Today's Tech News: Notable or Not?

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117432 "hair width, more stable/ cost-effective than lasers... enclose emitting region with distributed Bragg reflectors, 30% beam divergence reduction, 46% increase wall-plug efficiency, can operate effectively in hotter environments without cooling system... lower costs/ increased flexibility for hardware in cloud computing/ AI infrastructure... also: brighter/ thinner displays for smartphones, more efficient augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) devices"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-physics-principle-absorption-barriers-ventilated.html "sound-absorbing foam/ fiber solid/ porous blocks ventilation, overcome with destructive interference balancing structure's monopole/ dipole resonances... traps sound waves, causing dissipation into heat... Figure of Merit evaluates absorption bandwidth/ material thickness/ air channel openness relationship... jet engine roar reduction while maintaining intake/ exhaust efficiency, silent fans/ heat sinks for computers/ servers, noise barriers for highways/ tunnels allowing natural wind passage/ preventing heat buildup"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-capturing-instant-electrical-pave-faster.html "instantaneous melting followed by rapid cooling (quenching) captures exact moment electrical switching begins, including threshold voltage/ thermal conditions triggering it... stably implemented amorphous (disordered like glass) tellurium, within nano-device... tellurium sensitive to heat/ changes properties easily when current applied... stable/ high-speed switching even while reducing heat generation... avoids trial‑and‑error material design... semiconductors, AI"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1115520 "skyrmions: tiny, stable magnetic patterns that could serve as ultra‑small carriers of storage data... the newly discovered magnetic states in twisted 2D materials are promising because: they could enable very high‑density data storage... skyrmion magnetic structures are stable against disturbances, which is crucial for reliable memory devices... signals were extremely weak, overcome using quantum sensing microscope based on nitrogen‑vacancy centers in diamond"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119888 " electrical writing/ magnetic reading, where electric field controls magnetic states... more energy-efficient than using electrical currents... combines antiferromagnetic/ ferromagnetic chromium telluride bilayers, breaking material's inversion symmetry, inducing spontaneous ferroelectric polarization... strong magnetoelectric coupling... interlayer charge-asymmetry mechanism, compatible with existing CMOS manufacturing... highly energy-efficient single-phase multiferroics at the atomic scale"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119571 "no: external catalysts, heat, light... modification creates new class of fully recyclable polymers... polyethylene analogs manufactured, used, converted back into their original building blocks—enabling closed-loop chemical recycling... sulfur-sulfur bonds fundamental to peptide/ protein structure, so discovery provides a new tool for biologists to manipulate protein structures without damaging sensitive biological components... selectively modifies anti-tumor compound calicheamicin"

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-026-01855-w "selective population transfer in multilevel quantum systems using exciton–polariton condensates (hybrid light-matter) in microcavity... condensate's energy modulated using GHz acoustic waves, shifting excitonic component's energy relative to photonic one, acting as dynamic switch forcing entire condensate population into ground state... transforms complex, multi-level system into single-level emission source on demand... spectral frequency comb with GHz repetition rates, ps-scale correlations... Floquet engineering"

https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/Articles/2026/March/Low-frequency-spectrum "below ~1 GHz bend around hills/ trees, penetrate buildings/ vegetation, stable during bad weather, cover wide areas,,, trade-off: long range/ reliability but lower speeds, overcome complementing with wide coverage 5G... ~240 MHz signal/ low ~0.01 mW... edge devices for agriculture/ mining/ infrastructure: live streaming, AI monitoring, environmental/ disaster sensing, biosecurity"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119754 "no stray magnetic fields so denser memory/ highly stable against magnetic interference, but internal magnetic structure balanced making switching states difficult... overcome using slightly asymmetric spin torque: when spin current injected, 2 magnetic sublattices absorb current unequally, generating torque flipping Néel vector, enabling controlled data writing... lower power consumption, compatible with existing fabrication/ many antiferromagnetics, high speed (THz)/ efficient, high-density data storage"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119715 "abundant/ lower-cost gallium oxide enables higher voltage/ more efficient power semiconductors... high-density oxygen radical source doubles atomic oxygen density used during film growth, improves chemical reaction, allows faster/ more efficient semiconductor layer growth, improved heat dissipation, works with either: Molecular Beam Epitaxy/ Physical Vapor Deposition... compatible with industrial production... EVs, power-conversion systems, space electronics, high-voltage industrial devices"

https://www.psu.edu/news/materials-research-institute/story/atom-thin-material-could-help-solve-chip-manufacturing-problem "etching extremely deep/ narrow structures into silicon using high-energy plasma can damage masks patterning chips, distorting patterns... resolved using atomically thin 2-D material with very high-aspect-ratio structure for advanced chips... significantly improves fabrication of next-generation semiconductors by: maintaining sharp nanoscale patterns even in harsh processing conditions enabling smaller (supports Moore’s law), more precise chip features, improving manufacturing reliability"

https://cen.acs.org/environment/recycling/silicon-carbide-nanowires-waste-glass/104/web/2026/03 "fluorine-assisted flash Joule heating: gtrind glass, carbon black, sodium fluoride, pack into tube, apply strong electric current, heat to 2,000°C (in seconds), carbon reduces silica, producing silicon carbide nanowires... fluorine keeps iron particles active as catalysts enabling growth of wire-shaped nanostructures instead of particles... up to 96% lower energy/ emissions, $0.90/ kg (99% cheaper}... plastic/ cement reinforcement, electronic/ energy devices... also: boron/ titanium/ niobium carbide nanowires"

https://news.mit.edu/2026/new-photonic-device-efficiently-beams-light-free-space-0311 "microscopic curved structures simultaneously redirect thousands of beams upward/ outward from chip... structures form because device made from silicon nitride/ aluminum nitride that expand differently during fabrication/ bending when cooled... AR glasses' displays, compact LiDAR sensors, faster laser-based 3D printing, large-scale quantum computers laser controlling millions qubits... full-color images half size grain salt. 10s of 1000s tiny pixels in space where smartphone displays have only a few"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119475 "AI 39% success rate solving coding in Idris, an obscure computer language with little trading data... overcome running AI's incorrect code through compiler where technical error messages fed back into AI for self-correction up to 20X/ problem, increasing success rate to 96%... teaches itself specialized tasks even in data deserts, shifting focus from needing massive training datasets to designing better automated feedback loops that guide the AI toward the correct solution" Related : AI benefits from measured non-linearity https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117020

