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Physics - Innovation - 12.02.2026
From Estimates to Reality: Multi-Gas Sensing on a Single Photonic Chip
No more estimates, but actual measurements of gas emissions in, for example, livestock barns. Scientists from Trace Detection Laboratory at Radboud University are collaborating with partners in One Planet Research Centre to develop a new sensor technology using photonic chips to make this possible. Dr. Simona Cristescu, scientist with over 25 years of experience in laser-based gas sensing, is leading university's participation in this project, which has recently been awarded a grant of more than 6 million euros.
Physics - Chemistry - 29.01.2026

From today, scientists in the Netherlands can use the most accurate time and frequency signal ever available in our country. Thanks to a new network service from SURF, developed in collaboration with the National Metrology Institute VSL and the international White Rabbit Collaboration, this extremely precise signal is now accessible via the SURF network.
Physics - 26.01.2026
Sloshing LNG causes higher impact forces than expected
What happens if liquefied natural gas (LNG) hits the wall of the cargo tanks in a ship? New research from the team of physicist Devaraj van der Meer (University of Twente), published in the scientific journal PNAS , shows that much higher pressure peaks can occur during impact than previously assumed.
Astronomy & Space - Physics - 06.01.2026
X-ray flash from the distant universe turns out to be a supernova
For the first time, astronomers have been able to link a so-called X-ray flash from deep space to a supernova, which in turn is associated with a gamma-ray burst. Scientists traced the stellar explosion using, among other instruments, the Einstein Probe X-ray satellite. An international team led by Radboud University has now used observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope to show that this event was a gamma-ray-burst-associated supernova that occurred about ten billion years ago.
Physics - Materials Science - 26.11.2025
Controlling quantum states in germanene
Researchers at the University of Twente and Utrecht University demonstrated for the first time that quantum states in the ultra-narrow material germanene can be switched on and off using only an electric field. The researchers were able to vary the electric field strength very precisely, causing the special 'topological' states in nanoribbons to disappear or appear.
Astronomy & Space - Physics - 16.09.2025

Multi-year observations by the Event Horizon Telescope have detected changing polarisation patterns in a supermassive black hole. The telescope was also able to better study the direction of a narrow beam of particles shooting out of the edge of the hole at the speed of light. The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration has unveiled new, detailed images of the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy M87- known as M87*- revealing a dynamic environment with changing polarization patterns near the black hole.
Astronomy & Space - Physics - 15.09.2025
Astronomers spot mysterious gamma-ray explosion, unlike any detected before
Astronomers have detected an explosion of gamma rays that repeated several times over the course of a day, an event unlike anything ever witnessed before. The source of the powerful radiation was discovered to be outside our galaxy, its location pinpointed by the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT).
Physics - Health - 15.09.2025
Novel NMR technique demonstrates biomarkers of rare epilepsy disease
Researchers from the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM) at Radboud University have demonstrated that non-hydrogenative parahydrogen induced hyperpolarization (nhPHIP),a special technique for enhancing NMR sensitivity, could successfully be employed for detecting biomarkers of the rare metabolic disease pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE).
Physics - Innovation - 05.09.2025

Dutch fusion researchers Kevin Verhaegh (TU/e) and Bob Kool (Dutch research institute DIFFER and TU/e) headed the work with a collaboration between the UKAEA and European EUROfusion research teams. International experiments at the UK fusion machine MAST Upgrade in Culham, led by Dutch researchers, demonstrate how the innovative 'Super-X' design offers major advantages in handling the heat exhaust of fusion energy machines.
Physics - 28.08.2025

Researchers from Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands have been able to see the magnetic nucleus of an atom switch back and forth in real time. They read out the nuclear -spinvia the electrons in the same atom through the needle of a scanning tunneling microscope. To their surprise, the spin remained stable for several seconds, offering prospects for enhanced control of the magnetic nucleus.
Physics - Chemistry - 12.08.2025
New way to study molecular collisions at cold temperatures
Researchers from the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM) at Radboud University have found a new way to study what happens when ammonia and hydrogen molecules collide at very low temperatures, around 1 kelvin, which is similar to the temperature in space. The experiment shows how ammonia and hydrogen molecules behave in extreme cold environments.
Physics - Electroengineering - 24.06.2025

