Simulations of equations from the Standard Model of particle physics are too difficult for classical supercomputers. In this research, scientists for the first time created scalable quantum circuits to prepare a simulation of the starting state for a particle accelerator collision to test aspects of strong interactions. The researchers first determined these circuits for small systems using classical computers, then scaled the quantum circuits to a large system on more than 100 qubits of IBM’s quantum computers.

A novel molecular thermometer based on color-changing fluorescent dyes achieves unprecedented sensitivity and resolution when measuring temperatures within living cells, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. These compounds can measure minute temperature variations through changes in their fluorescence wavelength and intensity. This breakthrough could reveal previously undetectable thermal processes in cellular compartments, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of temperature-dependent biological functions and aiding in the development of advanced materials.

Empa researchers from the nanotech@surfaces laboratory have experimentally recreated another fundamental theoretical model from quantum physics, which goes back to the Nobel Prize laureate Werner Heisenberg. The basis for the successful experiment was a kind of “quantum Lego” made of tiny carbon molecules known as nanographenes. This synthetic bottom-up approach enables versatile experimental research into quantum technologies, which could one day help drive breakthroughs in the field.

With artificial photosynthesis, mankind could utilise solar energy to bind carbon dioxide and produce hydrogen. Chemists from Würzburg and Seoul have taken this one step further: They have synthesised a stack of dyes that comes very close to the photosynthetic apparatus of plants. It absorbs light energy, uses it to separate charge carriers and transfers them quickly and efficiently in the stack. The results are published in the journal Nature Chemistry.

This study, published in Earth and Planetary Physics, explores the subduction thermal state, slab metamorphism, and seismic activity in the Makran Subduction Zone. Using 3-D thermal modeling, the research examines the thermal structure of the subducting slab, the resulting metamorphic processes, and their relationship to earthquake generation. The findings provide crucial insights into the dynamics of subduction zones, with significant implications for understanding seismic hazards in the region.