NUS Physics Channel

A symposium between the National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Science and the Seoul National University (SNU) College of Natural Sciences on AI for Science was held at NUS Physics this week. The SNU delegation visited NUS to explore synergies in AI for Science research and education, and to learn more about NUS Physics’ innovative AI for Science MSc programme, including the AI for Science Gym. Read here for more: https://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/nus-snu-ai-for-science-symposium/

FOS Distinguished Visitor Professor Efthimios Kaxiras, presently the John Hasbrouck Van Vleck Professor of Pure and Applied Physics at Harvard University, visited NUS Physics from 2 to 5 February. During his visit, Professor Efthimios delivered two graduate seminars and a colloquium. His research focuses on the remarkable properties of two-dimensional layered materials, particularly ‘twistronics’—a term introduced by his research group—which originated from the experimental discovery of correlated electron behaviour and superconductivity in twisted bilayer graphene. Read here for more: https://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/distinguished-visitor-lecture-series-professor-efthimios-kaxiras/

Professor Andreas Walther, Professor for Macromolecular Materials and Systems at the Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, as well as a Max Planck Research Fellow at the MPI for Polymer Research, visited NUS Physics and delivered a lively colloquium titled “Programming DNA Matter Inspired from Life and Interfacing with Life” on 28 Jan. During his talk, Professor Walther shared about approaches to  bridge artificial cells and mechanobiology, positioning DNA as a unifying materials platform to study mechanochemical feedback and adaptive behaviour at the interface of synthetic and living systems.

Schematic illustration of quantum terahertz qubits and emitters based on defects in two-dimensional materials [Credit: ACS Nano] A research team led by Associate Professor Quek Su Ying from NUS Physics, using first-principles high-throughput simulations, discovered that atomic-scale substitutional dopants in ultra-thin two-dimensional materials can act as stable quantum systems operating at terahertz (THz) frequencies. This finding opens up new possibilities for realising high-temperature spin qubits and THz single-photon emitters as well as closer integration with nanophotonic structures for future quantum THz technologies. Read here for more: https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/blog/2026/01/two-dimensional-materials-for-next-generation-terahertz-quantum-devices/

The second gathering of the Physics Academic Mentorship Programme held on 14 January was attended by more than 30 Year 1 students. The Semester 2 session aimed to facilitate in-person interactions between mentors and mentees over lunch. During the session, academic mentors checked in with students on their integration and adjustment to university life as well as provided guidance on academic-related matters.

NUS Physics hosted the inaugural Integrated Quantum & AI Computing Consortium Seminars on 8 January which brought together 16 key representatives from prominent organisations and government agencies. The event marked the launch of a strategic initiative to bridge industry, academia, and government agencies with the goal to cultivate a collaborative ecosystem in Singapore dedicated to workforce development and innovation in quantum and AI computing technologies. Read here for more: https://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/integrated-quantum-ai-computing-consortium-seminar/

From quantum computing, gravitational wave astronomy to medical imaging, physicists have been relentlessly pursuing the frontiers in physics research in the past. As we enter 2026, here's a look at one study that provides new clues to a fundamental question in science—the origins of life: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/osiris-rex/sugars-gum-stardust-found-in-nasas-asteroid-bennu-samples/. We wish all our readers a new year filled with joy, learning opportunities and wonderful discoveries 🎉.

From delivering the first clinical treatments using proton arc therapy, developing a new type of hollow-core optical fibre that increases transmission speeds by 45% to capturing the highest-resolution images of individual atoms in the material known as moiré phasons, 2025 has witnessed significant advancement in the knowledge and understanding of the different fields in physics as well as the development of real-world applications. Here are some top picks by Physics World: https://physicsworld.com/a/top-10-breakthroughs-of-the-year-in-physics-for-2025-revealed/

Quantum Fall Fest is an extension of IBM Quantum’s global Qiskit Fall Fest initiative, which partners with student bodies worldwide to host campus-level events promoting quantum computing. The 2025 edition held in Singapore, which was also the inaugural session, was designed primarily for beginners and those curious about the field, with the goal of demystifying and democratising quantum computing. Read here for more: https://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/quantum-fall-fest-singapore-2025/

Fascinated by space but do not know where to start? What kinds of discoveries do scientists hope to make with data from missions such as the NASA’s Kepler or the James Webb Space Telescope? Asst Prof Marc Hon from NUS Physics, also NUS Presidential Young Professor, addresses these questions and more in an interview where he shares about his research interests and works in the field of astrophysics: https://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/an-interview-with-asst-prof-marc-hon/

