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- 1Polymer-tuned perovskite enables high-efficiency underwater solar cells▼Polymer-tuned perovskite creates high-efficiency underwater solar cells
Researchers have developed a polymer-tuned perovskite material that delivers high-efficiency solar cells capable of operating underwater, according to Physics World. The advance could open the way for solar power in aquatic environments such as underwater sensors and marine monitoring equipment, areas where conventional silicon cells perform poorly due to how seawater absorbs and scatters light.
- 2Dark Side of the Moon Takes On New Meaning in Physics News●Dark Side of the Moon just took on a whole new meaning ... https://www. sciencedaily.com/releases/2026 /09/260921081054.
A new science story is drawing attention under the headline 'Dark Side of the Moon just took on a whole new meaning,' linking the far side of the Moon to quantum physics and astrophysics research. Posts about it are tagged with quantum mechanics and physics hashtags, suggesting the finding offers a fresh angle on lunar science. Specific study details are not included in the available material.
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Rice University researchers have unveiled new catalogs that map the quantum properties and possibilities of atomically thin materials. The work organizes how two-dimensional materials behave at the quantum level, offering researchers a reference tool for identifying candidates for next-generation electronics and quantum technologies. The release is drawing attention within the physics and materials science community.
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The New York Times reports that a virus, identified as the cause of molluscum contagiosum, took a human gene at some point in its evolutionary history and has retained it ever since. Scientists say the stolen gene helps the virus manipulate its host's immune system, illustrating how viruses and humans have exchanged genetic material over deep time.
- 5X-ray microscopy reveals flow behaviour in nanoparticle suspensions▼Multiscale transitional flow in anisotropic nanoparticle suspensions revealed by time-resolved X-ray scatter microscopy
Researchers report the use of time-resolved X-ray scatter microscopy to observe multiscale transitional flow in anisotropic nanoparticle suspensions. The technique makes it possible to track how these particle-laden fluids behave across different length and time scales as they shift between flow regimes. The study, published in Nature, offers new experimental insight into the dynamics of complex suspensions, a topic of interest in soft matter physics and materials science.
- 6Tohoku University Develops Physics-Grounded AI for Materials Discovery●Research News - Physics-Grounded Materials AI for Reliable Materials Discovery
Tohoku University announced research on an AI model for materials discovery that is grounded in physics rather than relying purely on data patterns. The approach aims to make predictions of new materials more reliable and reproducible, addressing a common weakness of purely statistical machine learning in chemistry and materials science. The university released the work through its research news service.
- 7Moisture-absorbing wallpaper generates small electric current from indoor air●A novel wallpaper technology that absorbs moisture from indoor air and converts it into small amounts of electric curren
Researchers have developed a wallpaper-like material that draws moisture from indoor air and converts it into small amounts of electric current, offering a passive way to harvest energy from humidity in everyday environments. The advance sits at the intersection of electrical engineering, materials science and physics, and is being discussed as an intriguing example of how ambient moisture could one day supplement low-power energy needs.
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Scientists have compiled a two-dimensional atlas of topological materials, cataloguing how these exotic substances behave in 2D forms. The atlas is expected to help researchers identify promising candidates for next-generation electronics and quantum technologies. Coverage focuses on how the classification could speed up the study of materials whose unusual properties are protected against defects, a key goal in condensed matter physics.
- 9UK under-16 social media ban raises science access concerns▼Looming social media ban for under-16s in UK sparks debate on accessing science online
The UK's planned ban on social media for under-16s is prompting debate about how young people would still be able to access science content online. Commentators, including science communicators, are questioning whether restrictions aimed at protecting children could also cut them off from educational material, and what alternatives might be needed.
- 10Mat3ra and University of Tsukuba Sign Cloud Materials Modeling Agreement▼Mat3ra and the University of Tsukuba’s Center for Computational Sciences Sign MoU to Expand Access to Cloud-Based Materials Modeling in Japan
Materials design platform Mat3ra and the University of Tsukuba's Center for Computational Sciences have signed a memorandum of understanding to broaden access to cloud-based materials modeling tools in Japan. The partnership aims to give Japanese researchers easier, scalable access to computational materials science resources, supporting simulation-driven research in physics, chemistry and materials development without reliance on local high-performance computing infrastructure.
- 11Medieval Anatomy Scroll by John of Arderne Published Online●Anatomy Unzipped: John of Arderne's Sweden Scroll (ca. 1425-35) https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/arderne-scroll
A newly digitised medieval anatomical scroll, attributed to English surgeon John of Arderne and dated to around 1425-35, has been made available through the Public Domain Review's collection. Known as the Sweden Scroll, it features detailed diagrams of the human body typical of late medieval medical illustration. The open-access release lets historians, artists and the general public examine a rare example of early surgical teaching material.
- 12This Virus Stole a Human Gene and Won't Let Go of It●This Virus Stole a Human Gene and Won’t Let Go of It
New York Times reporting describes a virus that incorporated a human gene into its own genome and has retained it over time. The finding is drawing attention among science readers because it illustrates how viruses and their hosts can exchange genetic material, blurring the line between viral and human DNA.
- 13KAIST Unveils Venus Flytrap-Inspired Robot Hand Material●KAIST Develops a Venus Flytrap-Inspired ‘Robot Hand’ Material That Senses Objects and Grasps Them Under Light | Newswise
Researchers at KAIST in South Korea have developed a new material for robotic hands inspired by the Venus flytrap, which can sense objects and grasp them when stimulated by light. The biomimetic design is being reported by science news outlets, drawing attention for combining sensing and actuation in a single soft material that responds without complex electronics.
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Researchers report that nanoparticles made from a single material can perform multiple biomedical functions at once: heating cells, protecting them and delivering stimulation. The finding could simplify the design of nanoparticles for medicine, where combining several materials is usually required to achieve heat therapy, cellular protection and stimulation in a single platform.
- 15Green Science Alliance unveils washable silica-based coloring powder●Green Science Alliance Invented a New Colored Powder and Coloring Material Combined With Glass Components (Silica) That Can Be Easily Removed From Hands
Japanese materials company Green Science Alliance says it has developed a new colored powder and coloring material that combines pigment with glass components (silica) and can be easily washed off hands. The invention is being promoted via a press release distributed through financial news outlets, though no independent testing results have been reported yet.
- 16Whole genome duplication shaped salmon family evolution, study finds●Whole genome duplication shaped the evolution of the salmon family
New research indicates that an ancient whole genome duplication event played a central role in the evolution of the salmon family, including salmon and trout. The duplicated genetic material is said to have provided raw material for adaptation, helping explain traits such as migration and life-history diversity in these fish.
- 17What Problems Has AI Actually Solved?●What Has AI Actually Solved? The Biggest Problems Where Machines Found Real Answers Exploring the biggest problems where
A new visualization highlights the concrete breakthroughs where artificial intelligence has delivered real answers, focusing on protein folding, antibiotic discovery, and materials science. The piece is prompting discussion about which scientific problems machines have genuinely cracked, rather than the usual hype, and where AI's practical impact on research has so far been limited.