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Particles can be measured jointly without bringing them together—an advance for quantum communication and computing

But such measurements are notoriously challenging: the instruments used are themselves governed by , and their interaction with particles can alter the very properties they are meant to observe.

“The field of quantum measurements is still poorly understood because it has received little attention so far. Until now, research has mainly focused on the states of themselves, which feature properties—like entanglement or superposition—that are more directly applicable to areas such as quantum cryptography or ,” explains Alejandro Pozas Kerstjens, Senior Research and Teaching Assistant in the Department of Applied Physics, Physics Section, at the UNIGE Faculty of Science.

Researchers observe time crystal in a spin maser system

Time crystals represent a new phase of matter proposed by Frank Wilczek, the Nobel laureate of Physics in 2004; they can break original time-translation symmetry and create new time oscillations spontaneously.

Recently, a joint research team from the National Time Service Center (NTSC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Jiao Tong University observed a time crystal in a maser system.

The results are published in Communications Physics.

Dual-laser technique lowers Brillouin sensing frequency to 200 MHz

Scientists have developed a dual-laser Brillouin optical correlation-domain reflectometry (BOCDR) system that uses two frequency-modulated lasers. By scanning the relative modulation phase between the pump and reference lasers, the setup measures strain and temperature all along an optical fiber. In a proof-of-concept test on a 13-meter silica fiber, the team recorded Brillouin gain spectra (BGS) at only about 200 MHz—over 50 times lower than the usual 11 GHz band.

The research was published in the Journal of Physics: Photonics on April 25, 2025.

“The dual-laser approach makes BOCDR equipment simpler, more cost-effective, and easier to deploy, giving engineers a practical tool for long-term structural health monitoring, factory process control, and many other sensing tasks,” said senior author Associate Professor Yosuke Mizuno of Yokohama National University.

Physicists at the Large Hadron Collider turned lead into gold—by accident

Medieval alchemists dreamed of transmuting lead into gold. Today, we know that lead and gold are different elements, and no amount of chemistry can turn one into the other.

But our modern knowledge tells us the basic difference between an atom of lead and an atom of gold: the lead atom contains exactly three more . So can we create a gold atom by simply pulling three protons out of a lead atom?

As it turns out, we can. But it’s not easy.

15-Month-Old Babies Can Learn Words for Objects They’ve Never Seen

The study presents new evidence that infants are capable of learning words solely through exposure to language. Human language enables us to learn the meanings of words for things we’ve never directly experienced. We do this effortlessly in everyday conversation, often using context to infer the me

Loss of Genetic Plant Diversity Is Now Visible From Space

A new study combining satellite imagery with genetic analysis reveals that climate and land use changes are driving increased vegetation growth in Europe’s mountain regions, ultimately leading to a decline in the genetic diversity of medicinal plants such as Greek mountain tea. Mountain regions a.

Gravity’s Quantum Secret: “Theory of Everything” Could Unite the Forces of Nature

A bold new quantum theory of gravity may finally bridge the long-standing rift between Einstein’s general relativity and quantum field theory. This potential “Theory of Everything” could answer some of the deepest mysteries in science—from black hole singularities to the origins of the universe—w

Researchers Solve “Impossible” Math Problem After 200 Years

A mathematician has developed an algebraic solution to an equation that was long thought to be unsolvable. A groundbreaking discovery from a UNSW Sydney mathematician may finally offer a solution to one of algebra’s toughest problems: how to solve high-degree polynomial equations. Polynomials