymo van rolls up to a stoplight near Austin’s South Congress Avenue, sensors spinning in the sun. In three months, that van –and every other driverless car in Texas– will need a brand-new permission slip taped to its dash. Governor Greg Abbott has signed SB 2807, a bill that for the first time gives the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles gate-keeper power over autonomous vehicles.

Starting September 1, 2025, any company that wants to run a truly driver-free car—robo-taxi, delivery pod, or freight hauler—must first snag a state-issued permit. To qualify, operators have to file a safety and compliance plan that spells out: