Semiconductor nanolasers are emerging as key components for next-generation optical systems requiring ultra-low power and compact design. Traditional lasers face limitations at the nanoscale, prompting researchers to explore innovative nanolaser architectures. A recent study outlines breakthroughs in photonic crystal nanolasers, deep subwavelength cavities, and Fano lasers. These technologies enable enhanced light confinement and energy efficiency, making them ideal for applications in on-chip communication, neuromorphic computing, and hybrid optical-electronic systems.

Isosbestic behavior is a term used in spectroscopy, or the study of light and electromagnetic spectra, and references the specific wavelength in which the complete absorption of a solution is constant throughout the reaction, leading to a stable rate of absorbance throughout the entirety of the reaction. This type of behavior is typically viewed as an indicator that a chemical reaction has happened and the starting materials (reactants) have changed into the end materials (product) without any intermediates in between. However, researchers have found that this isn’t necessarily the case by using magic size clusters (MSCs) and precursors to reveal a relatively transparent intermediate involved in the reaction. 

Comparing brains to understand how neurons connect and how these connections can vary between species or individuals is one of the great areas of research in neuroscience. Now, a research team from the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) has developed a probabilistic model that allows different complex networks to be aligned at the same time in order to find common patterns. This method, which has been published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, not only substantially improves on current methods, but also represents a revolutionary approach to the problem that will allow us in the near future to align networks of hundreds of thousands of neurons in an effective way, something that cannot be done at present.

Some disposable, electronic cigarettes and vape pods release higher amounts of toxic metals than older e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes, according to a UC Davis study.

A team of physicists has proposed a new method for  producing superheavy elements by using ⁴⁰Ar as the projectile in fusion reactions. This approach not only offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods but also enables the production of key isotopes, such as element 114. Furthermore, it provides a potential route for synthesizing the crucial isotope ²⁸⁶Mc, aiding in the identification of the new element 119.