In a single experiment, physicists have measured the ‘excess’ emission of high-energy gamma rays from more than a dozen heavy, unstable atomic nuclei. Mapping the gamma-ray emissions of so many isotopes produced in nuclear fission marks an important step towards a better understanding of one of the key phenomena in modern nuclear physics: the fission process itself.

 Researchers have developed a multi‑objective optimization framework (MO‑DIDC) that handles infeasible solutions in complex distillation process optimization through data‑driven identification and adaptive directed correction. By identifying promising infeasible solutions near Pareto‑optimal designs and correcting their most influential variables, the framework reduces unnecessary exploration of infeasible regions. Demonstrated on a side‑stream double‑column extractive distillation system and a four‑column extractive distillation system, MO‑DIDC achieves optimization time reductions of 35.3 % and 20.8 %, respectively, compared to a widely used genetic algorithm, while delivering superior or comparable process designs.

The “red tide” algal blooms that are becoming more frequent along the Pacific coast produce one of the most potent neurotoxins known: saxitoxin, or STX. The toxin accumulates in shellfish and causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) when consumed.

Researchers have developed a controllable hydrothermal synthesis strategy for spherical cerium oxide (CeO₂) abrasives with tunable particle sizes from 32 to 531 nm while maintaining excellent sphericity and dispersity. Mechanistic studies reveal that CeO₂ formation occurs via nitrateinduced oxidation of Ce³⁺, with subsequent precipitation coupled to acetate decomposition thermodynamically driving the reaction forward. Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) tests show that 343 nm CeO₂ achieves the highest material removal rate (73.7 nm·min⁻¹) with low surface roughness (Ra = 0.31 nm). The hydrothermally synthesized CeO₂ outperforms commercial abrasives in both short and longterm polishing owing to its uniform morphology.

Theoretical physicists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have developed a new method of ordering Feynman integrals. This critical step in the scientific process of making theoretical predictions for high-energy precision measurements has posed a major computational bottleneck until now.

A group of researchers from Beijing Institute of Technology, National Institute of Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy, Beijing Engineering Research Center of Nano-structured Thin Film Solar Cells and Beijing University of Chemical Technology, has developed a coordination-regulated strategy to stabilize wide-bandgap perovskites for efficient perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells. By introducing bis(2-pyridylmethyl) sulfide (2PyS) to regulate the local Pb²⁺ coordination environment, the researchers suppressed defect formation, reduced halide ion migration, and mitigated photoinduced phase segregation. The optimized wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells achieved an efficiency of 22.21% and retained more than 91% of their initial performance after 2000 hours of continuous operation. When integrated with a CIGS bottom cell, the resulting four-terminal perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cell delivered an overall efficiency of 29.71%. This study provides a promising molecular design route toward stable and efficient tandem photovoltaics.

Quantum technologies promise revolutionary advances in computing, sensing, and information processing. However, controlling individual quantum bits (qubits) at the atomic scale remains a major challenge because conventional approaches rely on magnetic fields, which are difficult to confine to a single molecule.

A research team at the Center for Quantum Nanoscience (QNS) led by Director Andreas HEINRICH within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), together with collaborators at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has now demonstrated that the quantum state of an individual magnetic molecule can instead be controlled electrically using a newly identified exchange-mediated mechanism. The study provides a new strategy for electrically controlling molecular quantum systems and could help pave the way toward more scalable quantum technologies.

Scientists have found a way to spot early signs of skin aging, discovering that collagen's hidden internal structure begins to unravel before the fibers themselves break apart.