A collaboration involving Flatiron Institute quantum physicists identifies one possible barrier to superconductivity in materials called ‘cuprates.’ Removing that barrier could unlock higher-temperature superconductivity.

Transmitting electricity without losing any energy may sound impossible, yet this is precisely the promise of superconductivity. For nearly 40 years, scientists have been working to understand materials that exhibit this remarkable property at relatively high temperatures. Unlocking their secrets could one day help make power grids more efficient, enhance medical technologies, and support the development of quantum computing. 

Among the most promising of these materials are cuprates, a family of copper-based compounds discovered in 1986. The breakthrough was so significant that its discoverers, Bednorz and Müller, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics the following year. Despite decades of research, however, the mechanisms that allow cuprates to become superconducting remain poorly understood. 

 

At the heart of this puzzle lies the pseudogap, a mysterious quantum state whose exact role continues to spark debate. Some scientists believe it helps superconductivity emerge, while others see it as a competing phenomenon. 

 

That question is precisely what a team led by INRS Professor Fabio Boschini, Canada Research Chair in Quantum Materials’ Dynamics and recipient of an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, set out to investigate. In a study published in Nature Physics, the researchers provide new evidence suggesting that the pseudogap and superconductivity compete with one another rather than work together. 

A research team led by Professor Oscar Dahlsten from the Department of Physics at CityUHK, set out to prove a theoretical limitation, only to discover a novel quantum solution. This surprise breakthrough breaks traditional physical constraints and introduces an innovative strategy for harvesting energy from fluctuating sources. The study shows that a distinctive feature of quantum theory, known as the non-unique decomposition of mixed states, can enable deterministic energy harvesting, allowing energy to be transferred from a source to a harvester without a corresponding transfer of entropy.

Researchers at Imperial and Exeter investigated why ultrafast optical switching in indium tin oxide reaches saturation – and identified a distinct high-intensity regime not captured by the conventional two-temperature model

To settle inherent irreversible phase transition and motivate re-dissolution of deposited “dead” MnO₂ without acid and redox mediator addition, we introduced atomic-dispersed Co atoms with high-spin state into layered MnO₂, denoted as Co–MnO₂, via an in situ topological phase transformation strategy, thereby unlocking reversible multi-electron transfer chemistry for superb Zn–Mn batteries. Specifically, atomic-distributed Co atoms within Co–MnO₂ effectively modulate [MnO₆] octahedral symmetry and reduce Co–O bond covalency along with enhanced lattice oxygen activity. Based on this, high-spin Co (t_2g⁴e_g²) greatly mitigates the Jahn–Teller distortion as well as promotes electrolytic MnO₂ deposited onto the cathode surface completely converted from adsorbed Mn²⁺ for inhibited “Mn dendrites”, achieving reversible MnO₂/Mn³⁺ and electrolytic MnO₂/Mn²⁺ reactions with highly thermodynamical favorability. Benefiting from the “two-step, three-electron” mechanism triggered by high-spin Co, Zn//Co–MnO₂ battery delivers an outstanding capacity of 658 mAh g^–1 and ultra-long lifespan over 15,000 cycles. This work reveals the critical role of transition-metal spin state modulation for energy-dense and durable Zn-MnO₂ batteries with reversible multi-electron storage mechanisms.

A long-overlooked particle may explain how matter defeated antimatter to build our universe after the Big Bang

Nitrogen fertilizers are essential for crop production, but much of the nitrogen applied to agricultural soils is lost before plants can use it. These losses not only waste valuable nutrients but also contribute to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists have now discovered that adding manganese to biochar can help soil retain more nitrogen by strengthening a natural microbial process.

Agricultural residues, wood waste, and other discarded plant materials could become valuable resources for cleaner energy and environmental technologies. Yet producing consistently high-performing carbon materials from these renewable resources remains a major challenge. Scientists now highlight a critical reason: the properties of the original biomass can determine how well the final carbon material performs.