Scientists from TU Delft have observed quantum spin currents in graphene for the first time without using magnetic fields. These currents are vital for spintronics, a faster and more energy-efficient alternative to electronics. This breakthrough, published in Nature Communications , marks an important step towards technologies like quantum computing and advanced memory devices.
Astronomy & Space - Physics - 12.05.2025

The universe is decaying much faster than thought. This is shown by calculations of three scientists at Radboud University on the so-called Hawking radiation. They calculate that the last stellar remnants take about 10^78 years (a 1 with 78 zeros) to perish. That is much shorter than the previously postulated 10^1100 years (a 1 with 1100 zeros).
Physics - Innovation - 01.05.2025
Steering sound with light: a game-changer for integrated photonics
By adding a sound-mediated way to control light to the toolkit of light-based chips, University of Twente researchers have pushed the boundaries of the technology. This opens up the possibility of making atomic clocks small enough to fit in satellites and drones, helping them navigate without GPS. Imagine having to find your way with only a compass and the stars and being handed a GPS.
Physics - Life Sciences - 08.04.2025
Redefining fluid control in microfluidics with magnetic artificial cilia
Tongsheng Wang defended his PhD thesis at the Department of Mechanical Engineering on April 8th. What if the next big breakthrough in biotechnology was inspired not by machines-but by microscopic hairs? Deep within the intricate world of microfluidics, where tiny volumes of fluid are manipulated with extreme precision, a new player is emerging: programmable magnetic artificial cilia.
Physics - Innovation - 03.04.2025
Invention from Twente brings quantum computer closer
An invention from Twente improves the quality of light particles (photons) to such an extent that building quantum computers based on light becomes cheaper and more practical. The researchers published their research in the scientific journal Physical Review Applied. "This technology is an essential part of any future photonic quantum computer." Quantum computers are at a tipping point: tech giants and governments are investing billions, but there are two fundamental obstacles: the quantity of qubits and the quality of these qubits.
Astronomy & Space - Physics - 24.03.2025

Researchers at TU Delft and Brown University have developed scalable nanotechnology-based lightsails that could support future advances in space exploration and experimental physics. Their research, published in Nature Communications , introduces new materials and production methods to create the thinnest large-scale reflectors ever made.
Physics - Innovation - 13.03.2025

Researchers have advanced a decades-old challenge in the field of organic semiconductors, opening new possibilities for the future of electronics. The researchers, led by the University of Cambridge and the Eindhoven University of Technology, have created an organic semiconductor that forces electrons to move in a spiral pattern, which could improve the efficiency of OLED displays in television and smartphone screens, or power next-generation computing technologies such as spintronics and quantum computing.
Physics - Materials Science - 12.03.2025

When water freezes into ice or boils into vapour, its properties change dramatically at specific temperatures. These so-called phase transitions are fundamental to understanding materials. But how do such transitions behave in nanomaterials? In Nature Communications , a team of scientists led by TU Delft presents new insights into the complex nature of phase transitions in magnetic nanomaterials.
Computer Science - Physics - 12.03.2025

Breakthrough achievement paves the way for practical quantum internet applications Delft, The Netherlands: Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA) researchers at TU Delft, QuTech, University of Innsbruck, INRIA and CNRS recently announced the creation of the first operating system designed for quantum networks: QNodeOS.
Life Sciences - Mar 13
How the brain creates meaning: Martin Vinck investigates the key to thoughts, attention and consciousness
How the brain creates meaning: Martin Vinck investigates the key to thoughts, attention and consciousness
Environment - Mar 12
Turning dairy emissions into opportunities: how climate finance can drive climate-smart dairy
Turning dairy emissions into opportunities: how climate finance can drive climate-smart dairy