@article{22963, abstract = {Although studies of tumor invasion have mainly emphasized the evolution of genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity, cellular behaviors also depend on the physical microenvironment. Yet, the tumor microenvironment is both complex and continuously remodeled, making it hard to rigorously test its causal influence on tumor dissemination. Here, we adopted a reductionist approach to studying tumor cell invasion in microengineered environments of tunable patterned geometries. We find that not only the presence of obstacles but more unexpectedly their spatial disorder causes a drastic shift from a collective to a single-cell mode of invasion—comparable in strength to loss of cell-cell adhesion. Combining live-imaging and perturbation experiments with minimal biophysical modeling, we demonstrate that cell dissemination results both from local geometrical constraints and a global integration of spatial disorder over time. We identify generic universality classes of invasion dynamics dependent on environmental geometry, enabling us to identify quantitative physical principles for tumor dissemination.}, author = {Dunajova, Zuzana and Tasciyan, Saren and Majek, Juraj and Merrin, Jack and Jenkins, Robert P. and Sahai, Erik and Sixt, Michael K and Hannezo, Edouard B}, issn = {2375-2548}, journal = {Science Advances}, number = {37}, publisher = {AAAS}, title = {{Substrate heterogeneity promotes cancer cell dissemination through interface roughening}}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.aed0587}, volume = {12}, year = {2026}, } @article{22976, abstract = {The influence of chiral molecular potentials on phase-coherent transport in superconducting Josephson junctions is investigated. Within a Bogoliubov–de Gennes tight-binding framework, a superconducting-normal-superconducting (SNS) junction functionalized by adsorbed chiral molecules is modeled, where electrostatic gradients generated by the molecules induce spin-orbit coupling in the normal region. The equilibrium charge current-phase relation is found to remain largely insensitive to molecular chirality in symmetric, zero-field configurations. In contrast, the spin-polarized equilibrium current exhibits a pronounced chirality-dependent response, with opposite enantiomers producing distinct and anisotropic spin-polarized Josephson currents. The resulting handedness contrast can be enhanced through control parameters such as molecular orientation and the strength of the induced spin-orbit coupling. The temperature dependence of these currents further shows that the chirality-dependent signatures persist across a range of temperatures well below the superconducting critical temperature. These results identify Josephson interferometry as a phase-sensitive setting for probing chirality-dependent spin structure and highlight spin-polarized superconducting transport as a controlled route toward integrating chiral molecular functionality into superconducting spintronic devices.}, author = {Kuliashov, Oleg and Cappellaro, Alberto and Millo, Oded and Paltiel, Yossi and Lemeshko, Mikhail and Al Hyder, Ragheed}, issn = {2469-9969}, journal = {Physical Review B}, number = {15}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, title = {{Supercurrents in Josephson junctions with chiral molecular potentials}}, doi = {10.1103/s1jn-fq4d}, volume = {114}, year = {2026}, } @article{22975, abstract = {Conjugated molecules with diradical character have emerged as promising building blocks for high-conductance single-molecule electronics because of their behavior as 1D topological insulators. However, the impact of antiaromaticity on these radical-based edge states has not been explored. Here, we introduce thiophene-based molecular wires that exhibit intrinsic diradical character in their ground state under ambient conditions and systematically investigate how their conductance responds to changes in aromaticity upon the oxidation of fluorene-based flanking moieties. Using scanning tunneling microscopy-based break junction (STM-BJ) techniques, we show that the conductance increases with molecular length in the neutral state, supporting one-dimensional topological behavior. We further examine the effect of oxidation on conductance through three complementary methods, revealing substantial conductance enhancements that we attribute to an increase in the antiaromatic character of the wires. Together, these findings establish a rational design strategy for highly conducting, electrochemically switchable molecular junctions, with implications for single-molecule electronics.