An international team of researchers, including scientists from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) and the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, for the first time directly observed how angular momentum is transferred and conserved within a crystal lattice. Using intense terahertz laser pulses, the researchers were able to selectively control these processes, which unveiled a surprising effect: during the angular momentum transfer, the direction of rotation reverses – caused by the rotational symmetry of the material. The results, published in Nature Physics (DOI: 10.1038/s41567-026-03274-8), provide new insights into the foundation of magnetism and open up possibilities for tailored control of quantum materials.

A new method for measuring incredibly miniscule amounts of energy – less than a trillionth of a billionth of a joule – could give quantum computing and the hunt for dark matter a boost, while paving the way for counting individual photons.

Researchers developed a technique to detect and measure the strength of a phenomenon called Josephson harmonics, which can cause a quantum circuit to perform differently than expected, increasing the error in computations. Their method could be used to design quantum circuits that can compensate for this effect.

Researchers at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics have developed an interface-anchoring strategy for solar thermal storage. By continuously circulating photothermal core-shell phase-change particles, the approach keeps the phase-change front anchored at the irradiated surface and suppresses the thermally resistive liquid layer that limits conventional diffusion-limited systems. Under concentrated solar irradiation, this strategy achieves a solar thermal storage efficiency of 49.7%, a 26-fold improvement over the conventional 1.9%. Published in Science Bulletin, the work opens a viable pathway toward continuous, high-temperature solar thermal energy storage.

Recently, Prof. Haiwen Liu’s group systematically studied novel superconducting phases in Ising superconductors. Based on the Lawrence–Doniach model, They showed that bulk layered Ising superconductors can develop a finite-momentum pairing configuration under in-plane magnetic fields, and developed a quantitative method to compute the Josephson vortex lattice melting line. The work clarifies the impact of orbital effects shape the high-field phase diagram and provides a theoretical basis for understanding vortex phase transition.

Metabolism-inspired hydrogels are redefining how soft materials function. Researchers have designed copolymer networks that enable hydrogels to mimic biological processes, such as self-oscillation and light-to-chemical energy conversion. By integrating multiple components step by step, these systems move beyond simple responses to achieve coordinated, life-like behavior. This approach marks a shift toward advanced bio-inspired systems, where polymer networks actively drive energy conversion and function, opening new possibilities for smart materials and sustainable technologies.

Hyper performing Laser emission technology based on OLED–liquid crystal platforms achieving tens-fold enhanced color purity over OLEDs and continuous wavelength tuning over 135 nm at 1.5 V operation.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a water-based nanotechnology formulation that improves how agricultural pesticides adhere to plant leaves, reducing chemical waste and environmental runoff while increasing effectiveness in wind and rain.