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119457 "supports up to 222 spatial modes... <0.5 mm long, several orders magnitude smaller than existing optical multiplexing systems... as low as -0.6 dB coupling losses preserve light sources' brightness/ modal capacity... high-resolution 3D printed directly onto laser chips... high-power laser arrays coupled into fiber optics for high-performance photonics: optical communications, high-power industrial lasers, advanced sensors"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119411 "electric motors lose energy due to friction when flipping magnetic orientation... overcome using metallic glasses lacking crystal lattice with freely reorienting magnetic domains drastically reducing heat generation/ energy waste...  extends battery range, cooler-running motors, eliminates need for critical elements like cobalt... three 70–80% iron alloys highly resistant to crystallization identified, compatible with laser powder bed fusion 3D printing... e-bikes, drones, electric scooters"

https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2026/03/New-negative-light-technology-hides-data-transfers-in-plain-sight "blends mid- IR LED signals into natural thermal background radiation hiding them, instead of usual making signals brighter than background... thermoradiative diode quickly switches between slightly brighter/ darker than surrounding making seem as background noise... 100 kB/s data transfer rates, but commercial products reaching: Mbps by improving emitter, Gb/s or 100s Gb/s by utilizing highly conductive materials like graphene... high-security applications in defense and finance"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118848 "soft robotic actuators produced for <$0.10 (USD)/ unit, in <10 minutes using common laboratory/ desktop equipment such as standard: laser cutter, vacuum sealer with plastic pouches... removing air between layers before laser processing enables sealing/ shaping inflatable structures in single step... resulting: actuators withstand up to 100K cycles, soft grippers lift 25X own weight, crawling/ swimming robots probrammably bending/ shaping... medical devices, wearables, educational projects" Related: Soft fibers that move with electricity https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119408

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119215 "semiconductor lasers sensitive to optical feedback (reflections) so use bulky/ expensive optical isolators... overcome using isolator-free quantum dot laser (more stable) feedback limits simplifying production... measuring coherence collapse threshold, even under extreme continuous >100 hour feedback (up to 21.4% return), lasers support stable 10 Gbps data transmission/ remain functional from 15 to 45°C... this breakthrough paves the way for use in fields such as telecommunications, LiDAR" Related: New method produces quantum dots that offer advantages for light-based technologies https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119830

https://phys.org/news/2026-03-intermediate-phases-faster-nanoparticle-crystallization.html "nanoparticles disordered during assembly, overcome passing through mesophase preventing these dead ends by splitting large free-energy barrier, crystallizing orders magnitude faster than using 1-step transition... mesophases more mobile/ flexible than final crystals, easier to anneal/ fix structural defects for more homogeneous final material with fewer flaws... rules define pressure, concentration, particle shape forming mesophase... optical devices, data storage, biological/ synthetic polymers/ proteins"

https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-research/molecular-catapult-fires-electrons-at-the-limits-of-physics "instead of diffusing randomly through material... splitting exciton into free electron/ hole often involves energy loss, overcome harnessing coherent vibrations achieving ultrafast/ highly efficient ballistic movement... electrons move on the same clock as the atoms, proving that the ultimate speed of a solar material depends as much on its vibrations as its electronic structure... organic solar cells, photodetectors, photocatalytic systems for clean hydrogen production"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-superconductivity-built-confining-cavity.html "resonates with c–c stretching mode IR transition in organic superconductor... hyperbolic confines light/ enhances vacuum fluctuations... vibration linked to how electrons pair up forming superconducting state... 50% less superfluid density near cavity's interface... resonant coupling between cavity/ κ-ET molecules alters superconducting ground state... engineered higher temperature quantum superconductivity inducement/ enhancement... properties permanently programmed without need for external power"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118472 "integrates astigmatic metalens/ spectral-acousto-optic scanning, solving inter-axis mismatch... 36.6 MHz frame-wise point acquisition rate, 102° field of view enabled by metalens' quadratic phase foundation, 6.5 mrad angular resolution, wide-angle astigmatism correction sharpens angular resolution... broadband pulsed laser undergoes spectral-temporal encoding... acousto-optic deflector/ blazed grating perform scanning... target echoes captured by photomultiplier tube... robotics, autonomous road/ aerial vehicles"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119045 "III-V photonic crystal/ silicon-on-insulator wafer monolithic integration, using selective lateral heteroepitaxy... low-threshold telecom band lasers not requiring fragile suspended structures for light confinement... strong optical confinement/ mechanical robustness... positioned vertical indium gallium arsenide on indium phosphide quantum wells aligning with laser's maximum optical field... avoids etched air hole damage boosting pumping efficiency, only single growth step... edge-/ surface-emitting lasers"

