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LCMRC researchers have found an extraordinary nematic liquid crystal phase, a new entry in the most widely studied and widely applied class of liquid crystals.  In the whole history of

A slimy layer of mucus serves as the first line of defense against problematic microbes like the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We have identified mucins, the major gel-forming components of mucus, and their complex sugar structures (glycans) as protective molecules that suppress microbial virulence traits including toxin secretion, bacterial communication, and surface attachment.

The collaboration among Hong Tang, Charles Ahn, and Fred Walker’s groups recently realized a new type of electro-optic modulator based on epitaxial ferroelectric BaTiO3 on silicon. A very high Pockels’ coefficient, up to 213 pm/V, was demonstrated, a record value that is more than six times larger than found in commercial optical modulators based on lithium niobate. The monolithically integrated BaTiO3 optical modulators show modulation bandwidth in the gigahertz regime, which is promising for broadband applications.

FORGES is a summer program aimed at high school students interested in STEM careers. In partnership with the University of Delaware, the program offers hands-on experiences in materials science, chemistry, biology, and physics. Activities included identifying polymers, measuring material properties, and performing gene editing techniques. After the program, 87% of students felt more confident about attending college, and all participants were more inclined to pursue STEM careers and felt better prepared for laboratory work.

Connecting Research and Education At TExas (CREATE) is a partnership program established between UT Austin and Austin Community College (ACC) whose goal is to increase retention of community college students in STEM. CREATE works to achieve this goal by building relationships between ACC students and UT Austin researchers through a fall/spring seminar series held at ACC that features UT faculty speakers and a 9-week summer research program that pairs ACC students with research mentors at UT Austin.

Effect: We have demonstrated that the shape of the Hanle curve (non-local resistance versus applied magnetic field) can be manipulated using an ac drive.

The 2024 Holiday Science Lecture “Science by Candlelight” was held at Princeton University on December 7, 2024 with over 530 people attending two lectures at McDonnell Hall. Howard Stone led the lecture, and was joined by Julia Mikhailova, Angie Miller (chemistry department demonstrator) and other PCCM researchers (including graduate students and postdocs).

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a novel and versatile modeling strategy to simulate polyelectrolyte systems. The model has applications for creating new materials as well as for studying polyelectrolytes, including DNA and RNA.

Discovery: Magnetic properties of cobalt films can be optimized through nanoscale structuring and thermal annealing.

New property of electrons may lead to novel electronic devices How electrons conduct electricity depends on their valley