}, author = {Lee, Woojung and Shi, Wanzhuo and Kwon, Junho and Low, Jonathan and Wei, Sujun and Yin, Xiaodong and Campos, Luis M. and Venkataraman, Latha}, issn = {1520-5126}, journal = {Journal of the AmericanChemical Society}, number = {37}, pages = {40536–40542}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Redox-driven antiaromaticity enables multistate conductancein 1D topological insulators}}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.6c15721}, volume = {148}, year = {2026}, } @article{22966, abstract = {Solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are promising for high-safety, high-energy-density lithium metal batteries, but their adoption is limited by low room-temperature ionic conductivity and insufficient mechanical robustness. This study reports an improved SPE architecture consisting of a three-dimensional (3D) polyacrylonitrile (PAN)–Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO) fibrous skeleton infused with a polymer electrolyte ionic liquid (PIL), which promotes lithium-salt dissociation, accelerates Li+ transport, and enhances mechanical strength. The resulting SPE achieves an ionic conductivity of up to 0.51 mS cm−1. Li|Li symmetric cells using a 40-µm-thick SPE cycle stably for 2500 h at 0.2 mA cm−2 with a low overpotential of 30 mV. In Li|LiFePO4 (LFP) full cells, the electrolyte enables 86.8% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 0.5 C and maintains stable operation at 130 °C. Flexible pouch-cell tests further confirm improved safety and durability under harsh conditions, highlighting the potential of this SPE design for high-voltage lithium metal batteries.}, author = {Zhang, Shengnan and Zeng, Guifang and Yu, Jing and Horta, Sharona and Lu, Xuan and Sun, Qing and Ren, Yuchuan and Ibáñez, Maria and Llorca, Jordi and Biendicho, Jordi Jacas and Arbiol, Jordi and Ci, Lijie and Cabot, Andreu}, issn = {2524-793X}, journal = {Advanced Fiber Materials}, publisher = {Springer}, title = {{Reinforced poly(ionic liquid)-in-salt electrolytes for highly stable solid-state Lithium metal batteries}}, doi = {10.1007/s42765-026-00775-2}, year = {2026}, } @article{22974, abstract = {Far from being static structures, it is now well accepted that proteins are highly dynamic entities even in the solid state. Here, we review recent progress in application of magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR for studying the site-specific dynamics of proteins, as assessed using spin-relaxation and measurement of anisotropic spin interactions. We focus on the types of experimental data that are available, and how best to access the information which is provided by these experimental measurements; in particular, we provide a retrospective on the field in light of recent advances in analytical methodologies, which have led to a slow paradigm shift in how we interpret relaxation rate constant measurements made in the solid state.}, author = {Tatman, Benjamin and Schanda, Paul}, issn = {1873-3301}, journal = {Progress in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy}, keywords = {Solid-state NMR, Protein dynamics, Magic-angle spinning}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Quantifying fast protein dynamics by magic-angle spinning NMR: Progress in experimental and analytical approaches}}, doi = {10.1016/j.pnmrs.2026.101615}, volume = {156-157}, year = {2026}, } @article{22999, abstract = {The safety of Reinforcement Learning (RL)-based controllers has become a prominent research area in recent years, with various approaches being proposed to address this critical issue. Runtime Safety Assurance (RSA) methods for RL, such as Shielded RL, provide formal safety guarantees by preventing agents from taking unsafe actions and suggesting safe alternatives when necessary. However, previous surveys and reviews on RSA for RL have not thoroughly analysed the challenges and applications within the industrial sector. This study builds on existing state-of-the-art research on Shielded RL methods, emphasising its contributions to industrial applications and offering a domain-specific categorisation. This categorisation highlights the primary industrial domains utilising Shielded RL, detailing the optimised functions achieved by RL and the safety functions ensured by the shield. Additionally, the study presents a categorisation based on environmental features, enabling readers to assess the complexity of the problems addressed by the techniques studied. The shield’s attributes are analysed for each work, identifying key trends in their application, including their adaptability to new scenarios. Finally, a basic categorisation model for Shielded RL approaches, grounded in industrial safety standards, is introduced. This model serves as a baseline for future studies aiming to evaluate the maturity level of the works reviewed.