Today's Tech News: Notable or Not?

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-solution-enables-unprecedented.html "taming heat diffusion's chaotic process difficult since spreads via diffusion rather than wave... overcame using: nonuniform micro-composites forcing heat to flow differently depending on direction it enters, mapping/ predicting via math model how heat will flow, enabling heat steering ability... thermal shields steering heat away from sensitive components, efficient waste heat routing toward conversion systems turn it back into electricity, temperature management where standard insulation or cooling isn't enough"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1112850 "no bulky, vibration-sensitive external lasers limiting quantum hardware growth... laser cooling has temperature floor (Doppler limit) leaving ions with too much vibrational energy, overcome using polarization-gradient cooling on-chip, utilizing interaction of 2 differently polarized light beams creating light vortex that stops ion vibration more effectively... chip has 1,000s ion-trapping sites, cooling levels 10X below Doppler limit reached in 100 ms, antennas/ waveguides emit/ route light creating stable optics"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-thick-electrode-battery-power-capacity.html "lithium ions must travel further through dense/ messy pore network, causing sharp power drop during short acceleration burst... overcome using parallel channel AI/ neural network optimization: (1) macro-pores: ion flow along large gaps between particles, (2) micro-pores created by conductive additives/ binders slowing/ trapping ions tuned to not hinder overall flow of both... output rate under short burst 2C discharge rate: 1.71 (was 0.98) mAh/cm²... 10 mAh/cm² capacity (unchanged)... high-nickel, LFP"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1112196 "microscopic vibrations that travel across material's top layer, in smartphones concentrated photon beam converts RF into vibrations filtering out signal noise before converting back into RF... now, concentrated phonon (acoustic) wave instead... piezoelectric stack of silicon/ lithium niobate, and indium gallium arsenide... electric current accelerates electrons which interact with lithium niobate vibrations bouncing between reflectors, gaining strength forming wave... battery powered single chip, 1 GHz scalable to 100s"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-atomic-surface-boosts-brightness-eco.html "indium phosphide magic-sized clusters are so small even single atomic surface defect causes almost total light loss, overcome using precision atomic etching strategy utilizing incremental chemical reactions removing only specific defects leaving core structure intact (previously etching often caused damaged)... fluorine reacts with zinc forming protective layer (passivation) sealing surface... 18.1 (was <1) % luminescence efficiency... also: quantum communication, IR sensing for advanced electronics"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-graphene-derived-material-generation-electronics.html "trade-off between ink concentration/ flow, used polymer binders/ surfactants to prevent clumping but  dead weight ingredients reduce final product's electrical/ thermal conductivity... overcome using 3D blocks of loosely packed layers rather than flat sheets, preventing interlocking into gel stopping irreversible stacking... remain printable at 100–200 (instead of only a few) mg/mL without any binders... high-resolution screen printing on flexible surfaces: circuits/ interdigitated patterns, electrothermal Heaters"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-scientists-qubit-quantum-register-silicon.html "scalable (uses silicon/ existing fiber optics), up to 100 ms coherence (substantial duration for spin-based qubits)... electrically charged atoms fired into silicon creating initial defect sites, rapid thermal annealing,  lithographic patterning adds optical waveguide/ metal traces for spin control... multi-qubit nodes store/ process information locally before transmitting... generated entanglement/ performed controlled-NOT gates... future: improving readout efficiency/ narrowing optical linewidths, repeaters for quantum data"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-standalone-chip-external-magnets-future.html "100×150 square μm samarium cobalt micromagnets/ magnetic flux concentrators on chip (no bulky external magnets), existing electronics fabrication (silicon-compatible)... magnetic field tunable (11 to 20.5 mT) adjusting distance between magnets/ concentrators, enabling 3 to 8 GHz adjustment, phase shift tuned up to 120° at 6 GHz, stable up to 200°C... future: integrate with Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems making real-time reconfigurable revolutionizing consumer/ automotive sensors, medical diagnostics"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-scientists-qubit-quantum-register-silicon.html "15% success rate per attempt (previously not possible) using quantum dot (artificial atom) embedded waveguide acting as mediator separating fast/ slow dynamics suppressing single-photon transitions... sculpts/ correlates incoming photons' frequencies creating qudits... scalable since: entangles photons without needing to filter afterward/ uses existing fiber-optics... unhackable even against future quantum computers... future: move from theory to functional on-chip photonic platform"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-valve-quantum-chiral-fermions-geometry.html "chiral fermionic valve spatially separating quantum particles of opposite chirality using quantum geometry alone, combining materials with exceptional topological quality/ transport attributes at mesoscopic quantum limit... electric current applied to palladium-gallium hosting multifold fermions generates chirality-dependent velocities controlling fermionic chirality; separated chiral currents remain phase coherent over >15 µm... information encoded/ processed using quantum states' handedness"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1112270 "problems: >80% OLED generated light lost as heat getting trapped/ reflected/ absorbed within ultrathin organic layers, solutions bulky and ruin thin/ flat structure... optimizes light extraction for the actual, finite size of individual display pixels, thin as existing microlens but with efficiency of larger hemispherical lenses... reduced optical interference between neighboring pixels, brighter displays using same power, reduced heat = longer lifespan... also compatible: flexible displays, perovskites, quantum dots"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-discovery-reveals-silica-hidden-potential.html "silica (glass) ensures light follows single, clean path through each nanopillar... less aggressive bending light, so devices more forgiving of physical imperfections/ fabrication errors... stable response across many light wavelengths without need for complex engineering... scalable: compatible with standard deep-UV chip-making lithography, cheaper than electron-beam lithography... silica can handle high-powered lasers that would damage other materials... reduces camera, sensor, microscope production costs"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-image-robots.html "avoids heavy mapping/ LiDAR... interconnects: Vision-Language Model identifying open floors vs. walls/ gaps from photo, Diffusion-based Trajectory Generation denoising/ refining rough guess into smooth, safe path toward goal... 90 ms navigation data processing real-time on robot's internal processor... requires only few robot-specific examples to learn robot/ drone platform's unique motion style... warehouse/ industrial logistics, monitoring crops/ inspecting infrastructure autonomously... future: swarm" Related: Why 5G alone may not be enough for tomorrow’s factories https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1112484

