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Category: innovation – Page 14

The heaviest proton emitter: New type of atomic nucleus discovered

For the first time in almost 30 years, the heaviest nucleus decaying via proton emission has been measured. The previous similar breakthrough was achieved in 1996.

The radioactive decay of atomic nuclei has been one of the keystones of nuclear physics since the beginning of nuclear research. Now the heaviest nucleus decaying via proton emission has been measured in the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. The was written as part of an international research collaboration involving experts in theoretical nuclear physics and published in Nature Communications on 29 May 2025.

“Proton emission is a rare form of radioactive decay, in which the nucleus emits a proton to take a step toward stability,” says Doctoral Researcher Henna Kokkonen from the University of Jyväskylä

Ultra-fast fiber sets global speed record: 1.02 petabits per second over continental distance

At the heart of this breakthrough – driven by Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and Sumitomo Electric Industries – is a 19-core optical fiber with a standard 0.125 mm cladding diameter, designed to fit seamlessly into existing infrastructure and eliminate the need for costly upgrades.

Each core acts as an independent data channel, collectively forming a “19-lane highway” within the same space as traditional single-core fibers.

Unlike earlier multi-core designs limited to short distances or specialized wavelength bands, this fiber operates efficiently across the C and L bands (commercial standards used globally) thanks to a refined core arrangement that slashes signal loss by 40% compared to prior models.

Tabletop particle blaster: How tiny nozzles and lasers could replace giant accelerators

Proton beams with giga-electron-volt (GeV) energies—once thought to be achievable only with massive particle accelerators—may soon be generated in compact setups thanks to a breakthrough by researchers at The University of Osaka.

A team led by Professor Masakatsu Murakami has developed a novel concept called micronozzle acceleration (MNA). By designing a microtarget with tiny nozzle-like features and irradiating it with ultraintense, ultrashort laser pulses, the team successfully demonstrated—through advanced numerical simulations—the generation of high-quality, GeV-class proton beams: a world-first achievement.

The article, “Generation of giga-electron-volt proton beams by micronozzle acceleration,” was published in Scientific Reports.

Scientists develop game-changing technology inspired by shark skin: ‘Eliminates any risk’

Scientists have developed an innovative laser technology that mimics shark skin to create bacteria-resistant metal surfaces for meat processing facilities.

According to New Food Magazine, this approach tackles a persistent challenge in meat processing: keeping surfaces clean.

When bacteria from meat attach to workstations, they multiply and form biofilms, which are stubborn clusters that resist even thorough cleaning methods. The laser-textured surfaces physically prevent bacteria from sticking in the first place.

First-of-its-kind device uses single drop of blood to profile newborns’ immune function

Researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind device to profile the immune function of newborns. Using a single drop of blood, the BiophysicaL Immune Profiling for Infants (BLIPI) system provides real-time insights into newborns’ immune responses, enabling the early detection of severe inflammatory conditions and allowing for timely interventions.

This critical innovation addresses the urgent and unmet need for rapid and minimally invasive diagnostic tools to protect vulnerable newborns, especially those born prematurely.

Citrus derivative makes transparent wood 100 percent renewable

Five years after introducing see-through wood building material, researchers in Sweden have taken it to another level. They found a way to make their composite 100 percent renewable – and more translucent – by infusing wood with a clear bio-plastic made from citrus fruit.

Since it was first introduced in 2016, transparent wood has been developed by researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology as one of the most innovative new structural materials for building construction. It lets natural light through and.

The key to making wood into a transparent composite material is to strip out its lignin, the major light-absorbing component in wood. But the empty pores left behind by the absence of lignin need to be filled with something that restores the wood’s strength and allows light to permeate.

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