Researchers at McGill University have developed a novel device that generates sound-like particles known as phonons at extremely cold temperatures. The technology could be used to create phonon lasers, with possible applications in communications and medical diagnostics.

The harbour porpoise is the smallest marine mammal in European seas, yet its Black Sea population is currently listed as Endangered. A primary threat is accidental entanglement in turbot fishing nets, which kills thousands of porpoises annually. A new study by Bulgarian researchers, published in the journal Nature Conservation, reveals the PAL Wideband acoustic deterrent (pinger) as a promising solution. When deployed on nets, the device reduces porpoise bycatch by 74%, offering a powerful tool to prevent unnecessary deaths and protect this endangered species.

Synthetic materials rarely mimic the dynamic helicity observed in biological systems like DNA and proteins, often forming fixed structures early in assembly. Inspired by this adaptability, researchers at Chiba University, Keele University, Shizuoka University, Kanazawa University, and Ritsumeikan University developed a chlorophyll-based supramolecular polymer that gradually evolves from nonhelical fibers into helical structures through intermediate stages. This stepwise, cooperative transformation offers a new strategy for designing adaptive materials with tunable optical and electronic properties.

After a surprising discovery that overcomes a longstanding problem in fiber optics, MIT researchers demonstrated a biomedical imaging technique that is faster and more precise than other methods, which could help scientists and clinicians study new brain therapies.

Interpreting Fermi surface data requires specialized expertise and is vulnerable to noise, creating a bottleneck in materials research. Researchers now demonstrate a machine learning approach that can analyze simulated Fermi surface images of the alloy Co₂MnGa_xGe_1-x and automatically identify compositions where the Fermi surface morphology changes, even in blurred or noisy data. The method reduces the need for manual screening and could accelerate the discovery of advanced electronic materials.

A rainbow reveals with colours what otherwise remains hidden: light is “refracted” by transparent matter, in this case water droplets. This same physical effect underlies many everyday technologies, like LCD screens and broadband connections based on fibre-optic cables. Light refraction is caused by an interaction between light and the atoms of matter. This brings the light waves slightly out of sync, so to speak. “X-ray light” is “refracted”, too. But the effect is difficult to measure here. A miniature device now offers a novel approach: Researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and Hamburg, together with partners, have built the world's smallest X-ray interferometer, to their knowledge. It has enabled them to precisely measure, for the first time, the refraction of X-rays confined to a few nanometres, and to deduce how they interact with atomic nuclei. The study was published in the journal Nature Photonics.

Understanding the Sun’s active regions is crucial for predicting space weather, but scientists have historically lacked continuous, detailed measurements of the Sun's hidden far side. New research by a team of scientists led by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) National Solar Observatory have developed a novel approach to estimate the magnetic configuration of these hidden regions using helioseismic data (sound waves within the Sun). The method relies on crucial helioseismic data including measurements from the NSF-NOAA Global Oscillation Network Group (NSF-NOAA GONG), operated by NSO with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This breakthrough paves the way for a more complete, full-Sun map of magnetic activity when combined with observations of the front-side to improve simulations of the solar environment and help forecasters anticipate potentially hazardous solar events.

Tokyo, Japan – A scientist from Tokyo Metropolitan University has proposed using safety monitoring at synchrotron facilities to study the properties of dark photons, hypothetical particles proposed to explain dark matter. Calculations showed that the X-ray source at these sites and a Geiger-Muller counter behind safety shielding could be used to propose limits on how strongly dark photons interact with normal photons. The experiment would not involve a dedicated facility and can run alongside other experiments.