At the APS Global Physics Summit in Anaheim, California, Bluefors today announced a triad of significant advances for their cryogenic measurement systems, bringing more cooling power and scalability improvements for complex quantum computing applications. Quantum computers rely on the ultra-low temperature environments provided by Bluefors’ industry-leading dilution refrigerators. For their operation, they also require wiring lines to carry signals between room temperature control electronics and the quantum chips operating inside the dilution refrigerator at temperatures close to absolute zero. As the number of qubits in quantum computers increases, so do the wiring requirements, and any increase in wiring infrastructure brings with it an increase in thermal load (heat), and a consequent need for additional cooling power.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the flight acceptance hot testing of the cryogenic engine for the LVM-M6 mission, the space agency said. The hot testing is part of the acceptance process for the flight of cryogenic engines for every mission. “On March 14, 2025, ISRO successfully conducted the flight acceptance hot testing of the cryogenic engine identified for the sixth operational mission of the LVM3 launch vehicle (LVM-M6) at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri,” the space agency said.

Purdue University experts in the College of Science and Rosen Center for Advanced Computing have launched Molecular Intelligence, a software company whose solutions help researchers determine the 3D structures of biomolecules imaged with cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Daisuke Kihara, professor of biological sciences and computer science, leads the company. He also is on the faculty of the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research and Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery. Charles Christoffer, senior computational scientist in the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing, and Genki Terashi, assistant research scientist in the Department of Biological Sciences, are the other founders.

Taylor-Wharton, a subsidiary of Air Water America Inc., a global leader in cryogenic equipment, has partnered with GenH2, a pioneer in liquid hydrogen technology, to introduce an innovative zero-loss hydrogen storage solution that will redefine the way liquid hydrogen is stored, transferred and dispensed.  

Under this partnership, Taylor-Wharton will incorporate GenH2’s ground-breaking Controlled Storage technology into its industry-leading Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) bulk storage tanks. Unlike conventional systems that suffer from hydrogen losses due to boil-off during transfill, storage, and dispensing operations, this game-changing advancement prevents losses before they occur, paving the way for hydrogen as a truly viable alternative to fossil fuels.

This breakthrough arises at a critical juncture when the global demand for clean and sustainable energy solutions is more urgent than ever. Hydrogen as a fuel source is set for significant growth but has not been able to achieve widespread adoption due largely to the issue of hydrogen loss from boil-off. Until now, typical refueling operations have experienced substantial losses, often ranging from 20%-40%. GenH2’s Controlled Storage, born out of the NASA space program, utilizes cryogenic refrigeration and heat removal to eliminate those losses, raising the bar for hydrogen refueling.

Combined with Taylor Wharton’s state-of-the-art vacuum-insulated bulk storage solutions, the Controlled Storage system offers unmatched performance and is a “must-have” for fueling station operators.

“We are excited to introduce a solution that addresses one of the most pressing challenges in the hydrogen industry,” said Eric Rottier, Chairman & CEO of Taylor-Wharton. “Our joint solution will revolutionize liquid hydrogen storage and will provide our customers with the most cutting-edge equipment for hydrogen storage and fueling.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Taylor-Wharton, and we share their commitment to innovation and market leadership,” said Greg Gosnell, CEO of GenH2. “Hydrogen has immense potential, but you can’t lose 20%-40% of your product and expect to be cost competitive. We expect our refrigerated liquid hydrogen storage technology to become the new standard for renewable energy systems and advance clean energy on a global scale.”  Learn more about GenH2 at www.genh2hydrogen.com and  www.awi.co.jp/english/ and  www.twcryo.com.

Vacuum technology is essential to the modern world—especially for fields like cryogenics, semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and environmental engineering. Yet for all their significance, vacuum pumps are rarely seen outside of labs and industrial settings. Now, Leybold is taking a novel approach to spotlighting these critical machines—by turning them into LEGO® models.

Bluefors, the world leading manufacturer of cryogenic measurement systems for quantum technology, announced the opening of a new lab facility in Chicago. The facility will be used to provide the Bluefors Lab service, bringing the service into the United States for the first time. Bluefors Lab provides startups, research groups, and other organizations easy and convenient access to a cryogenic measurement system with a service-based model.

Argonne National Laboratory (CSA CSM) recently hosted 12 women leaders from Net Zero World partner countries for a two-week training program under the Climate Smart Women Energy Leaders (CSWEL) initiative. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Net Zero World Initiative, the program aimed to equip participants with technical skills, leadership training and networks to advance sustainable energy solutions globally.

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the demand for efficient and compact cryocoolers is more critical than ever. A wide range of applications increasingly require high performance cooling systems that can seamlessly integrate into limited spaces. Smaller cryocoolers prove invaluable in these contexts, offering the precision and reliability necessary to support advanced scientific and industrial applications without compromising space or energy efficiency.

