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The first direct observation of laser-created isolated hopfions

Over the past few decades, some physicists worldwide have been investigating unusual particle-like magnetic structures known as topological solitons. These structures could potentially be leveraged to develop new cutting-edge technologies, such as new magnetic memory devices and computing systems.

A type of topological solitons that has proven to be difficult to realize experimentally is the hopfion. This is a three-dimensional (3D) structure comprised of closed loops of continuously swirling spin textures, which can resemble linked or knotted vortex strings.

Researchers at South China University of Technology, Nankai University, Forschungszentrum Jülich, South China Normal University, University of Luxembourg, and Uppsala University recently reported the first direct observation of isolated hopfions in a magnetic material, which were created using laser pulses.

Anion swap unlocks sevenfold CO₂ capture in polyionic liquids

A joint research team from Nitto Boseki Co., Ltd. (Nittobo) and Tohoku University has revealed that polyionic liquids (PILs) can achieve high carbon dioxide (CO₂) adsorption when their counter anions are exchanged. This discovery provides a critical new design guideline for the development of high-performance CO2 recovery devices and gas separation membranes.

The research was led by Associate Professor Kouki Oka of the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, with the results published online in Reaction Chemistry & Engineering.

PILs are known for their strong ability to attract CO₂ and for their stability as solid materials. However, conventional anion exchange methods struggle to remove inorganic salts, which are by-products of the manufacturing process. These impurities make it difficult to accurately evaluate the materials’ true performance.

Spiral galaxy’s brilliant heart shines bright in a new picture from NASA’s Webb telescope

A spiral galaxy’s brilliant heart outshines everything within sight in a new picture from NASA’s Webb Space Telescope.

The image released this week depicts the Messier 77 galaxy 45 million light-years away in the Cetus, or whale, constellation. A light year is about 6 trillion miles.

The galaxy’s active nucleus is powered by a supermassive black hole that’s 8 million times more massive than the sun. Surrounding gas is sucked into a tight orbit around the black hole, becoming so hot that it radiates in the extreme. Webb’s mid-infrared instrument captured the stunning details.

A human-inspired pipeline could enhance the training of computer vision models

Over the past few decades, computer scientists have developed increasingly advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can tackle some tasks exceedingly well. These include computer vision models, systems that can rapidly analyze images and categorize them, recognize objects and faces, or make other accurate predictions.

While computer vision systems now perform well on various tasks, they typically process visual information very differently from humans. While humans focus more on the shape and outline of objects, AI systems prioritize texture, such as color variations or repeated visual patterns. This difference may in part explain why AI vision systems remain much more prone to errors than human vision.

Researchers at Osnabrück University and Freie Universität Berlin recently introduced a new approach to train AI models that draws from the development of the human visual system. Their proposed pipeline, dubbed developmental visual diet (DVD), was introduced in a paper published in Nature Machine Intelligence.

Quantum Breakthrough Turns Simple Forces Into Powerful New Interactions

Scientists have created a new way to generate powerful quantum interactions, achieving the first-ever demonstration of quadsqueezing.

This breakthrough makes previously hidden quantum effects visible and usable for advanced technologies.

Oxford scientists demonstrate first-ever quadsqueezing quantum interaction.

Harvard Scientists Reveal Secret Structure Behind How You Smell

The team also found that this layout in the nose aligns with corresponding maps in the olfactory bulb of the brain. This connection offers new clues about how scent signals travel from the nose into the brain.

The findings were published April 28 in Cell.

Scientists have long known how sensory receptors are arranged in the eyes, ears, and skin, and how those arrangements connect to the brain. Smell has been the exception.

Fake Call History Apps Stole Payments From Users After 7.3 Million Play Store Downloads

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered fraudulent apps on the official Google Play Store for Android that falsely claimed to offer access to call histories for any phone number, only to trick users into joining a subscription that provided fake data and incurred financial loss.

The 28 apps have collectively racked up more than 7.3 million downloads, with one of them alone accounting for over 3 million downloads, before they were taken down from the official app storefront. The activity, codenamed CallPhantom by Slovakian cybersecurity company ESET, primarily targeted Android users in India and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

“The offending apps, which we named CallPhantom based on their false claims, purport to provide access to call histories, SMS records, and even WhatsApp call logs for any phone number,” ESET security researcher Lukáš Štefanko said in a report shared with The Hacker News. “To unlock this supposed feature, users are asked to pay — but all they get in return is randomly generated data.”

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