Plasmonics promises photonic devices far smaller than the diffraction limit, but optical losses have long limited real applications. Scientists in China and the United States now show that potassium can serve as an ultralow-loss plasmonic metal. Using an ultrafast slipping-assisted oxide-free crystallization process, they made smooth potassium films with a damping rate of 2.27 meV and demonstrated deep subwavelength light confinement, opening a path to next-generation nanophotonic devices.

Controlled rotation of single cells is essential for three-dimensional imaging and mechanobiology studies. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed an opto-thermo-osmotic platform that enables programmable rotation of both spherical particles and living cells along arbitrary axes. By dynamically reconfiguring laser patterns, the system achieves real-time switching between major-axis and minor-axis rotation modes, providing a versatile tool for label-free cellular imaging and manipulation.

A steady “snowfall” of tiny particles carries carbon, nutrients and pollution from the ocean’s surface toward the deep sea. Scientists can see those particles sinking, but determining exactly what they contain is much harder. University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Research Professor Melissa Omand is turning to artificial intelligence to help solve that problem. The National Science Foundation awarded nearly $700,000 to the team for the three-year project, which is scheduled to begin in January 2027 and run through December 2029.

Researchers have developed a thin-film lithium niobate integrated photonic receiver for dual-band radar, integrating electro-optic modulation and microwave demultiplexing on a single chip. Published in PhotoniX Synergy, the work combines integrated dual-band signal processing with coherent fusion to enable a 12-GHz equivalent bandwidth and a 1.27-cm ranging resolution, providing a highly integrated pathway toward microwave photonic radar systems.

What if checking medication levels were as simple as enjoying a lollipop? A candy-coated device, called Lollylab, could provide the answer. In ACS Sensors, researchers describe how the lollipop’s stem transfers saliva to a sensor that measures acetaminophen levels. In an initial test, a peach-flavored prototype reliably detected the pain reliever in six people’s saliva in less than two minutes. Participants also found it more comfortable and easier to use than traditional collection swabs.

Evidence for hypernovae, theorised to be the most powerful explosions in the Universe, has been disputed in two papers by University College London (UCL) researchers.

Maria (Masha) Kamenetska draws on chemistry, physics, and engineering to study molecules and drive advances in imaging, sensing, and quantum technology

Researchers have demonstrated a technique that uses a laser to produce a plasma beam antenna capable of transmitting radio waves.

Even the most chaotic quantum systems keep a permanent mark of their own past – a "quantum birthmark" – that never fades. Researchers from Tampere University, Harvard University, and TU Dresden discovered the feature in their recent study. These findings shed new light on the elusive relationship between classical and quantum mechanics. Looking ahead, these quantum birthmarks, along with related phenomenon known as "scars," could eventually be harnessed to power next-generation nanoelectronics.