This Week in Physics Magazine, April 4, 2022
Sizing Up the Potential of Quantum Batteries
A new study has quantified the maximum speedup of a battery’s charging time that can be achieved through quantum effects.
Temperature Oscillation Increases Heat Flow
If the temperature gradient in a fluid oscillates, heat flows through it more effectively, according to experiments that may have relevance for climate models.
Fooling Around with Boxes
Researchers have uncovered the optimal design for a lidded carboard box to ensure that the lid drops as quickly and smoothly as possible—and it’s not what you might think.
Spin Fluctuations May Drive Iron-Based Superconductivity
An experiment finds that spin fluctuations in an iron-based superconductor have a preferred direction, suggesting a potential mechanism for superconductivity in these materials
High-Temperature Majoranas
A new proposal for generating Majorana zero modes—electronic states with potential for quantum computing—would not require sub-Kelvin temperatures.