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90 segundos de ciência: EP. 1655 Raquel Queirós – Projeto NGQC IORT desenvolve sistema de monotorização para águas residuais

Advancing artificial intelligence using nanophotonics

Nanophotonic Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) are essential for creating efficient artificial intelligence (AI) systems inspired by the brain. These networks use tiny, efficient devices, that are smaller than a micron, to mimic the behaviour of neurons. However, there are challenges in developing compact and efficient components for generating and detecting spiking signals in these networks. In this recently published paper, a result of the European Union funded research project ChipAI, researchers discuss the difficulties, early successes, and opportunities for building a crucial photonic neural architecture using specific nanoscale devices called resonant tunnelling diodes, also known as nanoRTDs. These diodes act as artificial neurons that can generate rapid spikes. The INL team explores the potential for integrating nanoRTDs with small light-emitting diodes and nanolaser diodes to create both spiking signal emitters and receivers, all of which would be compact, fast, and energy-efficient. Bruno Romeira, one of the authors of this perspective article, explains “this paper addresses the benefits and challenges of developing small brain-inspired light-based computing systems, where the key feature is the use of light pulses, or spikes, to encode information. This approach is inspired by the way biological brains process information, as spikes are used to encode and transmit […]

Nine INL researchers ranked in the top 2% of scientists worldwide

Nine INL researchers received recognition by Stanford University, placing them among the top 2% of scientists worldwide. Stanford University recently published its global list of renowned scientists in various fields on October 10, 2022. Stanford University established an accessible database featuring highly cited scientists, offering standardised details on citations, h-index, co-authorship adjusted hm-index, citations to papers in different authorship positions and a composite indicator (c-score). This data is available separately for assessing career-long impact and the impact achieved in the year 2022. Notably, the following members from INL have earned a place on the ‘World Ranking Top 2% Scientists’ list for 2022: Joaquín Fernadéz-Rossier, Laura Salonen, Lifeng Liu, Miguel Cerqueira, Sanna Sillankorva, Victor Souza, Zhongchang Wang, Nuno Peres, and Paulo Ferreira. Congratulations for this remarkable achievement! For the complete list, you can visit the following link.

Evaluating the “quantumness” of a quantum computer

Programmable optical circuits are one of the leading architectures for quantum information processing. They enable tests of key aspects of quantum mechanics, and they have various applications in fields like metrology, cryptography, and computation. These devices handle information in a non-traditional way, using quantum states of light. As programmable optical circuits become larger and more complex, there is an increasing need for reliable methods to confirm their quantum capabilities and determine the most effective ways to use them for information processing. INL researchers, in a strong collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome, CNR-INF (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche e Instituto Nazionale di Fotonica), and Politecnico di Milano, have recently published a new study that demonstrates how to certify several quantum properties of devices of increasing complexity. The paper was published on November 3rd in the journal Science Advances (full publication here). The experiments, led by Prof Fabio Sciarrino and carried out at the Quantum Lab group in Sapienza University, certified the presence of genuine quantum characteristics such as contextuality and coherence in a programmable integrated optical circuit. Dr Taira Giordani, lecturer at Sapienza University and member of the Quantum Lab team, explains that “this work is the first experimental application of […]

uPGRADE project meeting takes place at INL

The final meeting of the uPGRADE project was held on Monday, October 23, at INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory.  The meeting attendees included Spin.Works, the leading company, ISQ – Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, and a team from the University of Texas Center for Space Research at Austin, represented by Dr João Encarnação (currently at TU Delft) and the distinguished Professor Byron Tapley. Professor Tapley is responsible for the major space missions GRACE and GRACE-FO, which have provided instrumental gravimetric data for the understanding of climate change in recent decades. Rosana Dias and Filipe Alves from the Integrated Micro and Nanotechnologies Research Group coordinated INL and UMinho’s work on the uPGRADE project.  The uPGRADE CubeSat is part of the ‘goPortugal – Global Science and Technology Partnerships Portugal’ initiative and is co-financed by the FEDER program, through Compete2020 of the European Union, by the Regional Operational Programs, and by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).  During the meeting, the team members reviewed the project’s significant conclusions and hurdles, as well as the next steps and plans for further collaboration, including planning the uPGRADE satellite launch.  Both Portugal and Texas team members considered the project a success, and uPGRADE is […]

