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Category: computing

Universal surface-growth law confirmed in two dimensions after 40 years

Crystals, bacterial colonies, flame fronts: the growth of surfaces was first described in the 1980s by the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang equation. Since then, it has been regarded as a fundamental model in physics, with implications for mathematics, biology, and computer science.

Now—40 years later—a Würzburg-based research team from the Cluster of Excellence ctd.qmat has achieved the first experimental demonstration of KPZ behavior on 2D surfaces in space and time.

This was made possible by sophisticated materials engineering and a bold experimental approach: researchers injected polaritons—hybrid particles composed of light and matter—into the material. The results have been published in Science.

Framework: ‘There is a very real scenario in which personal computing as we know it is dead’

Though the point of a blog post like this is to get eyes on its event, it doesn’t just seem like lip service. Framework has been making modular laptops for years now, and even put out a desktop last year. Last year, the Framework 12 laptop got a 10/10 from iFixit regarding its repairability.

Framework says that every product it ships is in service of making computers “you can own at the deepest level and do what you want with.”

Framework, like almost every company, has been hit by the memory crisis. In January this year, it reportedly “held off as long as we could” but had to jack up the prices of its desktops and mainboards. And just this week, Framework said stabilising memory prices are simply a ‘temporary reprieve’ and that there would be more price increases to come in 2026.

New Simulations Preserve Quantum Rules While Modelling Complex Materials

Until now, accurately modelling both spin and orbital motion in materials with spin-orbit coupling meant sacrificing computational speed. A new mixed quantum-classical model, based on Koopman wavefunctions, overcomes this limitation, accurately simulating these dynamics even where traditional methods fail. The approach reproduces full quantum results, particularly when a harmonic potential is present, opening new avenues for materials design.

Robust against noise, geometric-phase swap gates bring stability to quantum operations

Researchers at ETH Zurich have realized particularly stable quantum logical operations with qubits made of neutral atoms. Since these operations, called quantum gates, are based on geometric phases, they are extremely robust against experimental noise and can be used in quantum computers in the future.

Quantum bits, or qubits, which are required for building quantum computers, come in different kinds. In recent years, many research institutes and companies have focused on superconducting circuits and trapped ions. However, neutral atoms trapped with laser light also have a lot going for them: since they carry no electric charge, they are less sensitive to disturbances. Moreover, trapping with laser light makes it easy to realize several thousand qubits in a single system—using superconductors or ions this is much more difficult.

Nevertheless, neutral atoms have their own problems. In quantum computers, qubits exist in superposition states of the logic values 0 and 1. To perform calculations with them, one needs to execute quantum logic operations, also known as quantum gates.

Prototype chip could boost efficiency of power management in data centers

In an effort to meet the rising energy demands of data centers, engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a new chip design that could improve how graphics processing units (GPUs) convert and manage power. The technology demonstrates a more efficient way to perform a critical task in electronics: converting high voltages into lower levels required by computing hardware. In lab tests, a prototype chip performed the type of voltage conversion used in modern data centers with high efficiency.

The advance, published in Nature Communications, could lead to the development of smaller, more energy-efficient systems for advanced computing.

The Data Center Boom Reshaping Williamson County, Texas

Williamson County is at the center of one of the most significant data center buildouts in the United States. What started as a handful of projects near Samsung’s Taylor semiconductor fabrication plant has become a full-scale infrastructure rush.

According to a March 2026 Propmodo analysis using Cushman & Wakefield data, the Austin–San Antonio data center corridor now has 7,823 megawatts of planned capacity compared to just 1,154 megawatts currently operating. More than 70 projects are being tracked between Temple and San Antonio, with Williamson County capturing a disproportionate share due to its power infrastructure, fiber connectivity, and available land. Of the 615 megawatts under construction in the corridor, 96 percent is already pre-leased, a remarkable indicator of demand.

A Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center analysis found that between 2023 and 2024, Central Texas experienced a drastic increase in data center construction, totaling 463.5 megawatts of potential demand under development. That report specifically cited marquee projects in Williamson County as having reshaped regional land markets. Texas overall has 408 data centers listed statewide, second most in the nation, with the Austin market at 46 and climbing fast.

Optogenetics, Biohybrid Implants And The Future Of Brain-Computer Interfaces | Dr. Alan Mardinly

Optogenetics, Biohybrid Implants And The Future Of Brain-Computer Interfaces — Dr. Alan Mardinly Ph.D. — CSO & Co-Founder, Science

What if we could restore vision, communicate directly with the brain, and even extend human life—not with machines alone, but with living, engineered biology?

Dr. Alan Mardinly, Ph.D. is the Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of Science Corp. (https://science.xyz/), a neurotechnology company developing next-generation brain interfaces and biohybrid neural implants aimed at restoring human function.

Dr. Mardinly leads the company’s biohybrid program, focused on combining genetically engineered cells with advanced optical hardware to create optogenetic therapies for vision restoration and new types of brain-machine interfaces.

Dr. Mardinly has spent more than 15 years working at the intersection of neuroscience, genetics, and neural engineering.

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