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-ultra-small-high-electronics-grown.html "overcomes contact resistance (lengthy charge transfer) potentially enabling 1nm node transistors (20nm charge transfer length)... grow crystalline semimetallic antimony contacts in vacuum, atoms arranged in specific, high-quality crystal orientation, 13nm transfer length, resistance where materials meet down to 18nm (was 60) beyond which degradation starts, meeting 1nm node requirements... 100X larger/ crystalline... future: p-type tungsten diselenide contacts enabling complete integrated circuits, scale"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-physicists-resilient-3d-solitons-lab.html "only observed in 1D before... waves distort/ lose information due to turbulence, overcome applying external voltage to strontium-barium niobate crystals, making solitons integrable in 3D space possessing conserved energy/ momentum keeping them stable, turned crystal's interior into photon fluid enabling light movement control through it, generating light beam matching mathematical lump... wave packet did not spread out/ distort as traveled, 2 lump solitons colliding through each other left properties/ shapes intact"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-configuring-optical-devices-automatically.html "overcomes error snowball effect from manipulating thousands light variables at once using diffractive neural network... light bounces through cavity hitting patterned surfaces, each reflection gradually reshapes/ nudges light into desired pattern... single beam simultaneously carries multiple independent information channels with near perfect alignment, utilizing 1 million microscopic self learning/ adjusting mirror grid that can move 1,000X/ second... medical imaging, vastly increased internet speeds"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1112193 "avoids: edge devices being bulky/ power-hungry, latency, battery drain (constant transmission), security concerns... In-Physics Analog Computing performs math using signals from 5G tower or Wi-Fi router broadcasting radio frequency that encode weights of AI model... frequency mixers combine incoming RF with device's local data... uses existing, miniaturized RF components... 96% image classification accuracy... wireless network distributed intelligence, drone swarms (search/ rescue), smart city sensors"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-ionogel-power-safe-energy-storage.html "dendrites overcome using hybrid structure combining best solid/ liquid properties... ultrathin polymer sheets layered with lithium salt/ ionic liquid ionogel... pseudosolid membrane both electrolyte/ separator, eliminating need for volatile liquid electrolytes... suppresses dendrite growth, withstands internal gas pressure, scalable, flexible (portable electronics). nonflammable, puncture-resistant, high ion conductivity for stable performance 100s cycles... also: aerospace, medical devices, autonomous robotics"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-heat-pumps-will-soon-be.html "when electricity cheap or heat pumps running, heats non-toxic salt hydrate phase change material until melts, absorbing massive thermal energy... when need heat for showers/ morning warmth, material solidifies/ releases stored energy... salt hydrates' higher energy density than water so up to 4X smaller water tank speeds heat transfer, thin recycled aluminum fins last decades (plasma electrolytic oxidation coated), 85% efficient (was 65), >70% reduced charging times, >80% reduced time releasing heat"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-ultra-fast-quantum-tunneling-device.html "Quantum tunneling devices require massive electric fields forcing electrons through energy barriers, generating extreme heat melting/ destroying metal electrodes, overcame swapping aluminum oxide for titanium dioxide lowering energy barrier... atomic layer deposition of nearly perfect thin film eliminates microscopic defects... thermally stable over 1K+ cycles, signal modulation/ up to 60% transmission control, operates at 25% previous voltage requirements... quantum sensing, optical communication"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-oled-corrugated-panel-longevity-efficiency.html "OLEDs built on flat panels driven at high currents causes burn out/ degrade quickly, overcome creating micro-ridges 0.1 mm tall onto glass surface increasing surface area... allows more light-emitting material packing into same panel footprint, producing same total light at lower individual brightness/ lower current... white OLED stacking red, green, blue layers... 2.7x longer lifespan, 40% higher light extraction efficiency... 3D shape helps light bounce out, not trapped... curved or foldable architectural lighting"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111546 "overcomes 2D metal nanosheet's low current output/ poor durability... stable over 100K mechanical cycles, spray-coating process scalable... converts walking, breathing into electricity... continuous battery-free heart rate/ temperature/ physical activity monitoring, energy harvesting, EMI shielding, Joule heating (smart clothing/ thermal comfort)"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-hidden-defects-degrade-semiconductor-1000x.html "Hall measurements using electric/ magnetic fields to track electron motion, improved upon by adding controlled light illumination/ temperature variation... under weak light traps begin electron capture, traps fill up as light intensity increases allowing subsequent electrons to move freely... observing transition enables hidden defects' density/ behavior calculation... simultaneously measures electron speed/ lifespan... analyzed both silicon/ perovskite solar cells, identifying performance degradation source... memory chips"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111980 "nanoscale mirror electronically switched on/ off at room temperature functions as optical modulator... metasurface traps light within single tungsten disulfide atomic layer, creating exciton, causing material to act like mirror... applying voltage suppresses excitons, causing light absorption instead of reflection turning off mirror... makes metasurfaces tunable (optics previously were permanent once manufactured)... optical computing, wireless communication, nano-optics (lenses/ mirrors) that are not bulky"

