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Disorder is key to tuning a high-temperature superconductor
Science News

Disorder is key to tuning a high-temperature superconductor

Cornell physicists have discovered that minimizing disorder, not varying electron count, is the key factor for controlling superconductivity in the unique material iron selenide (FeSe), a new insight for understanding high-temperature superconductors.

📅 2026-09-17 20:40:01    •    Phys.org
A new bridge for quantum networks: Physicists convert microwaves to light using 2D magnets
Science News

A new bridge for quantum networks: Physicists convert microwaves to light using 2D magnets

Physicists at The City College of New York have demonstrated a new way to transfer microwave signals onto light using magnetic waves inside a layered semiconductor. The work establishes a materials platform for building interfaces that could one day link quantum computers through optical networks. The research, titled "Microwave-to-optical transduction using magnon–exciton coupling," was led by the Laboratory for Nano and Micro Photonics (LaNMP) at CCNY, headed by physics professor Vinod M. Menon. It appears in the journal Nature Materials.

📅 2026-09-17 20:30:01    •    Phys.org
Global water report reveals drying rivers and erratic swings between too little and too much
Science News

Global water report reveals drying rivers and erratic swings between too little and too much

Rivers across the globe in 2025 had one of the driest years in more than three decades, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It shows a continuation of the long-term decline in Earth's freshwater storage and glacier retreat—trends with serious implications for people and economies in the future.

📅 2026-09-17 20:20:01    •    Phys.org
Decoding the DNA switches behind gene regulation
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Decoding the DNA switches behind gene regulation

Understanding gene regulation may be key to interpreting human disease genetics. Genes are regulated in part by stretches of DNA called enhancers, which define when, where and how strongly each gene is turned on. Mapping enhancers and how they function in specific cell types is necessary for understanding gene regulation and disease-related genetic variants. But the location and activity of enhancers are highly cell type-specific, making it difficult to accurately predict enhancer–gene interactions.

📅 2026-09-17 20:00:11    •    Phys.org
Vapor-phase synthesis of MXenes could expand their technological applications
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Vapor-phase synthesis of MXenes could expand their technological applications

MXenes are two-dimensional nanomaterials first synthesized at Drexel University in 2011. They have been recognized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry as an emerging technology with "true potential to transform our world." But their widespread use has thus far been limited by the complicated process required to produce them.

📅 2026-09-17 19:50:02    •    Phys.org
Using sound waves to turn iron and water into magnetic nanoparticles
Science News

Using sound waves to turn iron and water into magnetic nanoparticles

Iron rusts on its own, slowly, over months or years. Now, researchers at Tohoku University have found a way to compress the process of metal reacting with water to form oxide, taking mere hours and using nothing more than ultrasound. Details were published in the journal Ultrasonics Sonochemistry.

📅 2026-09-17 19:40:06    •    Phys.org
New study explores US consumers' willingness to pay for fresh-market grape attributes
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New study explores US consumers' willingness to pay for fresh-market grape attributes

A recent study examined U.S. consumers' preferences and willingness to pay for different attributes of fresh-market grapes, providing insights for growers, retailers and the fresh produce industry. The research evaluated how factors such as grape size, sweetness, seedlessness, color and production methods influence purchasing decisions. Findings reveal that certain attributes significantly affect consumer buying behavior, offering guidance on which traits could be emphasized to meet market demand and potentially increase sales.

📅 2026-09-17 19:40:01    •    Phys.org