}, author = {Odriozola-Olalde, Haritz and Cano Cordoba, Filip and Könighofer, Bettina and Arana-Arexolaleiba, Nestor and Zamalloa, Maider and Perez-Cerrolaza, Jon}, issn = {2667-3053}, journal = {Intelligent Systems with Applications}, keywords = {Reinforcement learning, Runtime safety assurance, Shield, Safety, Industrial application}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Shielded reinforcement learning for industrial applications: A systematic literature survey}}, doi = {10.1016/j.iswa.2026.200729}, volume = {32}, year = {2026}, } @article{22998, abstract = {Balancing selection, a form of selection that maintains genetic diversity, is difficult to detect, and the importance of balancing selection for the maintenance of genetic variation may be larger than often assumed. We model the possibility that the diversity-promoting effects of balancing selection extend to other loci that show sign epistasis with a locus under balancing selection. Rather than focusing on overdominance, as was done in previous efforts, we explore the effects of negative frequency dependence and show that this has important effects on the conditions under which the diversity-promoting effect of epistasis can occur in diploids. Our results show that not only recombination rate but also the dominance of sign epistasis are key parameters that determine the maintenance of polymorphism beyond the locus under direct balancing selection. We suggest that the effect we explore may play a significant role, especially when balancing selection acts on major effect loci.}, author = {Khudiakova, Kseniia and Barton, Nicholas H and Arnqvist, Göran}, issn = {1096-0325}, journal = {Theoretical Population Biology}, keywords = {Sign epistasis, Balancing selection, Within-population genetic variation}, pages = {48--55}, title = {{Sign epistasis extends the effects of balancing selection on genetic diversity}}, doi = {10.1016/j.tpb.2026.09.001}, volume = {172}, year = {2026}, } @unpublished{21968, abstract = {Balancing selection, a form of selection that maintains genetic diversity, is difficult to detect, and the importance of balancing selection for the maintenance of genetic variation may be larger than often assumed. We model the possibility that the diversity-promoting effects of balancing selection extend to other loci that show sign epistasis with a locus under balancing selection. Rather than focusing on overdominance, as was done in previous efforts, we explore the effects of negative frequency dependence and show that this has important effects on the conditions under which the diversity-promoting effect of epistasis can occur in diploids. Our results show that not only recombination rate but also the dominance of sign epistasis are key parameters that determine the maintenance of polymorphism beyond the locus under direct balancing selection. We suggest that the effect we explore may play a significant role, especially when balancing selection acts on major effect loci.}, author = {Khudiakova, Kseniia and Barton, Nicholas H and Arnqvist, Goran}, booktitle = {bioRxiv}, title = {{Sign epistasis extends the effects of balancing selection on genetic diversity}}, doi = {10.1101/2025.04.09.647826}, year = {2026}, } @article{23002, abstract = {We investigate the nonequilibrium dynamics of core-hole excitations in a one-dimensional fermionic few-body system consisting of a spin-polarized Fermi bath coupled to a single heavy mobile impurity. The bath is initially prepared in a particle-hole configuration by emptying a selected bath single-particle orbital, while the impurity is displaced with respect to the center of the bath confinement potential. The quench dynamics are initialized by suddenly switching on the impurity-bath interaction. To resolve the resulting dynamics, we combine two complementary ab initio approaches, namely, the MultiLayer MultiConfiguration Time-Dependent Hartree method for mixtures and a multichannel Born-Oppenheimer framework. We show that the postquench response is governed by the interaction strength, impurity confinement, mass imbalance, and the location of the initially prepared hole within the Fermi sea. The density evolution and impurity center-of-mass motion reveal a competition between mixing and demixing of impurity and bath, while the von Neumann entropy demonstrates the buildup of pronounced many-body correlations. Most importantly, the occupation dynamics of the initially emptied orbital identifies deep core holes as substantially more robust against refilling than bulk or edge vacancies. Our results establish core-hole excitations as robust dynamical many-body features in trapped ultracold fermions and provide a controlled route toward probing orthogonality response, correlation buildup, and hole refilling in real time.