https://interestingengineering.com/ces-2026/worlds-first-terahertz-vision-sensor "984 feet range, 0.13° native resolution (up to 20X better than current automotive radar), provides detailed 3D point clouds with Doppler data (range, direction, elevation, speed), solid-state digital phased array using proprietary modular THz engine... unlike cameras or lidar, THz waves can see through fog, rain, snow, sleet, sun glare without losing accuracy... advanced driver-assistance system/  L2 to L5 autonomous driving levels... high-volume production 2028... motor vehicles, defense, healthcare, manufacturing"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111853 "light hits thin silver film, interacts with free electrons on surface creating oscillations (plasmons) concentrating light/ enhancing electromagnetic field, increasing nearby molecules' light absorption 10X, enabling 19X reduced light intensity to trigger conversion compared to previous non-plasmonic systems... built low-energy powered blue OLED prototype (blue normally requires high energy, often leading to instability), then combined with green/ red light for stable white light"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111833 "scaling small image to large windshield adds massive empty data to calculation, consuming too much memory/ too slow for real-time driving... overcome using Matrix Multiplication based diffraction method acting as mathematical zoom lens calculating display chip/ windshield requirements independently... 58% reduced calculation time, significantly less memory usage by eliminating redundant 0 data, can project images at vastly different sizes/ distances simultaneously without driver's eyes constantly refocusing"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111579 "light cages: hollow-core waveguides created via 2-photon polymerization lithography fill with atoms in days (was months)... coated structure stable for 5 years... fabrication accurate within 2 nm so multiple memories on same chip perform identically... stores information by converting light pulses into atomic excitations... light pulses guided into cage, mapped onto cesium atoms, optical control laser reverses/ releases stored light on demand... parallel photonic synchronization for long-distance quantum repeaters"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111548 "information stored in qubits through delicate entanglement, where observing/ interacting with stored information changes state, making copying impossible... overcome by encrypting information during copying process, where even needing to use 1-time decryption key enables redundant, scalable encrypted quantum cloud services... encryption/ single-use keys make backups inherently secure... quantum cloud storage for: medicine, materials science, cryptography"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-error-technology-quantum-real-world.html "quantum computers use wave interference to find answers in single sweep rather than checking 1 by 1, but creates noise, a built-in flaw making some errors inevitable... overcome by preventing ripple effect from working at scale... remains ultra-fast even when dealing with millions of qubits, enabling large-scale machines... applications: (1) drug discovery: simulating complex molecules, (2) cryptography: creating ultra-secure communication, (3) climate science: building more accurate prediction models"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-ai-approach-optical-months-milliseconds.html "time-consuming simulations/ custom neural network creation for every new design, overcome training LLMs on >45K design dataset for quickly predicting how metasurface interacts with light... can work backward finding exact nanoscopic structure needed to reach desired light-manipulation outcome... optimizes free-form/ complex shapes offering higher performance/ efficiency... system responds to prompts so researchers need not be experts... paper-thin camera lens, eyeglass-weight VR headsets"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111439 "spin state can change in response to external conditions such as temperature/ magnetic resonance control... Rabi oscillations demonstrated spin states coherently manipulated... molecule exhibits slow magnetic relaxation, with spin lifetimes long enough to meet key requirements for quantum information processing... electron spin not confined to single metal atom but delocalized across all 3 cobalt ions, helping stabilize quantum state... suppress unwanted vibrations, achieve longer spin lifetimes"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-fault-tolerant-quantum-protocol-efficiently.html "surface codes: fast computation but massive number of qubits to make reliable/ QLDPC Codes: few qubits but difficult to manipulate slowing computation... overcome combining concatenated codes to rapidly generate auxiliary quantum states that assist in executing logical operations on QLDPC codes... accounted for time classical computers decode errors and noise accumulation during that delay... math formula proved system remains reliable as long as environmental noise stays below specific level"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-sensor-acoustic-smallest-scales.html "performance loss caused by miniaturizing sensors... overcome with belt buckle -sized device honing acoustic energy into nano-scale regions... in a proof-of-concept experiment, the team successfully detected a low-powered infrared laser only five micrometers wide... precision medicine identifying individual cancer cells/ specific proteins, managing/ sensing quantum scale parameters for quantum computers, condensed matter physics validating new hypotheses about how matter behaves at atomic level"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-thermal-metasurfaces-amplify-signatures-factor.html "negative thermal conductivity, impossible, needed to make small object look large thermally, instead manipulating heat requires bulky insulation or massive heat spreaders... overcome using 10 mm radius object surrounded by active shell of 10 controllable semiconductor heating/ cooling plates... electronically controlling plates' heat flux mimics negative thermal conductivity mathematical patterns... bypasses natural materials' limits to heat spread control... energy efficient, thermal privacy, ultra-compact"

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-optical-fiber-bundles-solution-high.html "360° laser coverage from aircraft requires multiple bulky, articulated terminals (gimbals) on fuselage, overcome using small external light collectors routing signals via fiber bundles to single, centralized laser communication terminal housed safely inside aircraft... must be manufactured using UV optimized materials (so far only tested on bundles designed for visible light having loss/ distortion link penalties when used with UV lasers)... future: multiplex multiple signals from different collectors into 1 terminal"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-microwave-pulses-leaks-quantum-reliable.html "leakage occurs when qubit jumps to a higher energy level leaving calculation/ creating noise interfering with neighboring qubits... need for difficult to scale bulky hardware overcome, by moping up errors using specific microwave pulses nudging qubits back into correct energy states without stopping computation... secondary ancilla (helper) qubits detect/ reset errors with microwaves clearing system. 70X more effective, error suppression improves with scaling... large-scale quantum processors"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111233 "remote networks limited by geography/ high costs... high-throughput satellites, LEO mega-constellations, optical inter-satellite links (low/ medium/ geostationary -earth orbit) provide low latency, filling coverage gaps, but high deployment costs/ complex beam alignment... overcome with direct-to-device links/ IoT support international standardization... 6G needs overcoming Doppler shifts/ handovers... AI-driven management, direct smartphone-to-satellite access, spectrum sharing, optical wireless communication" Related: Space computing power networks: a new frontier for satellite technologies https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111232 AI-powered intelligent 6G radio access technology significantly enhances wireless communication performance https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-ai-powered-intelligent-6g-radio.html

