A new study suggests that countries with stronger commitments to protect the natural environment—regardless of national oil dependence or other economic interests—are more likely to see the establishment of counter climate change groups that aim to obstruct climate change action. Jared Furuta and Patricia Bromley of Stanford University, U.S., present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One on January 22, 2025.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia, the University of Washington, and Johns Hopkins University have identified a new class of quantum states in a custom-engineered graphene structure. Published today in Nature, the study reports the discovery of topological electronic crystals in twisted bilayer–trilayer graphene, a system created by introducing a precise rotational twist between stacked two-dimensional materials.

 ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, has named 55 Fellows for transformative contributions to computing science and technology.

AMHERST, Mass. — Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have quantified the impacts of a constellation of social factors on the spread of HIV. Their study, published in Health Care Management Science, found that a hypothetical 100% effective intervention addressing barriers to HIV treatment and care from depression, homelessness, individual and neighborhood poverty, education disparities, lack of insurance and unemployment could reduce the national HIV incidence by 29% over 10 years. The mathematical model, a novel integration of machine learning, probability theory and simulation, is positioned to be an important tool for decision-makers to optimize social programs and will have applications for other diseases. 

Lafayette, Indiana-based Quantum Research Sciences has received a Phase I SBIR contract from the Defense Logistics Agency. QRS will leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum computing technologies to create the Product Obsolescence Prediction tool. This tool will enhance the DLA’s supply chain management capabilities and reduce the challenges associated with obsolescence.

The new Emmy Noether junior research group “Quantum Network Nodes” was launched at the beginning of the year. It focuses on research in the fields of quantum computing and quantum communication and is headed by physicist Dr. Stephan Welte, who has acquired funding of 1.9 million euros for the project.