}, author = {Becker, A. and Koutentakis, Georgios and Schmelcher, P}, issn = {2643-1564}, journal = {Physical Review Research}, number = {3}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, title = {{Core-hole excitation dynamics of one-dimensional ultracold trapped fermions}}, doi = {10.1103/njcx-z6np}, volume = {8}, year = {2026}, } @article{23029, abstract = {Josephson junction (JJ) chains combine the coherence of superconductivity with the controllability of microwave-frequency circuits, making them a powerful platform for circuit quantum electrodynamics. In this work, we consider a long JJ chain that effectively realizes a multimode cavity with nonlinear dispersion and additional multimode interactions. Individual modes appearing due to the finite size of the chain can be experimentally probed via microwave spectroscopy, both in equilibrium and in driven far-from-equilibrium settings. We study the role of multimode interactions in degrading internal coherence—observable as excess linewidth—in both equilibrium and driven regimes. Focusing on two-into-two mode scattering as the leading relaxation process, we classify the relevant scattering processes and derive their expected temperature- and frequency-scaling under equilibrium conditions. For experimentally relevant parameters, we show that the equilibrium decay rate is dominated by nonresonant processes, however, weakly driving a particular set of modes out of equilibrium enhances resonant scattering, leading to observable signatures in the distribution function and linewidth. Finally, in the strong nonequilibrium regime, we report a crossover to a qualitatively different nonequilibrium steady state.}, author = {Vigliotti, Lucia and Higginbotham, Andrew P and Serbyn, Maksym}, issn = {2469-9969}, journal = {Physical Review B}, number = {19}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, title = {{Plasmon decay and nonequilibrium steady states in Josephson junction chains}}, doi = {10.1103/cw3m-thsw}, volume = {114}, year = {2026}, } @article{23001, abstract = {A famous conjecture by Itai and Zehavi states that, for every 𝑑 -vertex-connected graph 𝐺 and every vertex 𝑟 in 𝐺 , there are 𝑑 spanning trees of 𝐺 such that, for every vertex 𝑣 in 𝐺 ∖{𝑟} , the paths between 𝑟 and 𝑣 in different trees are internally vertex-disjoint. We show that with high probability the Itai–Zehavi conjecture holds asymptotically for the Erdős–Rényi random graph 𝐺⁡(𝑛,𝑝) when 𝑛⁢𝑝 =𝜔⁡(log⁡𝑛) and for random regular graphs 𝐺⁡(𝑛,𝑑) when 𝑑 =𝜔⁡(log⁡𝑛) . Moreover, we essentially confirm the conjecture up to a constant factor for sparser random regular graphs. This answers a question of Draganić and Krivelevich positively. Our proof makes use of recent developments on sprinkling techniques in random regular graphs.}, author = {Hollom, Lawrence and Lichev, Lyuben and Mond, Adva and Portier, Julien and Wang, Yiting}, issn = {1098-2418}, journal = {Random Structures and Algorithms}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{Approximate Itai–Zehavi conjecture for random graphs}}, doi = {10.1002/rsa.70095}, volume = {69}, year = {2026}, } @article{23004, abstract = {Lattice strain engineering can regulate the electronic structure of electrocatalysts, but stabilizing distorted metastable phases remains challenging. Here, we report an N,N-dimethylformamide-assisted strategy for synthesizing metastable hexagonal close-packed (HCP) Ni nanoparticles with local lattice-spacing deviations reaching approximately 5.2%. Structural and spectroscopic analyses support a dilute interstitial-carbon-stabilized HCP Ni framework dominated by expanded metallic Ni─Ni coordination rather than ordered Ni3C. Carbon-associated perturbations inhibit structural relaxation and retain the distorted HCP framework. Operando x-ray absorption and infrared spectroscopies indicate the formation of a NiOOH-like working surface coupled to an HCP-derived subsurface framework, accompanied by potential-dependent changes in the interfacial hydrogen-bonding environment and urea-derived species. Calculations using idealized metallic models show that HCP lattice strain induces a Ni d-band upshift, anisotropic Ni─Ni bonding, and localized charge redistribution, modifying adsorption-energy trends for the urea oxidation reaction. The optimized HCP-Ni delivers an apparent steady-state Tafel slope of 26.95 mV dec−1, over twice the electrochemically active surface area-normalized activity of the face-centered cubic-containing controls, and approximately 98% apparent urea conversion after 22 h. It sustains current for over 120 h in three-electrode testing and enables over 400 h of urea-assisted zinc–air battery cycling. This work demonstrates dilute interstitial-carbon stabilization as a route to strained metastable electrocatalysts.}, author = {Xue, Qian and Yu, Jing and Dai, Juguo and Yang, Linlin and Bi, Xiaoyu and Ren, Yuchuan and Zhang, Jia and Qi, Xuede and Wang, Yudi and Xu, Ying and Arbiol, Jordi and He, Ren and Qi, Xueqiang and Cabot, Andreu}, issn = {1521-3773}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, keywords = {electrocatalysis, HCP nickel, interstitial carbon, kinetic trapping, lattice strain engineering, urea oxidation reaction}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{Dilute interstitial carbon stabilization of highly strained metastable HCP Nickel for enhanced electrocatalysis}}, doi = {10.1002/anie.2874510}, year = {2026}, } @article{23027, abstract = {Kinetic constraints are generally expected to slow down dynamics in many-body systems, obstructing or even completely suppressing transport of conserved charges. Here, we