Scientists smash record in stacking semiconductor transistors for large-area electronics

transistor
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST; Saudi Arabia) researchers have set a record in microchip design, achieving the first six-stack hybrid CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) for large-area electronics. With no other reported hybrid CMOS exceeding two stacks, the feat marks a new benchmark in integration density and efficiency, opening possibilities in electronic miniaturization and performance.

A paper detailing the team’s research appears in Nature Electronics.

Among microchip technologies, CMOS microchips are found in nearly all electronics, from phones and televisions to satellites and medical devices. Compared with conventional silicon chips, hybrid CMOS microchips hold greater promise for large-area electronics...

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Planet formation depends on when it happens: New model shows why

artist conception of planets near large star
Artist’s conception of a simultaneous transit of three planets observed by NASA’s Kepler spacecraft on Aug. 26, 2010. Image credit: NASA/Tim Pyle

A new study led by UNLV scientists sheds light on how planets, including Earth, formed in our galaxy—and why the life and death of nearby stars are an important piece of the puzzle.

In a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, researchers at UNLV, in collaboration with scientists from the Open University of Israel, for the first time, modeled details about how the timing of planet formation in the history of the galaxy affects planetary composition and density. The paper is titled “Effect of Galactic Chemical Evolution on Exoplanet Properties.”

“Materials that go into making planets are formed inside of stars that have d...

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How bacteria in tumors drive treatment resistance in cancer

Study reveals how bacteria in tumors drive treatment resistance in cancer
Graphical abstract. Credit: Cancer Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.09.010

Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that explains how bacteria can drive treatment resistance in patients with oral and colorectal cancer. The study was published today in Cancer Cell.

Tumor-infiltrating bacteria have been known to impact cancer progression and treatment, but very little is understood about how they do this. The new study shows how certain bacteria—particularly Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn)—can induce a reversible state, known as quiescence, in cancer epithelial cells. This allows tumors to evade the immune system and resist chemotherapy.

“These bacteria-tumor interactions have been hiding in plain sig...

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A hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy of space immunology

A hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy of space immunology
In space, weakened immune function elevates disease risk. Continuous monitoring and targeted interventions are being proposed to protect astronaut immune health, while preventive measures aim to minimize long-term immune compromise. Credit: Huixan Du, Buck Institute for Research on Aging

With the advent of commercial spaceflight, an increasing number of people may be heading into space in the coming years. Some will even get a chance to fly to the moon or live on Mars.

One of the major health risks associated with spaceflight involves the immune system, which normally fights off viruses and cancer. It’s already established that spaceflight weakens immunity; current and past astronauts report clinical issues such as respiratory illnesses and skin rashes...

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