Nanotechnology

Physicists at New York University have developed a new type of time crystal using sound waves to suspend tiny styrofoam beads, resulting in nonreciprocal interactions that defy Newton's third law of motion. The compact, visible system oscillates in a steady rhythm and was detailed in Physical Review Letters. Researchers suggest potential applications in quantum computing and insights into biological rhythms.

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Scientists at the University of Konstanz have identified a new type of sliding friction that occurs without physical contact, driven by magnetic interactions. This phenomenon breaks Amontons' law, a 300-year-old physics principle, by showing friction peaks at certain distances rather than increasing steadily with load. The findings appear in Nature Materials.

Researchers at Japan's RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science have pioneered a method to carve three-dimensional nanoscale devices from single crystals using focused ion beams. By shaping helical structures from a magnetic crystal, they created switchable diodes that direct electricity preferentially in one direction. This geometric approach could enable more efficient electronics.

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A team of scientists has developed a new method to manipulate quantum materials using excitons, bypassing the need for intense lasers. This approach, led by the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and Stanford University, achieves strong Floquet effects with far less energy, reducing the risk of damaging materials. The findings, published in Nature Physics, open pathways to advanced quantum devices.

Scientists at RMIT University have created tiny molybdenum oxide nanodots that destroy cancer cells by amplifying their internal stress, while leaving healthy cells largely intact. In lab tests, these particles proved three times more effective against cervical cancer cells than healthy ones. The early-stage research points to a potential for more precise cancer treatments.

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Scientists have observed atoms that remain motionless within liquid metals at high temperatures, influencing how materials solidify. Using advanced microscopy, researchers from the University of Nottingham and the University of Ulm captured this phenomenon in molten metal nanoparticles. The finding reveals a new hybrid state of matter with potential implications for catalysis and materials engineering.