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-free-optical-ai.html "overcomes failure due to difficulty modeling small hardware shifts in hardware, environmental interference of light paths, light propagation too complex for perfect simulation... optical processor learns on-site without need to understand underlying physics, prevents drastic/ unstable changes during training, algorithm reuses data reducing experiments needed to train... efficiently focuses light through random/ unknown diffuser, holography/ aberration correction, image classification, photonic accelerators"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110343 "enables deterministic networks: more resilient, have less delay, can predict behavior... single Wi-Fi router with Ponte simultaneously manages up to 40 devices with <8 ms speed, assigning specific transmission times/ frequencies to each device to prevent signal interference/ delays... allows companies to use standard Wi-Fi infrastructure for high-stakes tasks such as: remote operation of robotic arms, autonomous guidance for factory transport vehicles, real-time drone inspections, interactive video feeds"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110171 "coupled diamond nitrogen-vacancy centers (atomic defects) to microwave cavity... decoherence of between quantum particles can cause system to self-organize... quantum particles working together produce long-lived, coherent, precise microwave pulses significantly stronger than sum of parts, fueled by internal spin interactions... higher precision GPS/ satellite networks, medical imaging, ultra-sensitive magnetic field detection, stable/ secure quantum communication links, ultra-precise quantum clocks" Related: Nuclear clocks electroplating thorium onto steel achieve same results as years of work with delicate crystals but far more efficiently https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107225542.htm

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-demand-hydrogen-fuel-production-dark.html "graphitic carbon nitride absorbs sunlight/ generates electrons transferred to/ stored in ammonium metatungstate metal-oxygen cluster which turns from yellow to blue (charged)... adding platinum-based catalyst generates hydrogen gas immediately... creates internal electric field accelerating electron transfer...  3,220 (in darkness)/ 954 µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ (under sunlight) production rates... hydrogen can be produced immediately, or charged liquid transported to energy-poor areas safely for on-demand use there"

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-memristor-based-boosts-energy-efficiency.html "AI accelerators bulky/ power-hungry, overcome using memristors dynamically fine-tuning signal conversion based on incoming data rather than fixed, inefficient settings... 15.1X improved energy efficiency, 12.9X reduced circuit area allowing for smaller chips... Compute-In-Memory systems: 57% reduced total chip energy, 30% reduced overall size... high accuracy across various neural network models, faster, operates on much smaller batteries... edge devices: smartphones, sensors" Related: Atom-thin, content-addressable memory enables edge AI applications https://phys.org/news/2026-01-atom-thin-content-memory-enables.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111223 "tweaked 17 ruthenium complex molecular geometry/ ion arrangement variations... adaptable: memory, logic gate (for processing), synapse (for learning), digital/ analog... molecules at dense scale unpredictable, overcome focusing on chemical design as computational principle... data storage/ processing within same physical substrate, combines quantum chemistry/ many-body physics... stimulate: electron movement through molecular film, oxidation/ reduction, counterion rearrangement stabilizing electronic states"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1109472 "no: expensive equipment, toxic chemicals/ harsh UV bonding individual monomers into chains... water-soluble monomers react to visible laser light, photo-patterning onto surfaces, including: glass, textiles, living skin... unexposed liquid rinses away leaving the solid electrode behind... polymers can transport both electrons/ ions... more natural biocompatibility (outperforms traditional metal EEG electrodes recording brain activity"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111320 "new 8B13B coding scheme on field-programmable gate array, employing return-to-zero format maintaining balanced number of logical 1 and 0 bits, suppressing visible flicker for stable synchronization... up to 3.48 Mbit/s data rates over approximately 3 m, packet (893 bits) loss rate10^−4 to 10^−5... commercially available: field-programmable gate array, Raspberry Pi, and other electronic parts... autonomous driving (traffic lights/ street lamps transmit data to vehicles)"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111289 "speculative decoding splits workload: edge GPU predicts likely token (word) sequence, data center GPU batch verifies sequences... eliminates idle time/ speeds overall response... 67.6% reduced cost/ token, 1.91x more efficient, increased processing capacity, 2.22X increased server throughput... works over standard internet, servers handle verification requests from multiple edge devices simultaneously... smartphones, neural processing units"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111319 "integrated into multi-periodic spin tunnel junction... stabilizes 2 exotic magnetic texture mixture (Bloch-type skyrmions/ bimerons) at room temperature, conducive for low power electron flow control... purify electron spin before reaches LED by passing through 4 sequential MgO tunneling barriers... skyrmions create nanoscale gradient magnetic field bending electron paths toward texture's core... spin-based logic, LEDs/ lasers for secure communication, scalable/ low-power data storage solutions"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-dual-cation-strategy-boosts-upconversion.html "triggers structural transition improving energy transfer between rare-earth ions, for increased luminescence intensity/ quantum yield... 32X increased upconversion intensity, 70X increased quantum yield, maintains high thermal/ chemical robustness... phosphors produce bright, tunable green/ blue under 980 nm laser excitation, ideal for: secure anti-counterfeiting (hard to replicate durable labels), solid-state lighting (high-performance, long-lasting LED components) resisting dimming at high temperatures"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111215 "efficiently generated using phase-matched 2nd-order nonlinear processes in optical crystals... linear to super-linear photocurrent response to pulse energy... scalable manufacturing... free-space communication system was demonstrated as a proof of concept, where a message was encoded by the laser source-transmitter and decoded by the 2D sensor-receiver. This research has potential applications in super-resolution microscopy, material processing, optical communications, and spectroscopy" Related: HKU Engineering scholar demonstrates the smallest all-printed infrared photodetectors to date https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111575

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111246 "encapsulates up to 60% stearic acid by weight without leakage... approximately 118 J/g thermal storage density (melting enthalpy)... improved thermal conductivity compared to pure stearic acid, allowing efficient heat absorption/ release... elevates stearic acid activation energy, indicating improved thermal stability... retains >97% original heat storage capacity, maintains stable phase change temperatures after 100 heating/ cooling cycles... chitin from seafood waste: low-cost, environmentally friendly... buildings, electronics"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-scientists-outline-atomic-scale-polaritons.html "polaritons: hybrid quasiparticles formed when light couples intensely with matter... light manipulations: travels along specific paths, bends in direction opposite of typical when passing between materials, guided in straight line without dispersing... faster, smaller integrated optical circuit computing components, super-resolution imaging of objects smaller than traditional light limits, biosensors for highly sensitive biological molecule detection. thermal management of heat into/ dissipated from electronics"

