Understanding the physics of nonlinear optical response in subwavelength plasmonic resonators is of fundamental importance for controlling light with light at the nanoscale. Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have now harnessed magnetic dipole resonances in an ultra-compact plasmonic nanocavity to achieve Lorentz-force-driven second-harmonic generation. This work suggests a novel mechanism beyond conventional dipole electric field enhancement, and it provides a versatile framework for nonlinear nanophotonics, paving the way for developing efficient nonlinear devices.

A joint team has uncovered how soft, deformable particles, like cells, behave in microfluidic channels. Using precisely fabricated hydrogel particles and simulations on the supercomputer "Fugaku," they demonstrated that particle softness dramatically alters their focusing patterns, deviating significantly from rigid particle behavior. These findings reveal distinct "phase transitions" in focusing, shifting from mid-edge to eight-point, diagonal-edge, and finally center focusing as deformability increases. This breakthrough, explained by a new theoretical model incorporating inertia and deformability, offers crucial insights for designing next-generation microfluidic devices for highly efficient cell sorting and other biomedical applications like early cancer detection. The ability to control particle focusing based on deformability opens exciting possibilities for advanced particle manipulation and separation technologies.

Heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils is a growing global threat — but scientists may have found a sustainable solution.

Turning livestock manure into biochar has been hailed as a climate-friendly way to recycle waste, lock away carbon, and make farming more sustainable. But new research suggests that this “green” solution may not be as stable as once believed—especially in regions with harsh winters.

The U.S. National Science Foundation and United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) are investing in eight joint research projects that could open the door to breakthroughs in quantum computing, ultra-precise navigation and secure communications. The effort is supported by $4.7 million from NSF and £4.2 million from UKRI's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Each project brings together U.S. and U.K. researchers to tackle an underexplored area in science: how quantum information affects chemical reactions and molecular systems, and how that knowledge can be put to use. The UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering’s research project, funded with more than $636,000, is headed by Prof. David Awschalom and Prof. Giulia Galli, with Prof. Danna Freedman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

New simulations of neutron star mergers reveal that the mixing and changing of tiny particles called neutrinos impacts how the merger unfolds, as well as the resulting emissions. The findings have implications for longstanding questions about the origins of metals and rare earth elements as well as understanding physics in extreme environments.