https://phys.org/news/2026-03-superconducting-dome-hints-high-temperature.html "peaks at specific electron density, where magnetism/ superconductivity intertwine... extreme pressure tunes crystal lattice causing temperature at which becomes superconductor rises significantly before dropping off again, forming peak... at peak's edges superconductivity competed away by charge density waves... future: optimizing toward room-temperature, leading to lossless power grids, ultra-fast maglev trains, more powerful quantum computers that don't require expensive liquid helium cooling"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119058 "grow permalloy (common magnetic alloy) on top of 2D molybdenum disulfide via chemical vapor deposition... ultra-clean interface between layers reduces surface energy loss, while internal structural changes cause only slight increase in internal energy loss... scalable: unlike small, laboratory-scale flakes, uses large-area molybdenum disulfide compatible with mass-manufacturing... high-speed/ lower-power spintronic computing due to reduced energy loss (damping), MRAM"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119113 "arranging magnetic spins (magnons) in thin film, with specific hexagonal hole pattern, results in behavior exactly like graphene's massless electrons... 9 distinct energy bands enables simultaneous topological effects/ low-dispersion states not easily achieved in graphene... radiofrequency/ microwave cellular networks, where microwave circulators, which ensure radio signals travel in 1 direction, are shrink to µm scale, allowing for much smaller and more efficient wireless hardware"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119034 "previous thermal conductivity improvement only 5 to 10%... heat carried by phonons (vibrations)... aligns material's internal charges allowing phonons moving along field direction to travel much farther without being scattered... electric field not only speeds up phonons but also extends their lifetimes... more efficient devices turning waste heat into usable power, industrial cogeneration capturing/ repurposing heat from manufacturing processes, advanced cooling with no moving parts for high-performance computing"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118857 "bridges gap between fast linear optics (math)/ previously slow nonlinear elements (decision-making)... chip-integrable, no external power, heaters, control beams... nonlinearity triggered from ultrafast electronic polarized data-carrying light, response near-instantaneous... >100 GHz data rates, >80% 2nd-harmonic conversion efficiency reshaping optical signals into sigmoid-like response like biological... chip with cascaded programmable silicon chip... medical image classification, airfoil noise regression" Related: Photonic chips advance real-time learning in spiking neural systems https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117988 Ultra-compact AI photonic chip https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119185 Ultra-fast computers: L aser sequences can be used not only to transmit information, but also to process it https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119414

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-thermal-noise-framework-power-ai.html "AI/ machine learning inherently probabilistic... uses thermal noise's natural randomness to drive probabilistic bits enabling much more efficient AI sampling/ optimization... using existing thermal noise to perform calculations drastically reduces power required... harnesses ambient heat to run AI algorithms... faster generative AI/ Boltzmann machines... nanomagnetic/ spintronic device compatible... AI-specific hardware orders magnitude smaller/ more energy-efficient than current GPUs... edge devices, wearables" Related: Brain-inspired device could lead to faster, more energy-efficient AI hardware https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119548 Introducing LightGen, a chip for ultra-fast, ultra-efficient generative AI https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1109809 KAIST Researchers Develop Brain-Inspired AI Model That Improves Learning Stability https://www.kaist.ac.kr/newsen/html/news/?mode=V...

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118967 "placed into gas stream in non-oxidizing environment, possess high thermal conductivity, spreading heat evenly/ preventing hot spots... significantly more heating power per unit of mass than metal alloys... can be woven, knitted, tied into knots, creating high-surface-area 3D structures, lightweight so porous, maximizing contact with gas... heaters can be designed in complex shapes using textile manufacturing techniques, fitting into smaller/ uniquely shaped equipment... chemical production/ thermal treatment"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118417 "overcomes extreme weakness of this effect in non-engineered materials... 100X stronger response combining magnetic/ dielectric components at nanoscale... allows electric fields to directly drive magnetic responses in nonreciprocal way... nonreciprocal optical devices (like isolators with light travel in 1 direction) not needing bulky external magnets. compatible with large-area nanofabrication, making scalable for next-generation photonic chips and advanced optical communication systems"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-dna-redox-cues-reversibly-link.html "switchable DNA linkage uses specific chemical modifications (redox-active labels) triggering DNA strands to bond/ separate in response to different stimuli: laser, LED, presence of certain antioxidants/ oxidants... dynamic nanomaterials that can assemble, disassemble, reconfigure... targeted drug delivery releasing cargo only when triggered, synthetic tissues/ hydrogels that can change stiffness/ elasticity, molecular computing using DNA as logic gates that respond to chemical/ light triggers"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1115922 "heat carried by phonons (vibrations), but these phonons can flow collectively like water in a pipe... injecting heat into specific points can create vortices on flow's sides, pushing heat back from cold regions toward hot ones, making thermal resistance across device negative... prevent overheating in smartphones, batteries, computers, more effectively than traditional cooling... can be applied to other systems such as electrons (in plasmonics)/ magnons (magnetic storage)... future: apply at higher temperatures than 70°K"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118650 "indium ions often leak into device over time, degrading performance... overcome using cheaper/ more eco-friendly nitrogen-doped tin oxide which has strong bonds between its atoms, acting as barrier preventing leakage... used in perovskite LEDs achieved 20.82% efficiency comparable to traditional devices but with double operational lifetime... scalable electrodes produced at low temperatures over large areas, compatible with current manufacturing... smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, solar cells"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-generation-memory-material-property.html "bismuth ferrite multiferroic combines capacitor/ magnet... external voltage applied, electric polarization direction switches, also influencing magnetic properties... shrinks when heated, enabling tightly packing memory cells without physical degradation/ more layers in vertical NAND/ DRAM... improves durability of chips running at high temperatures during intense AI training tasks, extends lifespan, increases cooling systems' energy efficiency... ultra-dense 3D memory chips, in-memory computing" Related: Understanding negative thermal expansion in hydrogenated cobalt zirconide https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118662

