The world of quantum physics is experiencing a second revolution, which will drive an exponential leap in the progress of computing, the internet, telecommunications, cybersecurity and biomedicine. Quantum technologies are attracting more and more students who want to learn about concepts from the subatomic world — such as quantum entanglement or quantum superposition — to explore the innovative potential of quantum science. In fact, understanding the non-intuitive nature of quantum technology concepts and recognizing their relevance to technological progress is one of the challenges of 2025, declared the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology by UNESCO.

A new study finds a sinister side to memes, pointing to their role in strengthening online communities of conspiracy theorists.

Researchers from Seoul National University of Science and Technology in Korea have explored how laser surface texturing (LST) patterns impact the strength and durability of joints in lightweight vehicle design. By applying LST to automotive steel and joining it with plastic materials, they found that LST processing significantly improved joint strength and resistance to tensile stress and vibration fatigue. This technique helps reduce vehicle weight, boost fuel efficiency, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Ice nucleating particles as a kind of aerosols have a significant impact on the Arctic climate by promoting the formation of ice clouds at a temperature above ­–38˚C. Wildfires in mid-latitudinal areas are a major source of these aerosols. However, a direct observation of wildfire-emitted aerosols facilitating ice cloud formation has never been documented. Now, using field and climate data, scientists from Japan have linked aerosols emitted by Canadian wildfires in 2023 to the formation of ice clouds over the Arctic Ocean.

Dating key tectonic events in Japan's geological history has long been often challenging due to poor microfossil preservation from intense heat due to metamorphism. Researchers tackled this by using Re–Os isotope geochronology on Besshi-type volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits (Makimine and Shimokawa deposits) associated with sediment-covered mid-ocean ridges. Their findings revealed the timing of ridge subduction—when one tectonic plate was forced beneath another—a process that shaped Japan's landscape and provided new insights into its geological evolution.

The structural analysis of redox enzymes in their reduced and oxidized states is crucial for advancing bioelectronic devices like biosensors and biofuel cells. In a recent study, researchers from Tokyo University of Science, Japan, developed a novel method, electrochemical small-angle X-ray scattering, to study these structural differences. Their work on bilirubin oxidase (BOD) revealed that BOD adopts an open or closed state depending on its redox state, providing valuable insights for improving bioelectronics.