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-ai-device-ion-gel-graphene.html "avoids multiply-accumulate operations... ambipolar behavior from interaction between graphene/ ion gel: fast processing from graphene's high electron mobility, gel's ions/ electrons move at different rates creating wide range of time constants (reaction speeds) allowing processing complex data patterns more efficienctly... 1/100th computational load due to fewer required operations... Edge AI running on sensors or smartphones without draining their batteries or requiring massive data centers"

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-ultrathin-ferroelectric-capacitors-compact-memory.html "3-layer sandwich: 5 nm platinum top electrode, 20 nm scandium-doped aluminum nitride ferroelectric layer, 5 nm platinum bottom electrode... easily embedded into logic circuits... treating the bottom platinum electrode at 840°C improved its crystal structure, vital for maintaining switching performance in thinner films... mobile/ IoT devices, integrating logic/ non-volatile (due to high remanent polarization from using scandium-doped aluminum nitride) memory, nano-scale ferroelectric RAM/ tunnel junctions"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-silicon-atom-processor-links-qubits.html "Silicon Quantum Computing's 14|15 platform scales quantum capacity without fidelity loss... precision-placed (1 with 4 phosphorus atoms, 1 with 5, linked by electron exchange) within purified silicon-28... allows for non-local entanglement across different registers, with entanglement preserved for up to 8 nuclear spins... more compatible with existing manufacturing techniques than competing superconducting/ ion-trap designs... future: optimizing control pulses, further increasing qubit quantity"

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-safe-fast-batteries-multilayered-alkali.html "alkali metal ions (like lithium, sodium, potassium) sandwich ultradense 4-atom layer between sheets of graphene... nanochannels/ pores act as ion superhighways with 83% capacity retention after 3K high-speed cycles... metal deposits inside carbon frame rather than on surface, mitigating dendrites... potential carbon structures: graphite with atomic channels for deeper ion penetration, hard carbon with nanopores for sodium-ion storage, carbon spheres with mesochannels directing ions along optimal paths for stability"

https://now.uiowa.edu/news/2025/12/ui-study-could-lead-faster-more-secure-quantum-tech "directing laser at atom triggering consistent single-file line of photons hampered by: creates stray light acting like electrical interference/ >1 photon might be emitted at a time compromising data fidelity... tuning laser beam angle/ shape causes the 2 problems to cancel each other out... single-file line harder to eavesdrop on than jumbled group of photons/ orderly streams easier to control/ integrate into complex circuitry for scalability... optical quantum computing, secure communications"

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-formula-energy-barriers-2d-chips.html "more accurate predictive formula addresses contact resistance hindering 2D semiconductor commercialization... ultra-scaled molybdenum disulfide chips thinner/ more efficient than silicon-based... Schottky barrier forms when materials touch metal electrodes, blocking electron flow... when semi-metallic bialkali metals approach 2D semiconductor at specific angles, electron pathways within molybdenum disulfide expand, lowering barrier.. also, vacuum level energy level shift significantly alters barrier height" Related: TSMC says started mass production of 'most advanced' 2nm chips https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-tsmc-mass-production-advanced-2nm.html Tiny tech, big AI power: What are 2-nanometer chips? https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-tiny-tech-big-ai-power.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-quantum-machine-nears-partial-error.html "quantum processors noisy needing millions qubits to fix tiny errors accumulating in hundreds of gates required for AI models... overcome: don't need to correct every gate as more than half trainable, adapting to noise during learning... correcting only non-trainable gates achieves accuracy levels comparable to full error correction... requires only few thousand qubits instead of millions... quantum-powered AI capable of training on massive datasets in seconds could be achieved in years rather than decades"

https://www.eenewseurope.com/en/ev-battery-cooling-for-faster-charging-with-hydrohertzs-dectravalve/ "addressing thermal gradients at module level allows batteries to sustain peak charging speeds for significantly longer periods.... no: hot spots where some cells overheat while others remain cool forcing charging speeds' throttle to protect battery... routes heating/ cooling to specific modules rather than entire pack, maintaining consistent temperature across all cells... hottest cell remained below 44.5°C with 2.6°C spread across pack... up to 68% faster charging, up to 10% more range, preserves long-term pack health"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110794 "magneto-conversion enables enough energy density to alleviate EV range concerns, while lowering thermal runaway/ explosion risk... lithium entering anode creates magnetic nanoparticles which align due to magnetic field... Lorentz Force disperses lithium ions evenly across electrode surface rather than letting them clump together... >99% Coulombic efficiency for 300+ cycles... lithium stored both within/ on oxide matrix surface... viable pathway for replacing graphite-based batteries with more powerful lithium-metal"

https://frontis-energy.com/tag/materials-for-renewable-and-sustainable-energy "Nafion™ degrades structurally/ rapidly losing efficiency above 80°C, dehydrating at high temperatures/ low humidity, making protons less conductive... synergistic effect: sulfonated clay enhances water-attraction, carbon nanotubes improves structural integrity/ reinforces conductivity pathways... at 120°C/ 20% relative humidity: 443 mW/cm² Peak Power (4x higher than standard Nafion™, 42.3 mS/cm conductivity at low humidity, glass transition (thermal stability limit) 150 (was 120°C), better durability"