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118640 "improving electrical conductivity in thermoelectric materials usually increases unwanted thermal conductivity... overcome co-doping germanium telluride with antimony/ nickel... nickel enhances carrier effective mass, for high Seebeck coefficient without ruining electrical flow... etch maze for heat, forming nickel germanium 10–30 nm nanophases, which when combined with atomic defects/ grain boundaries, reduces thermal conductivity to near-theoretical limits... 2.15 ZT at 773°K, 10% conversion efficiency"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-world-gigabit-laser-link-aircraft.html "lighter/ more power-efficient UltraAir laser terminal mounted on Dassault Falcon 20 research aircraft locked onto laser beam from Alphasat satellite, located 22,400 mile above Earth... 2.6 Gb transmitted every minute, fast enough to download HD movie in minutes while in flight... maintained laser connection across 36,000 km despite aircraft vibrations, high-speed movement, cloud/ air density shifts... laser beams highly directional/ difficult to eavesdrop or jam... military/ commercial aviation, broadband in the sky"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118367 "silicon dielectric resonators trap light inside solids, keeping light away from surface, making interaction with 2D materials placed on top difficult... overcome trapping in air, concentrating/ interacting with tungsten disulfide located at cavity's top of cavity boosting light emission/ nonlinear optical signals... changing air voids' radius/ depth programs light interaction, tuning resonant wavelength to match specific materials... optical computing/ signal processing, more efficient LEDs/ lasers/ sensors" Related: Poking a nanostring: Scientists uncover energy cascades in tiny resonators https://phys.org/news/2026-03-nanostring-scientists-uncover-energy-cascades.html

https://phys.org/news/2026-03-3d-links-fiber-optics-photonic.html "difficult/ costly aligning fragile glass fibers with microscopic circuits on chip using butt-coupling or grating couplers, with high signal loss... overcome nanoprinting (2-photon lithography) polymer-based  ramp/ bridge optical waveguide onto chip's surface... captures light from overhead fiber, funnels it into chip's horizontal pathways significantly relaxing alignment requirements making mass assembly faster/ cheaper... vertical coupling enables much higher density... optical backplanes replacing electrical buses"

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/chinas-cooling-touch-sub-zero-in-seconds "when pressure applied, ammonium thiocyanate salt remains solid/ hydrated... when pressure released, salt rapidly dissolves into water absorbing massive heat almost instantly... 30°C (50 in high-heat environments) drop from ambient in seconds... relies on salt solution's physical state change, not hydrofluorocarbons... energy efficient... enables data centers to move away from energy-intensive fans and compressors toward this rapid chemical-physical cooling loop" Related: Electronic cooling and energy harvesting using ferroelectric polymer composites https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51147-6

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1114314 "extracting data from individual atoms slow/ inefficient since atoms emit photons in all directions... overcome using scalable optical cavities enabling parallel extraction for all qubits at once... results in fewer light bounces, but far more effective capturing data from nearly translucent atoms... faster data rates, large-scale distributed networks, high-fidelity readout... guides emitted light toward particular direction... scaling quantum computing to millions of qubits"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-overlooked-electrostatic-motor-future.html "apply voltage to metal tracks attached to printed circuit board creating interaction between rotor/ stator generating motion (instead of copper coils/ magnets creating motion through magnetic fields)... uses >90% less copper, up to 80% lighter), lower cost... significantly lower current so generates almost no heat/ requires no active cooling, direct drive capable/ high torque at low speeds... dielectric fluids boost field strength)... EVs (extend range up to 25%), solar drones, electric aviation, large-scale industrial pumps"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118124 "barocaloric materials—solids that absorb or release heat when pressure is applied, suffer from inconsistent behavior during heating versus cooling making inefficient... overcome through subtle molecular tuning using crystal of: neopentyl glycol/ pentaglycerine/ 2 mol % pentaerythritol... reversible refrigeration capacity >70X greater than pure neopentyl glycol... 20X expanded cooling temperature range (>18°K) at 1 kbar... sustainable, high-efficiency refrigeration and climate control systems"

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-molecule-deposition-2d-materials-defect.html "chemically modifies inert surfaces without destroying unique electrical properties... defects act as anchors... applications: The ability to "decorate" 2D sheets with specific molecules opens doors for highly sensitive chemical sensors, more efficient catalysts, and molecular-scale transistors. In short, the study transforms "defects" into a tool for the bottom-up assembly of hybrid materials, providing a roadmap for more sophisticated and scalable 2D device manufacturing... electronics, sensors"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-heavier-hydrogen-silicon-centers-brighter.html "T center silicon defects emit/ interact with photons at telecommunications wavelengths... with ordinary hydrogen atoms energy leaks as heat, but deuterium 2x heavier so vibrates at much lower frequency preventing leaking as heat, forcing light release... T centers became significantly brighter/ excited-state lifetime extended >5X... silicon-based qubits then approach near-perfect quantum efficiency... scalable, integrable into existing manufacturing... quantum internet: same wavelengths used in fiber-optic cables"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118068 "programmable metasurfaces require external power, overcome integrating solar cell chip onto each meta-atom harvesting up to 12 mW/cm² far exceeding 0.66 mW/cm² operating consumption (1.3 hours charging powers 24 hours continuous operation... coding method achieves independent multi-beamforming across multiple harmonic frequencies simultaneously, enabling several independent communication channels...  real-time transmitted 4 different image streams to 4 separate users... 17.4 mW/ bit power consumption"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117450 "fs laser pulses induce rapid electronic temperature rise... blocking optical absorption, switching material from opaque to transparent on sub-ps timescale... enables switching across wide spectrum from visible to near-IR... occurs even with negligible photoexcited carriers... high-speed computing, enhanced wavelength-division multiplexing by handling multiple laser colors simultaneously, robust route for optical activation functions gating in scalable photonic neural networks, AI" Related: Optical synapses/ photonic brain: low-power, integrated photonic neural networks https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1115494

