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Scientists develop new technique for capturing ultra-intense laser pulses in a single shot

Scientists at the University of Oxford have unveiled a pioneering method for capturing the full structure of ultra-intense laser pulses in a single measurement. The breakthrough, published in close collaboration with Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich and the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, could revolutionize our ability to control light-matter interactions.

This would have transformative applications in many areas, including research into new forms of physics and realizing the extreme intensities required for fusion energy research. The results have been published in Nature Photonics.

Ultra-intense lasers can accelerate electrons to near-light speeds within a single oscillation (or ‘wave cycle’) of the , making them a powerful tool for studying extreme physics. However, their rapid fluctuations and complex structure make real-time measurements of their properties challenging.

New passivation strategy improves scalability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells

Solar cells, devices that can convert sunlight into electrical energy, are becoming increasingly widespread, with many households and industries worldwide now relying on them as a source of electricity. While crystalline silicon-based photovoltaics and other widely available solar cells perform relatively well, manufacturing them can be expensive, and they do not perform well in low-light or other unfavorable conditions.

UChicago scientists invent breakthrough device to detect airborne signs of disease

If you’ve ever sat waiting at the doctor’s office to give a blood sample, you might have wished there was a way to find the same information without needles.

But for all the medical breakthroughs of the 20th century, the best way to detect molecules has remained through liquids, such as blood. New research from the University of Chicago, however, could someday put a pause on pinpricks. A group of scientists announced they have created a small, portable device that can collect and detect airborne molecules—a breakthrough that holds promise for many areas of medicine and public health.

The researchers envision the device, nicknamed ABLE, could detect airborne viruses or bacteria in hospital or public spaces, improve neonatal care or allow people with diabetes to read glucose levels from their breath. The entire device is just four by eight inches across.

Portable tech captures molecules in breath to aid medical care from diabetes to at-risk newborn development.

“Robots Can Feel Now”: New Color-Changing Skins Let Machines React Instantly Without Wires, Screens, or Human Input

IN A NUTSHELL 🐙 Researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have developed synthetic skins that mimic the color-changing abilities of marine creatures. ⚙️ These innovative skins utilize autonomous materials that respond to environmental stimuli without the need for traditional electronics. 📱 Potential applications include wearable devices and soft robotics, offering flexibility and adaptability in various

Single-molecule magnet could lead to stamp-sized hard drives capable of storing 100 times more data

Chemists from The University of Manchester and The Australian National University (ANU) have engineered a new type of molecule that can store information at temperatures as cold as the dark side of the moon at night, with major implications for the future of data storage technologies.

Groundbreaking project to make artificial human DNA begins

In a groundbreaking development, scientists have started working on the building blocks of human life from scratch.

The project, dubbed the Synthetic Human Genome Project, is being funded by London-based Wellcome Trust, the World’s largest medical charity, with an initial investment of £10 million (approximately $12.7 million).

The research has been largely considered taboo due to fears that it could lead to designer babies or unintended consequences for future generations.

(That’s not my taboo. Creating Synthetic DNA can lead to the creation of synthetic humans. It can be useful in stopping wildlife extinction, but we don’t know the implications of what happens when we do. TheThe BBC also reported on this. Link in comments)

Work has started on a groundbreaking, yet contentious, project to create artificial human DNA from scratch, marking a potential world first.

Quantum simulation of chemical dynamics achieved for the first time

Researchers at the University of Sydney have successfully performed a quantum simulation of chemical dynamics with real molecules for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the application of quantum computing to chemistry and medicine.

Understanding in real time how atoms interact to form new compounds or interact with light has long been expected as a potential application of quantum technology. Now, quantum chemist Professor Ivan Kassal and Physics Horizon Fellow Dr Tingrei Tan, have shown it is possible using a quantum machine at the University of Sydney.

The innovative work leverages a novel, highly resource-efficient encoding scheme implemented on a trapped-ion quantum computer in the University of Sydney Nanoscience Hub, with implications that could help transform medicine, energy and materials science.

University of Sydney scientists have made a big step towards future design of treatments for skin cancer or improved sunscreen by modelling photoactive chemical dynamics with a quantum computer.

New technique tracks blood sugar with light

Diabetes is a very prevalent disease that, unfortunately, still has no treatment. People with diabetes need to monitor their blood glucose levels (BGLs) regularly and administer insulin to keep them in check. In almost all cases, BGL measurements involve drawing blood from a fingertip through a finger prick. Since this procedure is painful, less invasive alternatives that leverage modern electronics are being actively researched worldwide.