Category archives: Technology

The secret structures of benzodithiophene polymers unlock solar energy

The secret structures of benzodithiophene polymers unlock solar energy

ChemistryDIPC PolymersEnergyMaterials

By DIPC

Organic electronics in the form of organic solar cells — thin, flexible, and printable on everyday surfaces — promise a sustainable future in renewable energy. Unlike traditional silicon-based solar panels, organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices rely on carbon-based polymers, a class of molecules more commonly associated with plastic bags than power generation. Among these, a family […]

What happens when you feed a neural network with millions of synthetic black hole data sets

What happens when you feed a neural network with millions of synthetic black hole data sets

AstrophysicsComputer science

By Mapping Ignorance

A team of astronomers led by Michael Janssen (Radboud University, The Netherlands) has trained a neural network with millions of synthetic black hole data sets. Based on the network and data from the Event Horizon Telescope, they now predict, among other things, that the black hole at the centre of our Milky Way is spinning […]

A new recycling approach to complex plastic waste

A new recycling approach to complex plastic waste

Chemical engineeringChemistry

By Invited Researcher

PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a widely used polymer in packaging due to its favourable properties, increases rapidly in global plastic production and waste. Between 2000 and 2019, global plastic production rose from 234 to 460 million tonnes and is projected to reach 1,231 million tonnes by 2060. As a result, plastic waste more than doubled from […]

The cryogenic quantum twisting microscope and the phason mode of moiré systems

The cryogenic quantum twisting microscope and the phason mode of moiré systems

DIPC Advanced materialsMaterialsQuantum physics

By DIPC

In the realm of modern physics, few materials have captured the imagination quite like graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice. Its remarkable properties, such as exceptional electrical conductivity and strength, have made it a cornerstone of research into quantum materials. A recent study published in Nature takes this fascination […]

Unlocking magnetism in nanographenes: The role of oxyradicals and molecular design

Unlocking magnetism in nanographenes: The role of oxyradicals and molecular design

ChemistryDIPC Advanced materialsDIPC InterfacesMaterialsNanotechnology

By DIPC

Nanotechnology is like a playground for scientists, where they tinker with materials at the scale of atoms to create new tools and devices with extraordinary properties. One of the most exciting areas in this field involves nanographenes, which are tiny pieces of graphene—a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb pattern, known for […]

How to (potentially) repair our brain using our wisdom teeth

How to (potentially) repair our brain using our wisdom teeth

BiomedicineMedicineNeurobiologyNeuroscience

By Invited Researcher

One of the most famous quotes that Santiago Ramón y Cajal wrote in his work “Rules and tips on scientific research” was “Every man can, if he so desires, become the sculptor of his own brain.” . However, the use of dental material as mud and stones to model or repair sculptures probably sounded like […]

BiaPy, analising bioimages made easy

BiaPy, analising bioimages made easy

BiochemistryBiologyComputer scienceDIPC BiochemistryDIPC Computer Science

By DIPC

Imagine peering through a microscope, marvelling at the intricate dance of cells, proteins, or tiny structures within a living organism. These images, known as bioimages, are a treasure trove of information for scientists studying life’s mysteries, from how cells divide to how diseases disrupt tissues. But analysing these images is no small feat. The sheer […]

Magnetrons: high-efficiency power microwave sources for a new generation of particle accelerators

Magnetrons: high-efficiency power microwave sources for a new generation of particle accelerators

Particle physicsPhysics

By Invited Researcher

Magnetrons are high-power vacuum tubes conceived more than a century ago to produce microwaves. Their working principle involves the interaction of a cloud of electrons jumping from the cathode to the anode of the device together with a magnetic field. This spinning electron cloud trajectory induces electromagnetic fields in several resonant cavities at a certain […]

The photonic axion insulator in 3D

The photonic axion insulator in 3D

Condensed matterDIPC Advanced materialsMaterials

By DIPC

Imagine a world where light, instead of merely bouncing off surfaces or passing through transparent materials, is controlled in a completely new and unexpected way. Scientists have recently taken a major step in this direction by discovering what is called a “photonic axion insulator.” While this term might sound complicated, the underlying idea is both […]

Direct liquid cooling, a game-changer in battery thermal management

Direct liquid cooling, a game-changer in battery thermal management

ChemistryEnergy

By Invited Researcher

The electrification of road transport is no longer just a trend—it is a key step in reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change. Beyond environmental benefits, it also carries strategic and geopolitical importance, prompting major automotive manufacturers to invest heavily in electric mobility . The success of this transformation depends on a crucial element: the […]