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118076 "no lasers (active sensors)... combines: using 2 cameras determining absolute distance (3D scale) of objects to fix the polarization data/ polarization looking at how light waves vibrate to sharpen the stereo 3D shapes... do this Iteratively until image is crisp... for video, ensure size of world doesn't appear to change as the camera/ objects move... self-driving cars navigating complex intersections, drones mapping large outdoor areas, remote sensing where using high-powered lasers isn't practical"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-drafter-downtime-llm.html "standard speculative decoding optimizes speed using small drafter model predicting several tokens larger target model then verifies in parallel optimization, but periods where small model’s overhead slows down struggling to predict hard/ highly creative tokens... overcome using confidence gate monitoring real-time drafter’s accuracy drop below certain threshold, triggering small model to sleep, large model taking over until text becomes more predictable... 25-30% increased throughput... edge computing, mobile AI"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117992 "invisible defects can cause stacking faults/ misalignments acting as charge traps weakening insulation, causing devices to leak electricity/ fail at lower voltages (faults form more readily in thicker flakes)... made visible using cathodoluminescence spectroscopy where electron beam makes material emit light, revealing hidden faults as bright, narrow lines in deep UV spectrum to better: predict device reliability/ spot these defects before they undermine device... ultrathin heterostructure electronics"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-rydberg-atoms-handheld-radio.html "uses lasers to excite rubidium or cesium atoms in glass vapor cell... radio waves from handheld device hit these atoms causing change in atoms' energy levels... monitoring these changes with lasers enables radio signals to be read... simultaneously detects/ distinguishes between all 22 channels, >53 dB isolation between neighboring channels so picks out specific signal without interference from others... high sensitivity,.. vapor cell much smaller than large, specialized antennas... high signal-to-noise ratios"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117558 "thin film structurally flexible/ tunable, unlike bulk ceramics... high-entropy/ defect engineering achieving high energy density, high breakdown strength/ stability across wide temperature ranges/ high voltages/ rapid charge-discharge... miniature: aerospace electronics/ wireless communications, medical implants, IoT devices... more efficient/ renewable energy storage, safer medical devices, multilayer ceramic capacitors used in EVs/ automotive electronics/ power inverters"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-2d-memristors-ai-energy-problem.html "performs vector-matrix multiplication, mathematical backbone of AI, directly within hardware at fraction of energy cost... can be stacked or integrated into existing CMOS (silicon) technology, offering a viable path to scaling AI hardware without requiring massive new power plants... suitable for edge AI, allowing complex AI models to run locally on small devices (like smartphones or sensors) for extended periods without needing a constant connection to a power-hungry data center" Related: SKKU develops hafnium oxide-based next-generation memory devices for AI hardware https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119575

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-reveals-power-noiseless-clock-circuit.html "distributing clock signal across chip 30 to 50% power consumed since constantly charge/ discharge capacitors also generating unwanted heat... overcome using pendulum-like jitter-free method, enabling greater speed/ increased battery life...  can be integrated into existing CMOS manufacturing processes, making it a viable candidate for the next generation of ultra-efficient microchips... smartphones, wearables, laptops, data centers, server farms"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-electrical-magnetism-2d-materials-advance.html "no high-energy magnetic field/ bulky components... low power consumption... apply small gate voltage to specific 2D van der Waals magnets, injecting/ removing charge carriers altering exchange interaction between spins, resulting in ability to switch between ferromagnetic (magnetic)/ antiferromagnetic (non-magnetic/compensated)... Van der Waals Heterostructures layered with 2D graphene or hexagonal boron nitride facilitating electrical tuning... future: room temperature quantum spintronic devices"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-smaller-device-scaling-memory.html "2D molybdenum disulfide, much lower switching voltages, higher data storage density... bridges gap between volatile memory (fast but loses data without power, like RAM) and non-volatile memory (slower but keeps data, like a hard drive), creating a best of both worlds scenario for future computing... artificial intelligence/ edge computing (where the demand for dense, low-power memory is rapidly outstripping the capabilities of current silicon hardware)... smartphones, laptops, data centers"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117579 "patented, perovskite solar cells' encapsulant improves durability/ light absorption...film surface triboelectric, single raindrop can produce >100 V... device stable in extreme conditions, including full water immersion/ repeated humidity-temperature stress cycles... environmental/ structural IoT sensors. smart cities' signaling/ autonomous auxiliary lighting/ monitoring systems, providing power for weather/ marine stations in remote/ inaccessible areas"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117453 "never-wet surfaces struggle to maintain their properties when exposed to hot water/ steam, as heat often causes protective air layer to collapse... overcome using superhydrophobic multiscale hollow glass microspheric thermal insulation coating... low-cost, scalable, repels droplets as hot as 95°C, durable: lasts >80 hours/ withstands 1 million impacts... improves efficiency/ lifespan of: steam power plants, water desalination facilities, and electronic cooling systems"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117376 "lower cost, compact, <1 (was 285) kW, -196°C liquid nitrogen temperatures, 60 (was 220)  kg, 10X more efficient with 3,265 second specific impulse... viable for small satellites: not too heavy/ power-hungry... drastically less propellant mass required, spacecraft can carry more scientific instruments or travel much further into deep space... magnetohydrodynamic (not electromagnetic) model predicts how magnetic field strength/ mass flow affect thrust, providing future design roadmap... deep space exploration"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-optical-fiber-robust-pathway.html "incorporates series of light-guiding cores arranged in spiral pattern, utilizing topological edge states, allowing light to travel along mathematically protected specific path, even when fiber bent/ stretched like in harsh environments... particularly vital for quantum internet, preserving delicate information over long distances... scalable: km of fiber wound around spool without losing protective properties... moving away from standard single-core designs toward multi-core, spiral-arranged structures"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-transmiter-technique-transplants-knowledge-ai.html "passes on learned expertise/ decision-making criteria regardless of either model's architecture/ size... observes/ organizing output results rather than modifying internal code... LLM knowledge patches real-time updated with specific domain expertise (like medical/ legal knowledge) without needing full, multi-million dollar retraining/ backpropagation... adds almost no lag to the model’s performance and significantly cuts down on post-training costs"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1114059 "(1) sensor flush against instead of protruding from aircraft detects moment ice begins to form monitoring changes in signal frequency, (2) sensor with 3 IR lasers analyzes clouds/ precipitation, differentiating harmless ice particles/ dangerous supercooled water droplets which freeze on contact, also measuring droplet size identifying most hazardous conditions... also detects black ice on roads... ice: on roads causes 20% weather-related car crashes/ build-up on planes causes 10% of fatal air carrier crashes"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-durable-polymer-based-flexible-rf.html "maintains electrical performance even after 1,000s bending/ stretching cycles... communication systems for flexible, bio-inspired robots... manufacturing process compatible with existing printing technologies, suggesting that they could be produced cost-effectively at scale. Overall, the breakthrough represents a move toward truly "seamless" flexible electronics where the wireless components are as bendable and rugged as the devices they power... wearables, foldable devices" Related: Stretchy plastics conduct electricity via tiny, whisker-like fibers https://phys.org/news/2026-02-stretchy-plastics-electricity-tiny-whisker.html

