Materials Science

A thin watery layer on ice's surface makes it slick, but the exact reason for this layer's formation remains unclear despite centuries of scientific inquiry. This longstanding puzzle continues to intrigue researchers in materials science. The explanation highlights the complexities of everyday phenomena like weather and water behavior.

January 25, 2026 由 AI 报道

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.

A team led by Rice University physicist Pengcheng Dai has confirmed emergent photon-like behavior in a quantum spin liquid material. The discovery in cerium zirconium oxide verifies a true three-dimensional quantum spin ice. This breakthrough resolves a long-standing puzzle in condensed matter physics.

December 11, 2025 由 AI 报道

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.