Three researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have received National Science Foundation CAREER awards for their work developing molecules that facilitate pharmaceutical drug design and evaluation, designing phishing detectors and developing new materials for quantum technology.

A team of scientists from the University of Chicago, the University of California Berkeley, Argonne National Laboratory, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has developed molecular qubits that bridge the gap between light and magnetism—and operate at the same frequencies as telecommunications technology. 

In the era of instant data exchange and growing risks of cyberattacks, scientists are seeking secure methods of transmitting information. One promising solution is quantum cryptography – a quantum technology that uses single photons to establish encryption keys. A team from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw has developed and tested in urban infrastructure a novel system for quantum key distribution (QKD). The system employs so-called high-dimensional encoding. The proposed setup is simpler to build and scale than existing solutions, while being based on a phenomenon known to physicists for nearly two centuries – the Talbot effect. The research results have been published in prestigious journals: “Optica Quantum”, “Optica”, and “Physical Review Applied”.

 

Using newly developed mathematical methods, scientists found a way to detect the position of objects hidden in opaque substances.

Excessive use of fertilizers has fueled global food production, but it has also left behind a serious problem: nitrate pollution in soil and water. High nitrate levels threaten drinking water safety, aquatic ecosystems, and public health. Now, a new review published in Biochar highlights how biochar, a carbon-rich material made by heating plant or waste biomass, could provide an effective, low-cost, and sustainable solution.