With their spontaneous electrical polarisations switchable by an external electric field, ferroelectrics have wide-ranging applications in transistors, memory, neuromorphic devices and more. In particular, two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectrics produced at the nanometre scale have emerged as superior materials for ultra-thin devices.

A new study by Prof. Shalva Weil from the Seymour Fox School of Education at the Hebrew University reveals that the unique Purim traditions of the Cochin Jewish community, particularly the use of effigies as symbols of resistance and social inversion, have disappeared following their migration to Israel. Once deeply embedded in their communal identity in India, these traditions faded as the community integrated into the broader global Jewish experience. While Cochin Jewry no longer exists as a significant presence in India beyond positive memories, their cultural legacy persists in Israel, albeit in a transformed and assimilated manner.

Researchers from Okayama University of Science have made a groundbreaking discovery, identifying bitter taste receptors in keratinocytes (skin cells). Previously thought to exist only on the tongue, these receptors detect and expel harmful substances from the skin, serving as a crucial protective mechanism. The study reveals that upon binding to harmful substances, these receptors activate efflux pumps to remove them from cells, highlighting a novel biological defense system in the skin. This finding paves the way for potential applications in developing skin protectants and anti-inflammatory treatments. The research, conducted in collaboration with Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo, was published in FASEB BioAdvances.

Researchers developed crossing matrices to classify doubly periodic weaves, addressing challenges in mathematical modeling of woven structures. This breakthrough enables systematic analysis of periodic entanglements, with applications in materials science, fabric design, and nanostructure development.

A new study has uncovered the dual medicinal and edible value of Panax ginseng, a herb cherished in traditional Chinese medicine for over two millennia. The research explores its bioactive ingredients, therapeutic mechanisms, processing techniques, and potential product development. By bridging gaps in our understanding of ginseng's nutritional and pharmacological effects, the study paves the way for its future role in health and disease prevention strategies.

An early-career physicist mathematically connects timelike and spacelike form factors, opening the door to further insights into the inner workings of the strong force. A new lattice QCD calculation connects two seemingly disparate reactions involving the pion, the lightest particle governed by the strong interaction. One reaction is known as the spacelike process, where an electron is bounced off a pion. The second reaction, known as the timelike process, is when an electron and antielectron collide, annihilate each other, and produce two pions. The lattice QCD numerical calculation is simultaneously able to describe the spacelike and timelike processes, demonstrating the interconnectedness of different reactions described by QCD. While this connection had been observed experimentally, now physicists have the math to corroborate it.