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Researchers have demonstrated that the direction of the spin-polarized current can be restricted to only one direction in a single-atom layer of a thallium-lead alloys when irradiated at room temperature. The discovery defies conventions: single-atom layers have been thought to be almost completely transparent, in other words, negligibly absorbing or interacting with light. The one-directional flow of the current observed in this study makes possible functionality beyond ordinary diodes, paving the way for more environmentally friendly data storage, ultra-fine two-dimensional spintronic devices, in the future.

Cordierite, the material behind heat-resistant pizza stones, has been shown to resist changes in size despite significant temperature fluctuations. The reasons for this have been largely unexplained until now. New findings have profound implications for the design and development of advanced materials.

A series of more than 100 small earthquakes in Surrey in 2018 and 2019 might have been triggered by oil extraction from a nearby well, suggests a new study.

Electron transport in bilayer graphene exhibits a pronounced dependence on edge states and a nonlocal transport mechanism, according to a recent study.

Catalysts do several surprising things to assist with daily life -- from bread making to turning raw materials into fuels more efficiently. Now, researchers have developed a way to speed up the discovery process for a promising new class of these helpful substances called single atom catalysts.

Construction materials such as concrete and plastic have the potential to lock away billions of tons of carbon dioxide, according to a new study by civil engineers and earth systems scientists. The study shows that combined with steps to decarbonize the economy, storing CO2 in buildings could help the world achieve goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Researchers find cell migration doesn't only rely on generating force. A professor of mechanical engineering and materials science found that groups of cells moved faster with lower force when adhered to soft surfaces with aligned collagen fibers.

Laboratory experiments designed to deform ice at its pressure-melting temperature were like grabbing a bagel at the top and the bottom, then twisting the two halves to smear the cream cheese in the middle, according to new research. The resulting data could lead to more accurate models of temperate glacier ice and better predictions of glacier flow and sea-level rise.

Researchers have developed IRIS, a smart ring that allows users to point and click to control smart devices. The prototype Bluetooth ring contains a small camera which sends an image of the selected device to the user's phone. The user can control the device clicking a small button or -- for devices with gradient controls, such as a speaker's volume -- rotating the ring.

Researchers have developed new measurement techniques and methods to measure emissions from category-L vehicles in realistic operation and to determine corresponding limit values.

Imagine a future where your phone, computer or even a tiny wearable device can think and learn like the human brain -- processing information faster, smarter and using less energy. A breakthrough approach brings this vision closer to reality by electrically 'twisting' a single nanoscale ferroelectric domain wall.

Researchers have recently achieved a significant breakthrough in the development of next-generation carbon-based quantum materials, opening new horizons for advancements in quantum electronics. The innovation involves a novel type of graphene nanoribbon (GNR), named Janus GNR (JGNR). The material has a unique zigzag edge, with a special ferromagnetic edge state located on one of the edges. This unique design enables the realization of one-dimensional ferromagnetic spin chain, which could have important applications in quantum electronics and quantum computing.

Scientists have developed inhalable lung cancer therapeutics utilizing mucoadhesive proteinic nanoparticles.

Scientists have long considered ketones (a fundamental chemical class) and esters (molecules formed when an acid reacts with an alcohol) to be locked treasure chests of possibilities. Ubiquitous as pharmaceutical intermediates, ketones and esters are widely used for the synthesis of drug molecules. Yet both share a critical limitation: Generally, only two specific sites within their structure -- the carbonyl carbon and the alpha position -- are easily accessible to conventional chemical reactions. The remaining carbon sites are protected by stable carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds that don't readily interact with catalysts -- substances that speed up chemical reactions and allow scientists to alter molecular structures. Thus, the C-H bonds make it difficult to modify ketones and esters. But now chemists have uncovered the key to unlocking these molecules' untapped potential.

A team developed a method that makes it easy to measure the wrinkles in thin membranes used on large spacecraft using just a single camera.

Scientists have created a catalyst for hydrogen generation from ammonia that becomes more active with time, and by counting atoms revealed changes that boost the catalyst's performance.

A battery that needs feeding instead of charging? This is exactly what researchers have achieved with their 3D-printed, biodegradable fungal battery. The living battery could supply power to sensors for agriculture or research in remote regions. Once the work is done, it digests itself from the inside.

Epithelial tissues are in constant interaction with their environment. Maintaining their functionality requires dynamic balance (homeostasis) and that their cell numbers are tightly regulated. This is achieved by cell extrusion programs, a checkpoint mechanism eliminating unwanted or harmful cells. Researchers have now demonstrated how physical signals can have an impact on the fate of extruding cells governing their death or survival. The results may establish novel paths for understanding tissue properties in both normal and pathological conditions.

A team has developed a new method that facilitates and improves predictions of tabular data, especially for small data sets with fewer than 10,000 data points. The new AI model TabPFN is trained on synthetically generated data before it is used and thus learns to evaluate possible causal relationships and use them for predictions.