Finding the right colour to control magnets with laser pulses

Scientists have discovered a new way to manipulate magnets with laser light pulses shorter than a trillionth of a second.

New virtual reality software allows scientists to 'walk' inside cells

Virtual reality software which allows researchers to 'walk' inside and analyse individual cells could be used to understand fundamental problems in biology and develop new treatments for disease.

Multi-state data storage leaving binary behind

With computing already consuming 8% of global electricity, low-energy data-storage is a key priority. Next-generation 'multi-state' memory offers a highly energy efficient, low-cost, fast-access solution: stepping 'beyond binary' to store more data than just zeros and ones.

Surface waves can help nanostructured devices keep their cool

Researchers have demonstrated that hybrid surface waves called surface phonon-polaritons provide enhanced thermal conductivity in nanoscale membranes. These surface waves can aid in the thermal management of nanostructured devices as conventional cooling methods reach their material-related limits. Surface phonon-polaritons will be particularly useful for heat conduction in silicon-based microelectronics and photonics applications.

Stacking and twisting graphene unlocks a rare form of magnetism

Twisting a monolayer and a bilayer sheet of graphene into a three-layer structure leads to new quantum mechanical states.