A joint research team from NIMS and the University of Tokyo developed a new composite in which three-dimensional nano-interfaces are distributed throughout the material, by coating the surface of magnetic insulator powders with metal and sintering them. Using this structure, the team succeeded in observing thermoelectric conversion driven by spins in an insulator, a phenomenon previously observed only at nanoscale thin-film interfaces, in a macroscale material. This research result, which provides a new material design paradigm for effectively utilizing thermal energy in insulators, was published in Nature Communications on July 21, 2026.

The BESIII Collaboration, led by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has achieved the world's most precise measurement of the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the Lambda (Λ) hyperon using quantum-entangled Λ–anti-Λ pairs produced in J/ψ decays. The result improves the experimental sensitivity by about three orders of magnitude compared with the previous measurement, providing a new way to probe charge-parity (CP) violation in particles containing strange quarks.

New research reveals a promising new target for treating cancer by harnessing a type of molecule previously thought to do more harm than good.  

For decades, reactive oxygen species, or ROS, often called free radicals, have been viewed primarily as harmful molecules linked to aging, DNA damage and cancer. A new study co-led by Oregon Health & Science University finds that cancer-fighting T cells need small amounts of ROS to attack tumors.  

The investigators discovered that cancers exploit the T cell need for ROS by releasing an antioxidant protein that removes ROS from the tumor environment, effectively shutting down the attack by the immune system upon the cancer. 

Published today in the journal Science, the findings identify a previously unknown way tumors escape immune attack and point to a promising new target for cancer immunotherapy. 

The complex properties of spin glasses inspired aspects of modern AI software, and now physicists have produced an atomic-level spin glass that can store and recall memories. The new spin glass can retrieve complete memories from partial or degraded information, acting as an associative memory. It demonstrated memory recall storage capacity well beyond what was theorized for spin glass. While the study describes proof-of-principle work done with extremely cold atoms, the system could eventually point toward more efficient AI training and resource utilization.

While most believe artificial intelligence (AI) is changing science, researchers at the University of Notre Dame are exploring the reverse. In an article published in Chemical Reviews, AI and chemistry experts alike discussed how the intricacies of organic chemistry are changing the way researchers design AI technology, leading the way for a new generation of development. 

Researchers led by the University of Osaka developed a reusable light-responsive adhesive that switches adhesion at the interface instead of weakening the whole material. UV-A light reduces interfacial adhesion, enabling selective peeling without observable residue, while UV-C light restores adhesion. The response was retained through repeated cycles without solvent processing. The approach could simplify disassembly, repair, and recycling of electronics, vehicles, and semiconductor components, supporting more circular manufacturing across industries.

In a recent study published in Advanced Functional Materials, Virginia Tech researchers demonstrated a tape with adhesive and plastic backing layers that can be recycled together. The researchers describe their tape as “mono-material” design since both layers are chemically similar but perform different functions.

Polarization-sensitive photodetectors are critical for advanced optical imaging, secure near-infrared communication and optical encryption, yet most existing two-dimensional devices suffer from narrow spectral coverage, weak anisotropic response and reliance on external power. A collaborative Chinese research team has engineered a vertical van der Waals heterostructure by stacking black phosphorus (BP) with low-symmetry Nb₂SiTe₄, constructing a self-driven photodetector covering an ultra-broad spectrum from ultraviolet (360 nm) to short-wave infrared (2200 nm). The atomically sharp heterointerfaces create strong built-in electric fields for fast charge separation, while intentional symmetry breaking drastically amplifies optical anisotropy, yielding a maximum dichroic ratio of 10.4 under 2200 nm illumination. Proof-of-concept demonstrations validate the device’s capacity for single-pixel polarization-resolved imaging and dual-wavelength polarization encryption and decryption, paving a practical route toward low-power, multifunctional polarization optoelectronic hardware.