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-metamaterial-image-sensor-oblique.html "light entering at angle (oblique incidence) causes colors to mix/ efficiency to drop... overcome moving away from manual design, utilizing inverse approach using computer algorithms to autonomously find optimal nanostructure handling light from various angles... metamaterial design maintains approximately 78% optical efficiency within ±12° range... allows for thinner camera modules still producing sharp, color-accurate images... Samsung Electronics did early research, named Nano Prismand"

https://www.livescience.com/technology/computing/thermodynamic-computer-can-mimic-ai-neural-networks-using-orders-of-magnitude-less-energy-to-generate-images "uses orders magnitude less energy, potentially up to 10 billion times less... instead of 0s and 1s leverages natural thermal noise/ physical energy fluctuations... allows set of images to degrade into noise through random interactions, calculating decay process reversal probability, adjusting internal values so reversal as likely as possible, effectively generating image from noise... compared to human brain which operates on only about 20 watts... potential 3rd way of computing distinct from classical/ quantum" Related: Noise-free full-color holography under incoherent ordinary light: a quarter-wave geometric-phase route to practical 3D imaging https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1115487

https://norwegianscitechnews.com/2026/02/physicists-may-have-found-the-missing-link-for-quantum-computers/ "essential for creating Majorana particles which can perform calculations in very stable way... operate at 7°K (normally 1°K)... which is significantly easier and more practical to achieve in a laboratory or industrial setting.... experiments show behavior different than any conventional superconductor, but must be verified by other experimental groups and undergo further testing to confirm triplet status once and for all... ultra-fast quantum computers consuming almost no electricity"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1116981 "catches rapid qubit energy-loss (relaxation) rate changes once invisible to standard characterization... superconducting qubit performance often sabotaged by microscopic environmental defects fluctuating 100s times/ second ruining qubit in fraction of second... overcome using Field-Programmable Gate Array high-speed commercially available controller, updating checking at ms-speed via Bayesian model after every measurement... programmable in Python-like language... stable, large-scale quantum processors"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-noisy-2d-algorithm-imaging-ai.html "slow signal-to-noise ratios: overcome using mathematically grounded filtering of noise from signal... resolution limited by fixed templates: overcome using scales with improved detector resolution... pattern-recognition using Frobenius norm distance formula rotates reference dataset/ compares to measured data, identifies rotation yielding smallest difference, pinpointing signal's source direction... medical imaging, machine learning, weather mapping, neutrino trajectory/ cosmic event tracking"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-p-thin-power.html "up to 4X more efficient converting heat into power than existing p-type thin films... equally capable p-type counterpart to n-type (both needed)... safe, low-cost... maximum 4.26 mWK−2m−1 power factor at 300 K, thickness-dependent with highest power factor in 500 nm film... future: overcome 600°C deposition cap for possible higher efficiency... solid-state cooling method for hardware, potentially reducing the reliance on energy-heavy fans and liquid cooling systems... data centers, factories"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-nature-method-zno-quantum-dots.html "avoids high temperatures, harsh chemicals, complex liquid solvents... [RZn(X)]ₙ cluster organozinc crystals act as tiny reaction chambers... humid air adsorbs onto crystal surface triggering controlled hydrolysis... R–Zn and Zn–X bonds within crystal break down, forming uniformly sized ZnO quantum dots (4.5 nm across) inside hydrogen-bonded organic matrix semiconductor in 3 to 4 days... all-solid-state low-energy... quantum dots precisely controlled/ extracted... electronics, sensors, energy"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117192 "normal-dispersion Kerr hybrid microcomb capable of reaching difficult to access spectral bands... rotated racetrack-shaped resonator suppresses interference... requires significantly less power... provides wider line spacing for high-speed telecommunications/ spectroscopic sensors... combs coexist with high-speed electro-optical controls on same mm-scale circuit... miniaturized atomic clocks, gas sensors, and ultra-fast data communication systems" Related: Phonon lasers unlock ultrabroadband acoustic frequency combs https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117216

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117033 "hear echo of own signals, creating self-interaction protecting quantum information/ providing form of system memory... multiple natural atoms share single quantum state, enabling quantum information from multiple qubits to be stored/ controlled without need for increasingly complex external circuitry... scalable hybrid approach facilitates entanglement distribution... highly stable... potentially connecting different types of quantum technologies... large-scale quantum computing over longer distances"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-microscopic-mirrors-future-quantum-networks.html "thermal oxidation on silicon wafer flattens surface irregularities at atomic level, dielectric coating deposited on smoothed surface, then when underlying silicon etched away built-in mechanical stress causes released coating to buckle into curved high-quality mirror shape suitable as optical cavity... single photon bounces back/ forth nearly 1 million X ensuring strong interactions between photons/ single atoms... quantum networks, modular quantum computing, integrated photonics"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117040 "significant lithium-ion battery technical upgrade... unlike slurry-based electrodes, more robust, better conductivity, can be made thicker without losing effectiveness... synergistic coupling between binder/ reactive carbon it protects by partially coating... suppresses side reactions typically occurring at high voltages, eliminates need for toxic solvents and energy-intensive drying stages... better-connected conductive network, improved structural/ chemical stability during cycling, faster EV charging" Related: Longer-range electric vehicles: Dry-process electrodes use a lithium film to curb early losses https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-longer-range-electric-vehicles-dry.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1116897 "polymer capacitors often brittle/ unusable under heat if without heavy/ expensive cooling... overcome using alloy having dielectric constant of 13.5 (value of 4 for each polymer alone), maintaining that value from -148 to 482°F... like oil/ water, the polymers don't mix, which promotes self-assembly into 3D structure that creates barriers against electric charge leaks... scalable since components cheap/ assembly simple... EVs' power electronics, aerospace, data centers, manufacturing"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-amplifier-noise-gain-quantum.html "fast, high-resolution (single-shot), amplification/ readout of several qubits at once... spiraled, fishbone-like, tapered waveguide bypasses noise issue by eliminating lossy dielectric materials... reduces noise to 0.68 quanta, merely 0.18 quanta above quantum limit... fabricated using standard techniques... high-performance, accessible method for signal processing, facilitating simultaneous readout of multiple qubits, which is essential for managing the complexity of larger-scale quantum processors"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1116677 "individual pixels 49 nm... code milled into thin ceramic films using focused ion beams, ensuring chemically/ physically stable long-term data storage unlike magnetic and electronic media/ hard drives lasting only a few years... requires no energy/ cooling to maintain data once written... single A4 sheet could theoretically hold over 2 terabytes... data centers... future: increasing writing speeds and developing scalable manufacturing processes for more complex data structures" 