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251226045350.htm "persists even if crystal sliced/ reshaped... 6 directions along surface where electrons refuse to pair... naturally traps stable/ environmentally noise resistant Majorana particles (split electrons) along edges... step edges created, producing/ controlling these particles... fault-tolerant qubits... future: devise ways to manipulate the material, such as thinning it or applying magnetic fields, to isolate these quantum effects for use in future quantum computers"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110859 "vortex beams' ring size expands as topological charge (orbital angular momentum) increases hindering use in systems requiring multiple beam superpositions/ bulky & hard to align generation methods (spiral phase plates, axicons)... overcome using metasurface light manipulation creating beams: elliptical/ fractional-order (specialized spatial shaping), multi-channel & concentric-ring (multiple beam parallel generation from 1 surface), grafted (angular momentum non-uniform distributions), optical manipulation/ communication"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-sustainability-functionalized-graphene-materials.html "make graphene dissolvable by doping with nitrogen without: toxic chemicals/ harsh acids, >600 °C, significant waste... ball-milling grinds graphite with bio-derived amino acids, breaks/ reforms chemical bonds in solid state eliminating need for solvents, then paired with vitrimers... high electrical conductivity/ easier dispersion... 80% starting material converted to final product, no: long heating cycles (post-annealing)/ solvent recovery... electricity heals cracks... longer-lasting, repairable aerospace/ electronic components"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-fabricating-photon-sources-carbon-nanotubes.html "difficult controlling how many light-emitting points (defects) nanotube has/ where located... overcome by stretching nanotube across microscopic trench, exposing nanotube to iodobenzene vapor, then focused UV laser strikes specific spot on nanotube stopping as soon as 1 photon-emitting point (defect) created... controlling emitter's position to within a μm enables nanotube integration into photonic circuits on chips... unhackable data transmission"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-rare-hall-effect-reveals-pathways.html "low magnetic moment requires significantly less energy to manipulate spins, leading to ultra-low-power devices/ allows for the efficient electrical reading and control of magnetic data... polycrystalline alloys easier/ cheaper to produce than single- crystal samples, aiding industrial scalability... neuromorphic computers, non-volatile memory"

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/lensless-imager-breaks-optical-resolution-limits "event horizon telescope inspired synthetic aperture imaging for nm-precise physical alignment of visible light sensors... allowing independent sensor operation, captures raw light intensity/ phase diffraction patterns with software to stitch data together after the fact... algorithms synchronize wavefields digitally, creating virtual lens much larger than any individual sensor could provide... sub-micron resolution without sacrificing wide field of view/ requiring camera closeness... medical diagnostics, industrial inspection, remote sensing"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110555 "interface 2D semiconductor tungsten diselenide with organic semiconductor perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride... energy transfers from 2D to organic layer in <10⁻¹³ seconds... excitons generally immobile (localized), excitons highly mobile (delocalized), hybrid at interface harnesses best of both: 2D materials' speed/ movement alongside organic chemistry's light-harvesting strengths... solar cells' more efficient energy capture/ transfer, ultrafast optoelectronics, quantum state manipulation for information processing"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110787 "emissive layer of QDs, hole-transport polymer, UV-activated crosslinker... no harsh chemicals/ photoresists degrading performance... UV triggers polymer to form network locking QDs in place, patterns develop using simple solvent, bypassing destructive ligand exchanges... >10K (single color)/ 1K ppi (full RGB) pixel density, 1.7X increased external quantum efficiency, nearly 3X device lifetime... of the device. scalable:  demonstrated on  4" wafer... AR, VR, smart glasses, optoelectronic chips"

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-lowering-barriers-ai-technique-llms.html "LangVAE and LangSpace software make LLMs more explainable/ controllable while drastically reducing resource costs... Geometric Mapping: Instead of modifying LLM itself, creates compressed representations of language... treats internal patterns as geometric shapes/ points in space, allowing mathematical model behavior adjustment... lowers barrier to entry to AI development, more scientists can contribute to AI safety/ explainability... makes AI behavior more predictable for mission-critical fields like healthcare"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-optimized-nanotube-amplify-electromagnetic-field.html "identified shape using: isoieometrics–based boundary element method modeling complex EM fields around tube boundaries, hybrid optimization combining global/ local search algorithms, parametric modeling ensuring shapes manufacturable... stable even if incoming waves' angle changes... scalable: appliable to large nanotube arrays, not just single pairs... nanophotonics/ plasmonics, high-sensitivity sensors, EM gratings/ photonic metasurfaces (for cloaking/ flat lenses), advanced signal processing, wave-manipulation"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110828 "multipath interference, clock bias, complex multi-beam transmissions limits use for navigation, overcome combining advanced 5G signal tracking with real-time fusion of satellite/ cellular measurements... 5G synchronization/ reference signals stabilize tracking in environments affected by multipath interference, reducing ranging errors... phase-stabilized Kalman filter helps maintain accurate carrier phase estimates... continues delivering reliable positioning when satellite visibility is severely limited... autonomous vehicles"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110807 "LLMs using memory 8 times smaller than uncompressed LLM scored better on math, science, coding tests while spending same time amount reasoning... helps LLMs respond to more user queries simultaneously, reducing power needed/ task... benefits AI solving complicated tasks or slow/ limited smart home/ wearables' memory... Dynamic Memory Sparsification decides which data units (tokens): important enough to keep/ can be deleted... faster reasoning/ same quality compared with non-compressed models"

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-vision-method-links-photos-floor.html "maps/ photos look nothing alike, making correlating by AI difficult, overcome with dataset of 90K pairs floor plans/ photos (manually aligned) across nearly 600 internet photos turned into 3D models... includes 153 million pixel-level matches, allowing AI to see spot in photo corresponding to map coordinate... reduces errors by 34%... step toward multi-modal 3D computer vision... robots navigating indoor spaces using only blueprint, AR helping people find way through buildings, digital modeling: 3D architecture reconstructions"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-chirality-electricity-voltage-driven-method.html "naturally achiral molybdenum disulfide single crystal semiconductor in chiral ionic liquid containing specific right-handed or left-handed molecular ions... positive voltage applied to transistor's gate electrode forces chiral ion accumulation on crystal's surface imprinting ions' handedness onto electronic state of crystal surface without permanent bonding... achieved Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity allowing only electrons with specific spin direction through/ Electrical Magnetochiral Effect... new way to control electron spin"