Germany Immersion Trip is a yearly programme organised by NUS Physics that offers physics undergraduates a good opportunity to experience both the culture and physics research environment in Germany. This year, the trip promised to be another eye-opening experience for the 18 physics undergraduates who signed up. Hear from student Arushi Sachan what the trip meant to her: https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/blog/2025/12/in-the-path-of-pioneers/

For graduate student Zuo Enpu, AI is not just a subject but a versatile tool that unlocks new possibilities in scientific research. This led him to sign up for the first run of MSc (AI for Science) programme offered by NUS Physics, where he gains practical insights into applying AI for prediction and analysis across scientific fields. The new programme is built on the idea of the “bilingual” scientists—fluent in both scientific rigour and algorithmic reasoning. It reflects how science now advances: discoveries depend as much on making sense of noisy datasets as on testing hypotheses. For more on the MSc (AI in Science) curriculum, click on this link: https://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/student/msc-ai-for-science/

Team members from The Incomputents & Co. (Yugam is second from the left) A multidisciplinary team of five led by physics and engineering science undergraduate Vora Yugam Jinesh edged out competitors to emerge the winner of the Credit Risk Counterparty challenge at the Quantum Finance Hackathon 2025. "When the competition presented a direct challenge in computational finance that explicitly called for the kind of first-principles, analytical approach I’ve developed through my coursework, it was an opportunity I could not pass up. The chance to apply advanced concepts from both classical and quantum computation to a high-stakes financial problem was irresistible," Yugam said in an interview. Read here for more: https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/blog/2025/11/when-science-meets-finance-a-winning-solution-that-reimagines-how-banks-measure-risk/

Astronomers have captured the earliest moments of a supernova in a nearby galaxy, revealing that the blast was elongated rather than spherical. The intrinsic shape of the shock breakout tells a lot of how it was triggered at the heart of the star in the first place. The observations support the theory that the shock wave is initiated by subatomic particles called neutrinos being energised deep in the stellar interior. Read here for more: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/supernova-first-moments-lopsided-blast

Singapore is stepping up its quantum race with the National Quantum Office’s announcement of a strategic partnership with tech firm Quantinuum to accelerate quantum technology development. Under the deal, Singapore will host Helios, its first state-of-the-art general-purpose quantum computer—the first of its kind outside the US. Watch video here for more: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/singapore-be-first-country-outside-us-host-quantinuums-helios-quantum-computer-5451196

Figure a shows a schematic diagram of the scanning tunneling measurement (STM) on 2D chromium (III) selenide. Figure b shows a high resolution STM image revealing the granular charge density wave pattern.  A research team led by Professor Chen Wei from NUS Physics synthesised single-layer semiconducting chromium (III) selenide and demonstrated the charge density wave electronic patterns widely observed in metallic 2D transition metal chalcogenides. The wave pattern in the semiconducting layer can be tuned via surface charge transfer doping without introducing foreign impurities. Being antiferromagnetic opens a platform to understand the interplay between magnetism, charge order, and electron correlation. Read here for more: https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/blog/2025/09/doping-induces-charge-density-wave-in-two-dimensional-semiconductor/

Scientists have developed a "fingerprint matrix" technique that uses an object’s unique wave-scattering signature to locate it even when buried in opaque materials like sand. Tested on metal spheres and in medical imaging, this method could reveal hidden objects and monitor medical markers for the diagnosis of medical conditions. Read here for more: https://phys.org/news/2025-10-treasures-physics-fingerprint-matrix-method.html

What does quantum cryptography entail? What kinds of problems can quantum technologies solve that current technologies cannot? Prof Lo Hoi Kwong from NUS Physics, also Provost’s Chair Professor, addresses these questions and more in an interview where he shares about his motivation, research interests and works in the field of quantum information science: https://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/an-interview-with-prof-lo-hoi-kwong/

NUS Physics alumnus Dr Goh Koon Tong co-founded Squareroot8 Technologies and is now its chief technology officer. Assembling a team with diverse academic backgrounds ranging from quantum physics, software engineering to business development, the start-up is now ready to launch its encryption services using quantum cryptography technology. Read here for more: https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/spore-quantum-start-up-aims-to-make-critical-systems-unhackable

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 was awarded jointly to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis "for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit". To find out about the works of the Nobel laureates, read here for more: https://phys.org/news/2025-10-nobel-prize-physics-scientists-discoveries.html