This strange new phase of matter could transform quantum technology
Researchers from Brown University and the University of Michigan have achieved something that scientists had only imagined until now. By carefully arranging tiny particles of silver into custom-built structures, they created and stabilized a previously elusive state of matter that had existed only in theoretical models.
Photons behave very strangely if you try to cut them | New Scientist
Cutting photons is infinitely weird Muhammad Fawaid/Alamy
In Greek mythology, cutting one head off the Hydra of Lerna simply resulted in two more heads growing to replace it – and it turns out it’s even worse for photons. If you try to cut a piece off a particle of light, the result is infinitely many more of them being created.
Stanford quantum computing breakthrough uses twisted light to work without extreme cooling
Quantum computers today are notoriously difficult and expensive to operate. Most require temperatures near absolute zero, about -459 degrees Fahrenheit, to maintain the fragile quantum states needed for computation and communication.
Ella Toone: Lionesses and Man Utd midfielder on grief, football and her wedding
Toone knew that hours after every match, she would always get a phone call from Nick.
He and her mum, Karen, would always come to watch Toone's matches, but Nick also recorded them on TV so he could have another look when he got home before calling his daughter for a "debrief on the whole game".
Why College Degrees Matter in the Age of AI - EdSurge News
For the past few years, our nation has been flooded with headlines declaring the demise of the college degree. This trend was exacerbated by COVID-19, which accelerated a decline in college interest.
Why TED Summer School is the next step in Samya Gupta’s speaking journey

Xixi Wang
For over a decade, TED-Ed Student Talks has helped millions of students around the world find their voices, passion, and confidence.
Now, in partnership with the renowned organization Immerse Education, TED is taking that mission further with TED Summer School — a transformative two-week program for motivated students aged 15 to 18. Through core theory and practical sessions, guest speakers, and personal coaching from expert tutors, participants develop public speaking skills, storytelling mastery, and leadership abilities.
PR and SEO: How to Build More Authority Together (5 Steps)
PR and SEO used to be separate disciplines.
Now you can’t afford to keep them siloed.
Google and LLMs both rely on third-party signals — backlinks, brand mentions, expert commentary, and coverage in trusted publications — to decide which brands deserve visibility.
Surgeon General Advisory Wants Kids to Live ‘Beyond the Confines
The U.S. Surgeon General’s office issued a warning yesterday about the harms of extended uses of screens on children, raising concerns about its impact on academic performance, physical health and mental well-being.
chicken salad for celery enthusiasts
I’m not sure if this is a sign of hitting a certain age — like a sudden interest in bird feeders (check, and please tell me about yours), or beekeeping (well, in the TikTok sense, not sorry), and animated conversations on the best pillows (I hate mine) — but I’ve found over the last year that I have very strong opinions on chicken salad and the correct way to make it, which, naturally, is my way. I hope I’m in the right place to release them into the world.
How TED-Ed Student Talks builds essential skills in young people

Xixi Wang
In a world increasingly shaped by AI, the skills it can’t replicate — like communicating, collaborating, and connecting — are more valuable than ever.
The Future of Jobs Report (2025), published by the World Economic Forum, ranks skills like empathy, communication, and leadership among the most critical for the future workforce. Yet these skills are also some of the hardest to teach in a traditional classroom setting.