EurekAlert! News by Subject: Chemistry & Physics - News by Subject: Chemistry & Physics

Chemistry & Physics

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 8-Oct-2025 08:10 ET (8-Oct-2025 12:10 GMT/UTC)

Layered semiconductor shows potential for next-gen data storage

Washington State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A squishy, layered material that dramatically transforms under pressure could someday help computers store more data with less energy. That’s according to a new study by researchers at Washington State University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte that shows a hybrid zinc telluride-based material can undergo surprising structural changes when squeezed together like a molecular sandwich.

Journal: AIP Advances
Funder: U.S. Department of Energy

Cell colonies under pressure – how growth can prevent motion

Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The interaction between growth and the active migration of cells plays a crucial role in the spatial mixing of growing cell colonies. This connection was discovered by scientists from the Department of Living Matter Physics at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS). Their results provide new approaches to understanding the dynamics of bacterial colonies and tumors.

Journal: Communications Physics

First atomic map of an agricultural model virus sheds light on its possible mechanism of infection

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University

Researchers have uncovered the atomic structure of the bacteriophage φTE, which infects and kills the plant pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum.
Using cryo-electron microscopy, they revealed unique structural features that shed light on φTE’s infection mechanism.
This discovery could help develop biological alternatives to chemical treatments for plant bacterial diseases.

Journal: Nature Communications

Unveiling the 3D crystal secrets of defective nanoparticles

Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Metal oxyhydroxides are nanoparticles with wide industrial applications, but determining their exact structure is often challenging. Recently, a research team from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has developed an advanced imaging method called “lattice correlation analysis” to reveal the detailed 3D atomic structure of titanium oxyhydroxide nanoparticles. By leveraging data-driven insights, this method unlocks the crystal attributes without causing any damage, thus marking a milestone in the study of sensitive nanomaterials.

Journal: Communications Chemistry

AI learns to uncover the hidden atomic structure of crystals

Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists at Columbia Engineering have created a machine learning algorithm that can observe the pattern produced by nanocrystals to infer the material’s atomic structure, as described in a new study published in Nature Materials.

Journal: Nature Materials
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation, DOE/US Department of Energy, DOE/US Department of Energy, Columbia Data Science Institute

Record-breaking efficiency achieved in all-organic solar cells!

Kanazawa University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The power conversion efficiency of all-organic solar cells was doubled through the development of novel organic electrodes that can be fabricated using a moderate process.

Journal: Advanced Functional Materials

Photonics M3 (Manufacturing, Manipulation, Measurement) Conference

Chinese Society for Optical Engineering
Meeting Announcement

The Photonics M³ (Manufacturing, Manipulation, Measurement) Conference will be held from 1–4 August in the vibrant setting of Bali, Indonesia, bringing together global experts, researchers, and industry leaders to explore cutting-edge advancements in photonics technologies.

Attendees will engage with pioneering research across five key themes: Information Optics, Biomedical Optics, Meta Optics, Advanced Optical Fabrication and Manipulation, and Ultra Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments. These topics reflect the conference’s focus on bridging theoretical innovation with practical applications in photonics manufacturing, manipulation techniques, and ultra-precision measurement systems.

By fostering knowledge exchange among academia, industry, and metrology institutions, the Photonics M³ Conference aims to accelerate breakthroughs in next-generation photonic technologies. Participants will also enjoy networking opportunities in Bali’s inspiring environment, ideal for sparking collaborations that transcend geographical and disciplinary boundaries.

Join us to shape the future of photonics—submit your work and register today!