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-ionic-liquids-perovskite-degradation-solar.html " acts as multi-functional additive during fabrication: binds to positively charged lead ions filling halide vacancies, added to perovskite precursor slows down crystallization for larger grains/ fewer imperfections, additive migrates to bottom (buried) interface, suppressing defects where perovskite meets underlying layer... tested at 90°C, 1,500 hours simulated full sunlight: retained 90% initial performance... scalable: ionic liquid easy to synthesize/ compatible with large-area panel blade coating methods... tandem solar compatible"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-exciton-moir-superlattices-method-leverages.html "moiré superlattice: 2 layers dichalcogenides stacked with small rotational mismatch, creating periodic potential trapping electrons/ excitons, for easy charge-neutral exciton manipulation using electric fields... electrostatic doping (adjusting gate voltage) to change electron density radically alters how excitons move... when electrons dense forming Mott insulator, exciton diffusivity up to 100X greater... when electrons rigid/ Wigner crystal, exciton flow suppressed trapping energy... excitons, not electrons, as information carriers"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110207 "bulky/ costly current sensor elimination... derives duty cycle using only inductor voltage equation, split into feedforward/ control components... built-in delay compensation ensures current/ voltage perfectly aligned... implements on standard digital signal processors avoiding complex mathematical observers/ models... 1.3 kW prototype: up to 0.9998 power factor, low 2.12% total harmonic distortion at full load, high tolerance for variations in circuit parameters, for scalability... slimmer laptop adapters, compact chargers"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110535 "at least 2 orders magnitude less expensive than etching away bulk materials' layers using caustic acids, 90% weight purity (was 60%), tetrachloroethylene safer/ more stable than highly reactive precursors... MXenes atomically thin highly conductive, ideal for: hosting ions between layers for faster-charging batteries, EM interference shielding/ optoelectronics, highly efficient catalysts in industrial chemistry"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-quantum-entanglement-drones-disaster-relief.html "wireless signals/ fiber optics disrupted during wildfires/ natural disasters but not with instant entanglement information transmission not reliant on external network/ open internet... qubits store more complex environmental information like amplitudes/ phases (audio/ video from fire line) more efficiently than classical bits... change in entangled partner allows base station(s)/ rest of swarm to read it instantly... quantum/ classical technologies work together as single system... less energy-intensive AI, better data security"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1109523 "maintaining small, controlled barrier at metal/ semiconductor interface allows operation in contact-controlled mode, significantly improving long-term consistency... shifting current flow control from semiconductor channel to contact interface enables aging effect/ voltage shift resistance caused by trapped charges... stays stable even at ≤-4 V... silver contacts, multimodal transistor designs allow for more uniform current between devices/ simpler circuit architectures... OLED/ microLED displays, wearable sensors"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110614 "sensitivity signal loss trade-off solved, moving away from using boron/ phosphorus... bombard silicon waveguide with germanium ions, creating controlled defects, without having to add free carriers that degrade optical signals.... high sensitivity in both O-band (1,310 nm) and C-band (1,550 nm), ultra-low absorption ensuring strong primary data signal, minimal electrical noise when no light present, low bias voltage reducing power consumption... programmable photonic networks, medical diagnostics, lab-on-chip"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-driven-method-rapidly-complex-nanomaterials.html "replaces extreme heat/ pressure with sustainable, CO₂-driven chemical reaction bridge bonding disparate metal ions normally difficult to combine due to varying atomic sizes... add hydroxide ions, stir forming metal carbonate nanoparticles exhibiting non-crystalline highly disordered structure, often superior for chemical reactions... scalable, low-cost manufacturing, eco-friendly, enhanced durability/ catalytic efficiency... hydrogen production/ more efficient battery electrodes, semiconductors"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1109726 "when electrolyte solidifies its molecules lock into place significantly hindering ion movement, overcome by maintaining constant ionic conductivity across liquid, liquid-crystal, solid phases... organic molecules with flat, disc-shaped center surrounded by long, flexible side-chains... positive charge spread evenly across molecule, preventing grabbing negative ions too tightly... molecules stack into rigid columns, but flexible side-chains provide enough space for negative ions to flow through them, even at lower temperature"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1109809 "more flexibility, utilizing optical latent space/ Bayes-based training algorithms... scalable to dimensionality of optical network... high density, integrating >2 million photonic neuron-mimicking structures... high-resolution image synthesis, video manipulation/ style transfer, advanced denoising... performs tasks with speed/ energy-efficiency several orders magnitude higher than current electronic GPUs/ AI accelerators... significant step toward making large-scale generative AI more sustainable and faster"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-team-shatters-3d-nanofabrication-limits.html ">120K metalense array (ultrathin optical elements) splits single laser into thousands of coordinated focal spots... prints across cm-scale areas simultaneously rather than point-by-point... throughput 1,000X faster while maintaining sub-μm precision, feature sizes as small as 113 nm... spatial light modulator enables real-time intensity control of each individual beam... prints non-periodic, complex, stochastic structures (like 16 chess openings at once), quantum computing, fuel capsules (fusion energy), biomedicine, microelectronics" Related: Goodbye stereolithography: Scientists develop a faster and finer way to 3d print metal https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110463

