Photreon, a start-up project at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), aims to boost the hydrogen economy with mass-produced photoreactor panels that require no electrolyzers, consume no electricity, and do not need a grid connection. With the panels, hydrogen can be produced cost-effectively in a scalable manner from sunlight and water – suitable for both distributed applications and large-scale systems in sunny regions. During the Hannover Messe, April 20–24, 2026, photreon will be presenting at the KIT booth (Hall 11, Booth B06).

Conventional spontaneous Raman spectroscopy of interfacial molecules typically requires plasmonic or electronic enhancement, limiting accessible systems. A nonlinear coherent Raman method now enables direct, high sensitivity detection without such requirements. A time-frequency engineered optical design suppressed strong substrate background signals by four orders of magnitude, allowing Raman detection of ångström scale ultrathin interfacial molecular layers. This method opens new opportunities for real-time operando observations in electrochemistry, catalysis, adhesion, and molecular devices.

Two-year collaboration with CQT to develop and implement novel quantum algorithms for molecular discovery

Partnership will use Quantinuum H2 and Helios quantum computers to test key quantum chemistry algorithms

First successful implementation results released

A systematic approach to physically synthesized data generation and its application is proposed for automatic visual inspection of aerospace alloys with complex geometries. Furthermore, the underlying reason why this approach significantly improves defect segmentation accuracy is revealed.

Professor Patrizio Antici of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has been awarded the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Award, a prestigious distinction conferred by the Fondation Alexander von Humboldt. 

Each year, the award is presented to approximately twenty internationally renowned researchers in recognition of exceptional scientific achievements and demonstrated leadership in their field. 

A specialist in applied photonics, Professor Antici is distinguished for his cutting‑edge research in laser and plasma physics, particularly in light–matter interactions and laser‑driven particle acceleration, including relativistic laser–plasma interactions and laser‑driven ion acceleration. 

Researchers from QST, The University of Tokyo, and Kyushu University have developed biocompatible molecular quantum nanosensors (MoQNs) that function inside living cells. These sensors enable precise, absolute temperature measurements at subcellular resolution and detect radical-related spin signals in both cytoplasm and nucleus. By using molecular spin qubits in nanocrystals, MoQNs overcome limitations of existing sensors, offering improved uniformity, stability, and biocompatibility, opening new possibilities for intracellular thermometry and biochemical sensing. 

Scripps Research chemist Jin-Quan Yu has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), one of the highest honors a scientist can achieve.

Rice researchers University engineered a new version of a well-known multiferroic that exhibits orders of magnitude higher performance at room temperature than its parent material.