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Chemistry & Physics

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 4-May-2026 06:15 ET (4-May-2026 10:15 GMT/UTC)

New technique for synthesizing branched molecules could accelerate the development of future medicines

Scripps Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scripps Research chemists solve a longstanding problem in the construction of branched molecular frameworks, unlocking a faster path to the complex structures found in drugs and materials.

Journal: Science

Physicists zero in on the mass of the fundamental W boson particle

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

An international team reports a new, ultraprecise measurement of the mass of the W boson that’s in line with predictions of the Standard Model, physicists’ best rulebook for describing the fundamental particles and forces of nature.

Journal: Nature
Funder: U.S. Department of Energy, SubMIT computing facility, sponsored by the MIT Department of Physics

UH engineer exposes structural weakness driving lithium-ion battery failure

University of Houston
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A University of Houston engineer has found that lithium dendrites—hazardous growths inside lithium-ion batteries that power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles—are unexpectedly strong and brittle, signaling a need to rethink future battery design.

Journal: Science

A new trick brings stability to quantum operations

ETH Zurich
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Quantum exchange or swap gates are an important part of quantum computers with a large number of qubits. Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a swap gate for qubits made of neutral atoms that is based on a particular physical effect: the state of the particles switches depending on the path they take and is independent of external disturbances. These so-called geometric phases make the system much less susceptible to experimental noise or imperfections. This novel swap gate works with a precision of more than 99,9 percent and can be applied to 17,000 qubits simultaneously.

Journal: Nature

Insilico Medicine nominates ISM6200, a potential best-in-class selective NR3C1 inhibitor for ovarian cancer, Cushing’s Syndrome, hypercortisolism-associated obesity and glaucoma

InSilico Medicine
Business Announcement

Insilico Medicine (03696.HK), a clinical-stage, generative AI-driven drug discovery company, today announced the nomination of ISM6200 as a potent, potentially best-in-class preclinical candidate (PCC) targeting NR3C1, for the treatment of ovarian cancer, Hypercortisolism (Cushing’s Syndrome), and other disorders related to excess cortisol including obesity. The process was empowered by Chemistry42, the generative chemistry engine affiliated to Insilico’s Pharma.AI, as well as the specialized applications across the molecule discovery and optimization cycle.

Optical control of nuclear spins in molecules points to new paths for quantum technologies

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have reported important progress in quantum physics and materials science by optically initializing, controlling, and reading out nuclear spin states in a molecular material for the first time. Because of their weak interaction with the environment, nuclear spins are particularly stable quantum information carriers. The research shows that molecular nuclear spins could be a promising building block for future quantum technologies. The results have been published in Nature Materials. (DOI: 10.1038/s41563-026-02539-0)

Journal: Nature Materials

A high-performance photodetector with precision in structure and power detection

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are among the most promising materials for optoelectronic device applications. Now, researchers have unveiled a new class of high-performance photodetectors based on QD superlattices, marking a significant advancement in optoelectronics. By precisely organizing semiconductor QDs into ordered architectures, they achieved enhanced charge transport and device efficiency. This breakthrough establishes a clear pathway for next-generation light-detection technologies, with potential applications in imaging, sensing, and advanced photonic systems.

Journal: Advanced Optical Materials
Funder: Iketani Science and Technology Foundation, Thermal and Electric Energy Technology (TEET) Foundation, The Support Center for Advanced Telecommunications Technology Research (SCAT) Foundation, 2024 RIKEN Incentive Research Projects

AMOC collapse could turn Southern Ocean into carbon source, adding 0.2°C to global warming

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A shutdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could trigger a substantial release of stored ocean carbon into the atmosphere over hundreds of years, according to a new study that simulated such a collapse under stable climate conditions. This would add 0.2°C of extra global warming. The new paper from researchers at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), published in Nature’s Communications Earth & Environment, highlights the AMOC’s role as a key regulator of the global climate.

Journal: Communications Earth & Environment

Dual-functional Cr3+-doped InP quantum dots: breaking through synergistic regulation of pure blue emission and room-temperature ferromagnetism

HEP Data Cooperation Journals
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A pioneering breakthrough in InP-based quantum dots (QDs) is achieved, realizing the first synergistic regulation of efficient pure blue emission and room-temperature ferromagnetism. This work provides new materials for spintronic devices and offers a novel design framework for the optical and magnetic regulation of III-V QDs, advancing the practical application of cadmium-free semiconductor opto-magnetic integrated devices.

Journal: Advanced Powder Materials

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