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110364 "soft X-rays identify/ track specific atoms, observing how electrons reorganize during chemical reactions/ phase transitions in real-time... utilizes high-harmonic generation, advanced laser engineering, new pulse retrieval method... observes how: molecular rings open during polymerization, electrons interact with crystal lattices in solids, dynamics driving quantum devices, processes powering PV/ catalysis... operates below atomic unit of time... physics, chemistry, biology, quantum, material/ drug design"

https://www.uts.edu.au/news/2025/11/scientists-reveal-it-is-possible-to-beam-up-quantum-signals "satellite downlinks limited by hardware size/ power (suitable for just sending secret keys), overcome by first uploading, despite atmospheric interference/ signal loss, then downlinks... greater bandwidth with access to more power/ cooling, lower satellite costs (only re-directs), easier maintenance since at ground... aligns 2 single light particles from separate ground stations to meet on satellite traveling 20,000 km/h... allows quantum computers to plug into global network for massive distributed computations across continents"

https://interestingengineering.com/energy/china-heat-pump-turns-sunlight-into-heat "heat source: twaste heat or solar energy... converts 293°F heat source into 518°F, shattering the previous 392°F limit... instead of mechanical compressors, uses interaction between sound waves/ heat converting thermal energy into intense acoustic waves to pump heat from a low-temperature source to a high-temperature sink... ceramics, petrochemicals and metallurgy... future: 2,372°F by 2040"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110089 "0 net magnetization (like antiferromagnets) but with spin-split electronic structures (like ferromagnets), best of both: stable, high-density, easy to read electrically... poor sample quality overcome using sapphire substrates/ precise growth conditions to align all crystal axes... memory cells packed much closer together without interfering with each another since no stray magnetic fields... altermagnets inherently faster switching speeds than ferromagnets... future: discover other altermagnetic materials" Related: Flat Fermi surface in altermagnets enables quantum limit spin currents https://phys.org/news/2025-12-flat-fermi-surface-altermagnets-enables.html Reversible spin splitting effect achieved in altermagnetic RuO₂ thin films https://phys.org/news/2025-12-reversible-effect-altermagnetic-ruo-thin.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110092 "non-toxic, low-cost, stable, less electrical loss... larger, more uniform grains enhances charge transport/ collection... at interface between molybdenum back contact/ thin-film absorber: unwanted chemical reactions/ unintended atomic movement, overcome using 7-nm thick germanium oxide interlayer created exploiting oxidation during vapor transport deposition... 4.81% (was 3.71) Power Conversion Efficiency... contact resistance: thin-film transistors; PCE: thermoelectric; performance: photodetector/ memory devices"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110024 "mimics neuron Compute-in-Memory: digital logic more accurate but uses more energy than analog... versatile platforms switching between traditional/ neuro-inspired networks based on application... only communicates (sends spike) when electrical charge (membrane potential) reaches threshold... responds to irregular/ occasional events (sparse signals) enabling AI to operate onboard device (like drone), outside large data centers/ cloud... event-Based cameras send data only when pixel change detected" Related: Single coin-battery runs AI, from multi-sensor fusion to high-fidelity voice/ vision, for years https://mailchi.mp/allaboutcircuits/experience-ai-on-a-coin-cell-at-ces-8871931?e=197a4256c6

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-transparent-ceramic-boost-internet-energy.html "cheaper, easier manufacture at scale, better chemical composition control... faster, smaller, more energy-efficient... contain tiny, dynamic few atoms wide polarization pockets fluctuating continuously... zentropy theory: with small, fluctuating pockets, extremely low energy barrier required for polarization to flip, allowing almost instant polarization adjustment under applied electric field... optical communications, sensing, medical imaging, optical modulators/ switches... future: make lead-free, replace lithium niobate"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-nanoscale-magnetic-mazes-center-communications.html "enables depositing cerium-substituted yttrium iron magnetic garnet films onto substrates with different lattice mismatches (opposite strain types). with both films still exhibiting strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy...  film's magnetic direction primarily determined by magnetotaxial anisotropy (growth-related effect from how atoms arrange during deposition) which is >10X more important than substrate strain... magnetic domains orders of magnitude smaller, Faraday rotation 1.6X better, low saturation field"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1109988 "pressure forces the material's electrons closer together, unlocking extraordinary electronic behaviors... charge-density waves, collective electronic behaviors, typically weaken or disappear under pressure in similar materials, but in this specific material, this behavior not only strengthens under extreme pressure but also emerges at room temperature" Related: Physicists push superconducting diodes to high temperatures https://phys.org/news/2025-12-physicists-superconducting-diodes-high-temperatures.html Scientists unlocked a superconductor mystery under crushing pressure https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251219093328.htm

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-optical-modulation-silicon-electron-avalanche.html "single free electron generated by 1 absorbed photon is accelerated by applying high voltage to silicon diode, gaining enough energy to collide with atoms/ create multiple additional free electrons in chain reaction... significantly amplifies resulting change in silicon's metallicity... effect modulates reflected intensity of 2nd, macroscopic optical beam, mimicking photonic transistor... increases silicon device's nonlinear refractive index, at room temperature, no optical cavity needed, CMOS fabrication compatible"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1108298 "overcomes low mixing strength/ performance degradation by controlling polytetrafluoroethylene binder's structure rather than changing material itself... add small amount of binder forming thread-like fibrous network, densely connecting active material/ conductive additive, ensuring uniform dispersion/ mixing... then remaining binder added creating rope-like fiber binding entire electrode together, increasing electrode's strength/ stability... with pouch-type lithium metal anode 349 Wh/kg energy density, about 40% improved"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-framework-2d-materials-printable-electronics.html "predicting 2D materials that can be successfully formed into nanosheets via electrochemical exfoliation... key factor: in-plane must be higher than out-of-plane stiffness" (resistance to: deformation vs. deformation perpendicular to material)... dozens of 2D semiconductors identified... printed transistors, and for 1st time printed: digital-to-analog converters, BASK communication circuits, wearable sensors, smart packaging, disposable IoT... future: reduce performance limits in junctions between nanosheets (flake-to-flake)"

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-femtosecond-lasers-limits-nanostructures-thermal.html "manipulates/ scatters phonons (quasiparticles of vibrational energy that conduct heat) through small, parallel grooves (created via high-speed, powerful laser ablation) on silicon/ silica thin films... limits phonons' average travel distance reducing thermal conductivity... laser throughput >1,000X faster than single-beam electron-beam lithography... highly scalable wafer-level mass production: maskless, resist-free, CMOS-compatible... high-performance computing, on-chip energy conversion, quantum devices" Related: Cracking the mystery of heat flow in few-atoms thin materials https://phys.org/news/2025-12-mystery-atoms-thin-materials.html