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1116775 "need for mechanical compressor prepping air for ignition wastes half of power generated... instead uses energy from fluid-mechanical instability/ vortice generated high pressure detonation waves within (without harming) combustion chamber transferred to turbine... reduces moving parts, lowers weight, significantly increases net power output, ideal using hydrogen due to its rapid reaction time but also works with other fuels... more cost-effective, ultra-efficient turbines for grid power generation, aviation"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-miniaturized-radar-chip-generation-wireless.html "overcomes chirp speed/ measurement accuracy trade-off... avoids complex digital predistortion, instead uses ramp tracker/ voltage-controlled oscillator calibration block... balances n-/p- channel metal-oxide-semiconductor varactors with opposing nonlinear characteristics to self-compensate for distortions. core circuit only 0.24 mm², mere 9.8 mW power, 1562.8 MHz/μs chirp rate at 1 GHz, 0.094% frequency modulation error... handles high-speed data and precise distance/ motion sensing simultaneously"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-optical-protocol-entangled-quantum-states.html "measuring: destroys quantum state leaving no states left for actual use/ requires exponential number of copies as system grows/ usually assumes every state generated by source is identical... overcome using active optical switches creating non-destructive verification... switches randomly divert small subset of photons to verifier for certification; remaining for quantum task... same speed source generates photons... functions even if states not identical, allows device-independent certification ensuring security"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1116142 "immune-priming agent rather than direct pathogen targeting... more rapidly recruits/ more effectively activates neutrophils (1st-line defense cells) to infection site... untreated control group had 0% survival rate... immune activation only triggers in pathogen's presence, avoiding chronic inflammation/ overstimulation in healthy states... alternative to antibiotics/ vaccines, pathogen agnostic: not hindered by viral mutations/ drug resistance... critically ill in ICUs, immunocompromised, elderly, future pandemics" Related: Scientists create universal nasal spray vaccine that protects against COVID, flu, and pneumonia https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260222092258.htm

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1112949 "overcomes irreversible signal loss/ limited triggers/ natural non-emissivity under ambient conditions due to concentration-caused quenching... pressure induces phase transition (monoclinic-to-triclinic)/ N,N-dimethylformamide exposure triggers bright yellow emission with 97% photoluminescence quantum yield... gentle heating removes solvent, reversing... 0D hybrid framework allows for significant structural distortion without compromising integrity >10+ cycles... anti-counterfeiting, optical computing, sensors"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111763 "double-layer liquid crystal processes information using light propagation's laws, not digital conversion, switching between twisted/ non-twisted states (synthetic phase modulation)... high-speed, low-power, integrates 8 image processing functions into single architecture: single /dual-channel bright-field imaging, vortex filtering, 1D edge enhancement, vertex recognition, resolution-tunable edge extraction based on photonic spin Hall effect... front-end processor for autonomous driving, biomedical imaging"

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-barriers-solid-state-batteries-pure.html "introducing oxygen/ sulfur (divalent anions) into low-cost zirconium- based halide solid electrolyte’s crystal framework alters internal architecture, lowering lithium ions' energy barriers allowing them to move more freely through solid medium... improved lithium-ion mobility by two to four times compared to conventional zirconium-based electrolytes... cheaper, faster, room-temperature charging all-solid-state lithium batteries"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-safer-effective-solution-large-scale.html "bismuth electrodeposition onto electrodes speeds up chromium redox reactions >10X, inhibits hydrogen gas parasitic evolution energy waste/ destabilization... stable >500 cycles, 99.29% coulombic efficiency, 75.22% energy efficiency, aqueous electrolytes (non-flammable), iron/ chromium widely available/ inexpensive... energy storage (liquid tank)/ power generation (electrode stack) separation allows for massive, long-duration storage... scalable, durable, economical" Related: Safer batteries for storing energy at massive scale https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1116882

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-atom-thin-ferroelectric-transistor-polarization.html "2 orders magnitude more memory states for more granular synaptic connection strengths in neuromorphic AI... transistor few atoms thick, stable >100K seconds even at room temperature, 93% accurate running image recognition AI algorithm, durable, fast switching... energy efficient, non-volatile... mechanical exfoliation, then dry-transfer stacking without solvents... applying DC voltage pulses/ gate voltages for on-demand modulation within the moiré potential. scale to wafer-size production" Related: Strong correlations and superconductivity observed in a supermoiré lattice https://phys.org/news/2026-02-strong-superconductivity-supermoir-lattice.html

