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Scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in quantum physics by showing that individual molecules attached to a surface can preserve their delicate quantum properties at the ultimate physical limit. The discovery solves a long-standing challenge in molecular quantum research and could open new possibilities for controlling matter at the smallest scales. The research was conducted by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL). Their work, published in the journal Science in 2026, demonstrates that molecules placed on an exceptionally clean crystal surface can maintain their optical coherence for as long as fundamental physics allows. This achievement could help researchers develop more precise quantum devices, improve their understanding of molecular behavior, and explore new ways to control individual molecules using advanced microscopy techniques. Why Are Scientists Interested in Quantum Molecules? Quantum physics describes how matter and energy behave ...

Space is filled with extraordinary objects, but few are as beautiful and scientifically fascinating as planetary nebulae. These glowing clouds of gas and dust form when aging stars shed their outer layers near the end of their lives. Although they look like planets through small telescopes, they have nothing to do with planets. Now, observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have revealed surprising details about one such object, NGC 3132, also known as the Southern Ring Nebula. Astronomer Orsola De Marco and her research team analysed JWST images to investigate the complex structures surrounding this dying star. Their findings suggest that the nebula's unusual patterns may have been shaped by multiple companion stars. The evidence points to a remarkable possibility: the star system responsible for this cosmic spectacle may have contained at least four stars. What Is NGC 3132? NGC 3132 is a planetary nebula located approximately 2,500 light-years from Earth. It consist...

Space is often described as an empty and peaceful place, but powerful events are constantly taking place across the universe. One such event occurs when enormous clouds of magnetized plasma released by the Sun collide with one another. Scientists have discovered that these collisions can behave in an unexpected way: instead of losing energy during impact, the objects can actually gain kinetic energy. A research team led by Chenglong Shen has investigated this unusual phenomenon by studying two coronal mass ejections (CMEs), massive eruptions of plasma from the Sun. Their findings suggest that these giant structures can collide much like solid objects and may experience what scientists call a super-elastic collision . The study reveals that the collision increased the total kinetic energy of the system by approximately 6.6%, potentially changing how these enormous solar structures travel through space. What Is a Super-Elastic Collision? In everyday life, collisions usually cause objects...

A powerful eruption from the Sun can send enormous clouds of hot plasma and magnetic fields racing through space, potentially threatening satellites, communication networks and power grids on Earth. These eruptions, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs) , are among the main causes of severe space weather. However, scientists have long struggled to understand exactly how these giant solar explosions move, expand and change direction as they travel toward our planet. Now, researchers led by Jason Byrne and his team have used an innovative three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technique to investigate how a CME travels through space. By combining observations from NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) mission with advanced computer simulations, the researchers were able to track the shape, direction and speed of a CME more accurately. Their findings provide new insights into the forces controlling these solar eruptions and demonstrate how scientists could improve pr...

Saturn is famous for its magnificent rings made of ice and rocky particles. But far beyond these visible rings, the planet has another fascinating structure that cannot be seen with the naked eye: an enormous ring of electrically charged particles surrounding the planet. This structure, known as a ring current , plays an important role in Saturn’s magnetic environment and reveals how different the planet is from Earth. In a significant scientific achievement, researchers led by Krimigis and his team captured images of Saturn’s ring current using instruments aboard NASA’s Cassini spacecraft. Their observations revealed that this invisible structure can change dramatically, develop strong differences across different regions, and rotate almost in step with the planet itself. The findings also uncovered differences in pressure between Saturn’s day and night sides and a tilt in the sheet of plasma surrounding the planet. These discoveries provide new insights into how Saturn’s magnetic fie...

Imagine a stream of liquid flowing horizontally through the air without any visible pipe or support. Nothing touches it, yet the liquid follows a controlled path as if it were moving through an invisible tube. Even more surprisingly, the device creating this effect makes no sound that humans can hear. This unusual technology is not magic. It is the result of carefully controlled ultrasonic waves, and researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed a working prototype that can guide liquids, gases, and solid materials without requiring a physical container. The invention could offer a new way to transport difficult-to-handle substances, reduce contamination risks, and create flexible pathways for materials in laboratories and industrial facilities. It may also open new possibilities for controlling electrical discharges. The research, titled “Contactless Continuous Guidance of Matter in Its Main States Using Curved Elongated Bessel-Like Acoustic Fields,” was published in the j...

Japan has launched an ambitious space mission that could solve one of the biggest mysteries surrounding Mars and its two small moons. The mission aims to collect samples from Phobos, the larger of Mars’ two moons, and bring them back to Earth by 2031. If successful, it will mark the first time a spacecraft has returned samples from a moon of Mars. The mission, known as the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) , is led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It launched aboard Japan’s H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center on October 20, Japan time. The mission has an estimated cost of $578 million and is designed to study both Phobos and Deimos. The spacecraft has successfully separated from the upper stage of its H3 rocket and begun its journey toward Mars. This important milestone puts the mission on its planned interplanetary trajectory. Scientists hope that material collected from Phobos will help answer a long-standing question: Did the moon form from debris created by a mas...