Miho Yanagisawa, an associate professor at the University of Tokyo; Hiroki Sakuta, a project assistant professor; Arash Nikoubashman, a Heisenberg Professor at the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden; and their colleagues have identified a new physicochemical principle governing liquid–liquid phase separation in polymer solutions. Their research demonstrates that during the separation of a polymer mixture into two fluid phases, coexisting ions are unequally distributed between the phases. Using an established aqueous two-phase system composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and dextran (Dex), the researchers discovered that positively charged ions preferentially accumulate in the Dex-rich phase due to its slightly more negative charge than PEG. This ion partitioning drives the selective localization of negatively charged biomolecules within the Dex-rich phase. The study provides the first direct quantitative evidence of ion accumulation in liquid–liquid phase-separated systems. It offers new insights into molecular selectivity relevant to intracellular phase separation and biomolecular separation technologies.

A pioneering open-source modeling framework is enabling mapping of high-resolution, stakeholder-informed pathways to net-zero emissions for nations worldwide. Researchers at Princeton University describe a new standard for decision-support modeling, drawing from their experiences leading the influential Net-Zero America project and catalyzing an expanding global network of "Net-Zero X" studies.

Associate Professor Yuichiro Matsushita of Materials and Structures Laboratory, Institute of Science Tokyo, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Associate Professor Takahide Umeda of Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba and Quemix Corporation  announced today that they have achieved the world’s first¹ elucidation of how hydrogen produces free electrons² through the interaction with certain defects³ in silicon. The achievement has the potential to improve how insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) are designed and manufactured, making them more efficient and reducing their power loss. It is also expected to open up possibilities for future devices using ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) materials.⁴

Researchers have successfully constructed Bayesian Neural Network models to describe fragment yields in photon-induced fission reactions of thorium isotopes, ranging from ²¹⁶Th to ²³²Th. The models not only accurately reproduce experimental data but also reveal the systematic evolution of fission mechanisms from asymmetric to symmetric fission along the thorium isotopic chain, providing crucial theoretical support for nuclear data libraries and advanced reactor design.

Researchers from University of Rostock and University of Hamburg have demonstrated for the first time that hidden symmetries can be used to transfer quantum states. Their experiments in a photonic system show that even in networks without any visible symmetry, reliable high-fidelity quantum state transfer is possible. Their findings pave the way towards new architectures for secure quantum communication and cryptography.

A research team from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a novel DNA origami-based technique to synthesize stable, monolithic amorphous silver nanostructures under ambient conditions. By using DNA scaffold with fivefold rotational symmetry, the method introduces geometric frustration that effectively suppresses crystallization in metallic silver, a traditionally challenging feat due to the natural tendency of silver to form crystalline structures. Detailed characterization and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that these amorphous silver domains exhibit high stability and disordered atomic arrangements, opening new avenues for innovative applications in electronics, catalysis, and plasmonics.

PPPL is leading STELLAR-AI, a new platform that pairs artificial intelligence with high performance computing to dramatically speed fusion energy simulations and connect computing resources directly to experimental devices like NSTX-U. The project, part of the national Genesis Mission, brings together national labs, universities, tech giants and fusion companies to build the computational foundation the fusion community needs.

Water behaves in remarkable ways when heated and pressurized beyond its critical point. Under these extreme conditions, known as supercritical water, it no longer acts like an ordinary liquid. Instead, it takes on properties similar to organic solvents, dissolving hydrocarbons efficiently and transporting molecules rapidly. These unique features make supercritical water a promising green medium for energy conversion technologies such as biomass gasification, plastic recycling, and in situ fuel extraction.

Important everyday products—from plastics to detergents—are made through chemical reactions that mostly use precious metals such as platinum as catalysts. Newly identified methods to harness the properties of tungsten carbide could yield viable substitutes for platinum.