Using graphene to purify water

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020, only 74% of the global population, equivalent to 5.8 billion people, had access to safely managed and accessed drinking water services. Efforts in water filtration and purification are critical for recovering clean water from wastewater effluents containing different classes of pollutants. Traditional water purification methods encompass a combination of processes, which are implemented at various stages of treatment. However, these methods are not effective in completely eliminating pollutants and contaminants from treated water. INL researchers propose the utilisation of layered graphene materials in membrane production to overcome these limitations, while providing high-level performance. Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice, possessing remarkable strength, conductivity, and other exceptional properties, making it a strong candidate for a diverse range of applications. These include potential applications in electronics for high-speed transistors, composite materials with enhanced strength and flexibility, and filtration systems due to its unique structure, robustness and flexibility. In a recently published paper in the Advanced Functional Materials journal, INL researchers from the 2DMD and the Water Quality research groups describe an efficient and environmentally-friendly approach to develop graphene-based filtration membranes with micrometre-size. The developed membranes […]

UT Austin Portugal Conference 2023

UT Austin Portugal Conference 2023Reviewing a 16-year journey with an eye to the future. INL hosted the 2023 edition of the UT Austin Portugal Program Annual Conference. The event – the largest knowledge-sharing and networking initiative of the Program – brought together at INL the UT Austin Portugal community and worldwide renowned experts. The conference fostered lively discussions and interactions that explored the successful journey of the past 16 years and culminated in an ideation exercise focused on the future. “In the dynamic landscape of research and innovation, the UT Austin Portugal Program is now embarking on a new horizon as it completes its third funding cycle. Guided by its 16-year legacy of achievements, this collaboration charts a visionary path, recognizing that true scientific progress requires the need for nanoscience and nanotechnology.” highlighted Paulo Ferreira, UT Austin Portugal Program’s Area Director for Nanotechnologies from INL. The community analysed how the Nanotechnologies Program has evolved through the latest phase and shined a bright light on the near future, as advanced by Brian Korgel, UT Austin Portugal Area Director for Nanotechnologies from UT: “Now we’re thinking about phase four and what should be the evolution of the Program regarding the role of […]

3DSecret project, coordinated by INL, targets metastasis patterns in breast cancer

Cancer remains the second most prevalent cause of mortality in developed countries, only behind cardiovascular disease. Critically, rather than the primary tumour, it is estimated that metastases are responsible for up to 9 in every 10 cancer deaths. The 3DSecret project, coordinated by INL, aims to unravel stochastic patterns that drive metastasis by combining a set of bleeding edge technologies: microfluidics, spectroscopy, nucleic acid sequencing, and artificial intelligence. The project, which unites partners from Portugal, Spain, Italy, and the UK, will use a multifactorial approach to study circulating tumour cells from the blood of breast cancer patients and identify patterns of cancer cell aggressiveness. The project kicked off in January, and a team of researchers from the Medical Devices research group at INL have successfully achieved the growth of cancer spheroids containing hundreds of breast cancer cells, originating from one single cell (figure below). The capacity of studying metastasis at the single-cell level avoids the averaging errors introduced by studying large cell populations and has the potential to allow the identification of cell-specific factors that can lead to the establishment of metastasis.  The consortium has also designed a clinical protocol together with 2CA at Braga Hospital, which will allow utilising the […]

INL Colloquium with Andrew deMello, Professor of Biochemical Engineering at ETH Zurich

Today INL hosted another captivating colloquium with Andrew deMello, Professor of Biochemical Engineering in the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences at ETH Zurich. His work focuses on combining optical microscopy and flow cytometry techniques to enable high-throughput imaging of cells within dynamic environments, offering a wealth of possibilities for biomedical research and diagnostics. At the INL Colloquium, Andrew emphasized that while modern flow cytometers excel at high-speed processing, they often require significant sample and reagent volumes, and they lack spatial resolution within individual cells. In response to these limitations, deMello’s research has revolved around leveraging microfluidic systems for precise manipulation and high-throughput processing of micron-sized objects. He also explores innovative optical detection methods that allow the capture of clear images of swiftly moving objects. Andrew de Mello’s presentation at the INL Colloquium shed light on the cutting-edge technologies and methods that are poised to reshape how we understand and analyse cellular dynamics. The event unfolded at INL’s auditorium with a diverse audience of researchers keen on unravelling the latest developments in the field of microfluidics for blood diagnostics.