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-compleximer-plastic-glass-impact-resistance.html "amber-colored, can be heated/ blown/ kneaded into precise shapes, highly impact-resistant, applying heat/ pressing repairs cracks... no rigid chemical bonds (cross-links) tying molecular chains together... uses opposing electrical charges (half the molecular chains positive, others negative) pulling together like magnets work over greater distance than chemical bonds, leaving more space between chains for flexibility/ strength... future: biobased versions for longevity/ restoration rather than just recycling"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-hologram-method-boosts-3d-image.html "intelligent microscope captures/ computationally merges set of holograms at different focal distances creating synthetic hologram... 5x increased depth of focus, maintains high image quality/ signal-to-noise ratios even under diffusive illumination (common imaging thick/ complex biological samples)... post-recording flexibility facilitating study of complex tissue dynamics and biological structures that are typically difficult to capture with static imaging systems" Related: Longitudinally engineered metasurfaces for 3D vectorial holography https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119056

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-based-3d-method-enables-finer.html "higher precision/ efficiency positioning sound source closer to printing surface... works with materials required for flexible electronics/ microfluidics... achieves complex, multi-material features up to 10X smaller using less power... much higher repeatability/ consistency... healthcare: faster medical diagnostic tool prototyping, lab-on-a-chip systems, wearables: advanced flexible sensors/ soft robotic components, environmental monitoring: highly sensitive microscale sensors for real-time data collection"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1116387 "lasers have physical limits on how small they can be while remaining functional, overcome using light-trapping nanocavity allowing room temperature laser operation at exceptionally low power... ultra-compact so 1000's lasers integrated onto single microchip... halves computer/ data center energy consumption, faster with minimal heat/ energy loss... high-resolution imaging, ultrasensitive biosensors, seamless transition from fiber optics into chip's internal architecture... future: electrical pumping"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1116354 "drop-casting results in messy inefficient layers, overcome using narrow glass slits guiding drying, forcing graphene flakes into highly ordered, laminated structure optimizing electron/ ion movement... mild sulfuric acid converts inactive epoxy groups into electrochemically active hydroxyl groups, adding pseudocapacitance... result: durable, freestanding film not needing substrate... high efficiency, 1,589.78 mF cm^-2 areal capacitance, 99.80% cycling stability after 20K cycles... compact, flexible electronics"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1116319 "protons become stuck near dopant atoms, overcome using donor co-doping: donor elements molybdenum/ tungsten into barium scandate base (having inherent oxygen vacancies) achieves: proton trapping suppression allowing protons to move freely in 3D, high mobile protons concentration... resulting perovskite-type oxide exhibits superprotonic conductivity of 0.01 S/cm at 193°C/ 0.10 S/cm at 330 °C... chemically stable around CO2, O2, H2... protonic ceramic fuel cells, efficient hydrogen-to-electricity"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1115813 "loop allows light to build up complex relationships naturally over repeated passes, using standard LCD/ LED components... passive or low-power optics drastically reduces heat/ energy... photons do not interact with one another, allowing multiple signals to pass through simultaneously at speed of light... uses abundant/ cheaper materials... edge computing enables smaller, more efficient advanced AI to run on drones, medical sensors, cars without needing cloud connection or draining batteries"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-lithium-based-green-phosphors-rival.html "lithium rare-earth oxonitridolithosilicates' crystal structure: 4-membered silicate rings linked by layered lithium tetrahedra... rare earth activator ions positioned in square-antiprismatic environment coordinated by 4 oxygen/ 4 nitrogen highly efficient anions... lower synthesis temperature, abundant materials... this lithium-based green phosphor LED prototype fabricated/ confirmed competitive with current market standards for green luminescence, as required for ubiquitous white-light LEDs

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-ai-analog-layout.html "unlike digital circuits, difficult to automate: high sensitivity, data scarcity (proprietary), design strategies vary significantly between different circuit types... self-supervised learning similar to LLM training... predicts missing layout parts looking at surrounding data patches... generated 320K training samples from 6 existing datasets... fine-tuned for contact/ via generation, dummy pattern insertion, N-well generation, metal routing. 96.6% accuracy, using only 12.5% data required by conventional... 1 model/ multiple tasks" Related:  Thermal constraining technique pioneers next-generation AI semiconductors https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117407

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1115976 "instead of filtering static image, treat single infrared frame as part of temperature sequence during thermal equilibrium... 3-step non-linear spatio-temporal transformation creates/ analyzes filters simulating IR image sequences at different temperature intervals finding spatio-temporal correlations... Zero-Reference Deep Curve Estimation model constructs high-order, pixel-level curve to map out and predict the final enhanced image... firefighting masks"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1115989 "low threshold voltage making prone to accidental switching due to electrical noise, overcome suppressing positive charges accumulation at critical interfaces within gate, enabling ultrahigh >4 V turn-on voltage mimicking silicon-based chip stability... narrow safety margins often leak/ fail if experience >5–6 V, now safe from gate breakdown up to 15.5 V, reducing gate leakage up to 10,000X... developed patented gate stack using aluminium–titanium oxide... expected widespread deployment in high-value electronics"

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-current-loss-newly-fractional-quantum.html "2 layers molybdenum ditelluride twisted at specific angle suffers from energy lost as heat... overcome using: horizontal flux growth increasing charge-carrier mobility >10X, refined fabrication significantly reducing twist-angle disorder between layers... when tuned to 2/3rd filling electronic state, resistance nearly vanished/ electricity flowed along material's edges with essentially no energy loss... unlike standard quantum Hall states, energy gap decreased as magnetic field was applied... low-power quantum devices"  Related: Using light to probe fractional charges in a fractional Chern insulator https://phys.org/news/2026-02-probe-fractional-chern-insulator.html Energy loss triggers quantum thermal Hall-like effect at macroscopic scale https://phys.org/news/2026-02-energy-loss-triggers-quantum-thermal.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1115841 "silicon: high optical loss/ polarization sensitivity degrade quantum signals... overcome using more stable/ efficient borosilicate glass photonic chip... low 1 dB loss, handles all light orientations, laser writing for more compact/ reduced scattering 3D waveguide routing, highly resistant to thermal/ mechanical fluctuations over 8+ hours, integrates beam splitters/ phase shifters/ directional couplers... record 42.7 Gbit/s secure rate for an RNG, generated secret keys at 3.2 Mbit/s over simulated 9.3-km fiber link"