show how gauge theories can defy this wisdom by yielding constrained models with faster-than-diffusive dynamics. We first show how, upon integrating out the gauge fields, one-dimensional U(1) lattice gauge theories are exactly mapped onto XX models with nonlocal constraints. This class of kinetically constrained models interpolates between free theories and highly constrained local fermionic models. We find that energy transport is superdiffusive over a broad parameter regime. Even more drastically, spin transport exhibits ballistic behavior, albeit with anomalous finite-volume properties as a consequence of gauge invariance. Our findings are relevant to current efforts in quantum simulations of gauge theory dynamics and anomalous hydrodynamics in closed quantum many-body systems.}, author = {Bhakuni, Devendra Singh and Verdel, Roberto and Desaules, Jean-Yves Marc and Serbyn, Maksym and Ljubotina, Marko and Dalmonte, Marcello}, issn = {2469-9969}, journal = {Physical Review B}, number = {14}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, title = {{Anomalously fast transport in nonintegrable lattice gauge theories}}, doi = {10.1103/3371-88bl}, volume = {114}, year = {2026}, } @unpublished{23011, abstract = {Alternative splicing represents a major source of potential evolutionary novelty in protein sequence. Despite this, relatively few studies have investigated the functional impacts of human-specific alternative splicing. Here, we analyze RNA-sequencing data from nine iPSC-derived cell types and identify dozens of human transcriptomic conserved deletions (htCONDELs): evolutionary divergence in splicing that leads to the partial or full removal of conserved protein-coding sequence from the human transcriptome. We investigated one example in detail: an htCONDEL in the gene HMMR , which encodes a centrosomal protein that binds microtubules and regulates mitosis. We found that this htCONDEL, which produces a human-specific isoform lacking a conserved microtubule-binding domain, enables cells to flexibly divide with a broader range of mitotic spindle orientations in vitro . Introducing the human HMMR isoform into mice similarly alters the orientation of cell division in the developing neocortex and increases the production of outer radial glia-like cells, the expansion of which played an essential role in increasing human brain size. Combined with previous work implicating the same HMMR isoform in carcinoma progression, our results suggest that evolution of HMMR splicing in humans increased plasticity in cell division, potentially leading to tradeoffs between advantageous effects on brain development and deleterious effects on cancer risk later in life.}, author = {Starr, Alexander L. and Villalba Requena, Ana and Rever, Jenna and Chen, Yuwei and Pauler, Florian and Magtanong, Leslie and Maxwell, Christopher A. and Hippenmeyer, Simon and Fraser, Hunter B.}, booktitle = {bioRxiv}, title = {{A human transcriptomic deletion links cortical expansion and cancer}}, doi = {10.64898/2026.09.16.752114}, year = {2026}, } @article{23003, abstract = {The peripheral neural pathways that relay oral and post-ingestive chemo- and mechanosensory signals to the brain during food consumption are increasingly well understood. Far less is known about how these and other body signals are integrated and organized in the brainstem lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN), a key interoceptive sensory hub. We established methods for dense calcium imaging of 100s of neurons from mouse LPBN. Food consumption drove a seconds-long wave of activity across LPBN, with dynamics mirroring the movement of food through the upper gastrointestinal tract as observed using X-ray videofluoroscopy. By imaging the same neurons across days, we found that spatially clustered subsets of neurons encoded oral signals, stomach filling, visceral malaise, arousal, and/or body movement. Moreover, only certain subsets were modulated by cortical input. Together, these experiments establish a platform for understanding how peripheral and central interoceptive signals are integrated in the brainstem to guide behavior.}, author = {Essner, Rachel A. and Ruda, Kiersten and Choh, Hannah J. and Kücükdereli, Hakan and Amsalem, Oren and Edelhaus, Julia and Chahyadinata, Gracesenia and Grødem, Sverre and Lensjø, Kristian K. and Lever, Teresa E. and Andermann, Mark L.