CO2Meter has long been recognized for its remote oxygen depletion safety alarm, which warns staff before they enter areas with dangerously low oxygen levels caused by pressurized gas leaks. Pressurizing a gas in a tank or cylinder provides a convenient way to transport and store it. Flower shops use helium cylinders to fill balloons. Restaurants rely on carbon dioxide tanks to carbonate soda. Outdoor grills use propane tanks to cook steaks. A common characteristic of these gases is that under pressure, they transition into a liquid state.

Vacuum Barrier Corporation (VBC) has long been recognized for its commitment to excellence in cryogenic systems and liquid nitrogen (LN2) solutions. Recently, the company has made significant strides in bolstering its customer support by establishing a dedicated department for reliability and technical support. Dana Muse, Reliability and Technical Support Manager, shared insights into this evolution and its impact on VBC’s service strategy, training programs and customer experience.

More than 30 of the world’s most advanced particle accelerators rely on one technology: superconducting radio-frequency (SRF). This technology, typically powered by pure niobium metal, has seen recent advancements with the introduction of niobium-tin alloys, which promise greater efficiency. The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is at the forefront of this new era, testing an accelerator based on niobium-tin alloy technology. The team has successfully tested the first niobium-tin alloy cryomodule, a prototype section of a particle accelerator, which can accelerate electrons to energies exceeding 10 million electron-volts. This cryomodule, named Gray Enid I, is now being prepared for its first electron beam tests.

OEMs in virtually every market, from aerospace and automotive to refrigeration and fire protection, rely on rupture disk devices for pressure relief and pressure release of gases and liquids. The challenge of time faces all product designers; how do we get a custom solution in an acceptable timeframe? Now, at least one industry innovator has streamlined the prototype process to expedite the delivery of customized solutions that meet a wide range of unique application requirements. Taking its cue from racing car pit crews, the fast-tracked development process involves the coordination of specialized internal teams with unique skill set to ensure timely delivery of dependable prototypes that are prepared for evaluation, additional adjustments, or  full-scale production.

Mark Thomson, who will take over from Fabiola Gianotti as director-general of CERN next year, talks about his plans in the hot seat and the challenges ahead for high-energy physics. Interview originally published in Physics World.

On February 12, 2025, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron visited the ITER site in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, France. This marked a historic occasion, as it was the first time two heads of state toured the facility together. They were welcomed by ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi, who guided them through the main experimental building where the fusion reactor components are being meticulously assembled. Director-General Barabaschi highlighted the project's recent achievements, including successful repairs on major components and adherence to cost performance targets. Prime Minister Modi expressed his admiration for the team's efforts on social media, describing the project as "a commendable step toward sustainable and limitless clean energy for the future."  

Web Industries, a leading advanced materials converter and outsource manufacturer, will present its latest precision-formatting services and technologies at JEC World 2025, taking place March 4-6 in Paris. The company will be exhibiting in Hall 5, Booth G27, at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre. Web Industries specializes in slitting, seaming, and other formatting solutions for various industries, including aerospace, energy, and urban mobility. Key applications include:

A continuous cryogenic pellet injection system for tokamak fueling has been developed by a joint research team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It overcame technical challenges related to cryogenic ice formation, pellet cutting and pellet launching. Cryogenic pellet injection is a cutting-edge technique in fusion research, where hydrogen isotopic gases are condensed into solid ice pellets, which are then accelerated and injected into plasma. This method offers deep particle injection and high fueling efficiency, making it a crucial technology for the future of fusion reactors. It is considered a key core fueling technology for next-generation fusion devices such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) and the European Demonstration Fusion Reactor (EU-DEMO).

Sonatrach, Algeria’s state-owned oil and gas leader, is making strides in the renewable energy sector through a promising discussion with Coolergy S.L., a Spanish engineering company specializing in liquid hydrogen solutions. The meeting, involving Sonatrach’s director for green and renewable energy, Youcef Khanafar, and Coolergy’s CEO, Kirill Lyats, was held at Sonatrach’s headquarters in Algiers.

A strong enough magnetic field destroys superconductivity even at absolute zero. But in some materials, known as type-II superconductors, superconductivity and magnetic-field-induced vortices can coexist before that threshold is crossed. Type-II superconductivity becomes more fragile as the superconductor becomes thinner. Eventually, some theorists say, the combination of an applied magnetic field and two dimensionality begets a Bose metal, a finite-resistance state whose charge carriers, like those in a superconductor, are Cooper-paired electrons. Now Xiaoxiang Xi of Nanjing University, China, and his collaborators have found evidence consistent with a Bose metal in atomically thin films of niobium diselenide (NbSe₂) [1].