Scientists have designed a topological quantum battery that can charge efficiently without losing energy, using the unique properties of quantum mechanics and topology.
Their research suggests dissipation, long considered harmful, might actually boost power in these next-generation batteries.
Quantum Leap in Energy Storage.
Kevlar has met its match. For decades, it has been the gold standard for impact protection, from bulletproof vests to armored vehicles, and is still widely used. But scientists have now developed a new composite material that is stronger, tougher and better at stopping bullets than Kevlar even though it is much thinner. Their study is published in the journal Matter.
To stop high-speed impacts, like a bullet, a material needs to resist breaking under force (high strength) and be able to absorb a lot of energy without shattering or failing (high toughness). However, there is a problem with current solutions, such as Kevlar, which is made from aramid fibers. When scientists try to make these fibers stronger, they often become more brittle, making it difficult to achieve both simultaneously. This is a common trade-off in materials science when you try to improve a material’s overall performance.
In a major advancement for energy storage technology, Professor Yoon Seok Jung and his team at Yonsei University reveal a new fluoride-based solid electrolyte that enables all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) to operate beyond 5 volts safely.
Their paper, published in Nature Energy, addressed a long-standing barrier in battery science, achieving high voltage stability without sacrificing ionic conductivity.
As Prof. Jung explains, “Our fluoride solid electrolyte, LiCl–4Li2TiF6, opens a previously forbidden route for high-voltage operation in solid-state batteries, marking a true paradigm shift in energy storage design.”
EPFL researchers have developed a method to calibrate electron spectrometers with extreme accuracy by linking microwave, optical, and free-electron frequencies.
Frequency is one of the most precisely measurable quantities in science. Thanks to optical frequency combs, tools that generate a series of equally spaced, precise frequencies like the teeth of a ruler, researchers can connect frequencies across the electromagnetic spectrum, from microwaves to optical light, enabling breakthroughs in timekeeping, spectroscopy, and navigation.
Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is a powerful tool used to investigate the structure and properties of materials at the atomic level. It works by measuring how electrons lose energy as they pass through a sample. But although EELS provides excellent spatial resolution, its spectral resolution, the ability to measure energy precisely, has lagged behind optical methods.
Between 2008 and 2010, polarization in society increased dramatically alongside a significant shift in social behavior: the number of close social contacts rose from an average of two to four or five people. The connection between these two developments could provide a fundamental explanation for why societies around the world are increasingly fragmenting into ideological bubbles.
“The big question that not only we, but many countries are currently grappling with, is why polarization has increased so dramatically in recent years,” says Stefan Thurner from the Complexity Science Hub (CSH), explaining the study’s motivation. The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers’ findings confirm that increasing polarization is not merely perceived—it is measurable and objectively occurring. “And this increase happened suddenly, between 2008 and 2010,” says Thurner. The question remained: what caused it?
Electrocatalytic transformations not only require electrical energy—they also need a reliable middleman to spark the desired chemical reaction. Surface metal-hydrogen intermediates can effectively produce value-added chemicals and energy conversion, but, given their low concentration and fleeting lifespan, they are difficult to characterize or study in depth, especially at the nanoscale.
Non-destructive testing allows engineers to evaluate the integrity of structures such as pipelines, tanks, bridges, and machinery without dismantling them. Conventional approaches rely on loudspeakers, lasers, or electric sparks. While effective, these systems can be difficult or dangerous to use in flammable or confined areas and require considerable power to function effectively.
Now, a new study from Japan, available online in Measurement, shows how a common packaging material can replace power-hungry devices in non-destructive testing. The team, led by Professor Naoki Hosoya, along with Shuichi Yahagi from Tokyo City University, Toshiki Shimizu and Seiya Inadera from the Shibaura Institute of Technology, and Itsuro Kajiwara of Hokkaido University, found a simple way to test pipes for hidden flaws by using bubble wrap.
The researchers discovered that the sharp crack of a bubble burst can be a viable substitute for the expensive, energy-dependent tools usually employed in non-destructive testing. The researchers claim the method can detect objects inside a pipe within a 2% error margin, without requiring electricity or heavy equipment.
Researchers from UNIST, Seoul National University (SNU), and POSTECH have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the degradation mechanisms of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), a promising technology for next-generation electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage.
Jointly led by Professor Donghyuk Kim at UNIST’s School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Professor Sung-Kyun Jung at SNU’s School of Transdisciplinary Innovations, and Professor Jihyun Hong from POSTECH, their study reveals that interfacial chemical reactions play a critical role in structural damage and performance decline in sulfide-based ASSBs. The findings are published in Nature Communications.
Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries that rely on flammable liquid electrolytes, ASSBs use non-flammable solid electrolytes, offering enhanced safety and higher energy density. However, challenges such as interface instability and microstructural deterioration have impeded their commercialization. Until now, the detailed understanding of how these phenomena occur has remained limited.