}, issn = {1097-4199}, journal = {Neuron}, publisher = {Cell Press}, title = {{Brainstem sensing of multiple body signals during food consumption}}, doi = {10.1016/j.neuron.2026.08.015}, year = {2026}, } @article{23000, abstract = {Ancient viral warfare could be at the root of modern class 1 CRISPR bacterial defense systems}, author = {Bravo, Jack Peter Kelly}, issn = {1095-9203}, journal = {Science}, number = {6817}, pages = {1187--1188}, publisher = {AAAS}, title = {{A viral origin for RNA-guided immunity}}, doi = {10.1126/science.ael0758}, volume = {393}, year = {2026}, } @article{23042, abstract = {One of the most surprising results of early James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations is the discovery of an abundance of red, compact, broad-line objects dubbed “little red dots” (LRDs) at z > 4. Their spatial density (∼10−4–10−5 cMpc−3) is 100 times more abundant than UV-selected quasars at that redshift if one extrapolates the quasar luminosity function (QLF) down to the LRD regime. However, whether LRDs dominate black hole accretion at quasar-like luminosities (Lbol ≳ 1045−46 erg s−1) remains unanswered, as probing the bright end of the LRD luminosity function requires a much larger area than that which is able to be surveyed by JWST. In this work, we present our search for the brightest LRDs (K < 23.7) at 4.5 < z < 4.9 using wide-area multiwavelength imaging surveys from the near-UV to the infrared bands. With over 15 deg2 of sky coverage, we only identify one single LRD candidate at zphot ≈ 4.6, which translates into a spatial density of n(M5100 < −23.5) ≈ 10−8 cMpc−3—this is nearly 10 times less abundant than the UV-selected quasars at similar optical luminosity. When combined with the LRD sample identified by JWST at the same redshift range, we find a sharp cutoff in the optical luminosity function at λL5100 ≈ 2.2 × 1044 erg s−1, while the quasar luminosity function (QLF) turnover occurs at ≳20 times higher luminosity. We therefore confirm the exclusively low-luminosity nature of LRDs, ruling out that LRDs are the counterparts of quasars. Furthermore, we speculate that, if the shape of the luminosity function holds up, it points to LRDs being powered by low-mass black holes with a narrow range of Eddington-level accretion rates.}, author = {Ma, Yilun and Greene, Jenny E. and Volonteri, Marta and Goulding, Andy D. and Setton, David J. and Annunziatella, Marianna and Egami, Eiichi and Fan, Xiaohui and Kokorev, Vasily and Labbe, Ivo and Lin, Xiaojing and Marchesini, Danilo and Matthee, Jorryt J and Nanayakkara, Themiya and Robbins, Luke and Sajina, Anna and Sawicki, Marcin}, issn = {2041-8213}, journal = {The Astrophysical Journal Letters}, number = {2}, publisher = {IOP Publishing}, title = {{No luminous Little Red Dots: A sharp cutoff in their luminosity function}}, doi = {10.3847/2041-8213/aea071}, volume = {1008}, year = {2026}, } @article{23054, abstract = {We investigate the cosmological information in higher-order statistics of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) lensing convergence field for a near-term experiment with noise properties similar to the Simons Observatory (SO). Using a fully field-level forward-modeling pipeline based on ray-traced simulations from the massivenus suite and realistic SO-like CMB lensing reconstruction, we naturally include nonlinear structure formation, post-Born effects, and higher-order reconstruction noise. We measure several non-Gaussian statistics, including Minkowski functionals, peak and minima counts, moments, and wavelet-scattering coefficients. We train Gaussian-process emulators to model each statistic’s dependence on the matter density fraction Ω𝑚, the scalar power spectrum amplitude 𝐴𝑠, and the neutrino mass sum 𝑀𝜈. We quantify the relative information gain these statistics provide beyond the lensing power spectrum and identify which are most robust to reconstruction noise. We find that morphology-based statistics, particularly Minkowski functionals and peak/minima counts, offer significant complementary constraining power: combining all non-Gaussian statistics with the power spectrum yields reductions of 40% and 38% in the marginalized uncertainties on Ω𝑚 and 𝐴𝑠, respectively, and a 70% reduction in the one-sided uncertainty on 𝑀𝜈. These gains remain non-negligible even when the power spectrum is extended to larger scales and combined with primary CMB and BAO data, with Minkowski functionals providing an additional 11% improvement in 𝜎⁡(𝑀𝜈) and 35% in 𝜎⁡(Ω𝑚) beyond the extended power spectrum. By contrast, moments and wavelet-scattering coefficients provide more limited gains at SO noise levels. Our results highlight the potential of non-Gaussian statistics to enhance cosmological constraints from SO and future CMB surveys.}, author = {Chen, Shu Fan and Hill, J. Colin and Haiman, Zoltán}, issn = {2470-0029}, journal = {Physical Review D}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, title = {{Probing cosmology through higher-order CMB lensing statistics}}, doi = {10.1103/CLVJ-GL8P}, volume = {114}, year = {2026}, } @phdthesis{23033, author = {Stöllner, Andrea}, issn = {2663-337X}, keywords = {aerosol physics, electrostatics, optics, optical tweezers, atmospheric electricity}, pages = {88}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria}, title = {{Microscale electrical behavior of highly charged individual aerosol particles using optical tweezers}}, doi = {10.15479/AT-ISTA-23033}, year = {2026}, } @unpublished{23038, abstract = {Electrical discharge at the smallest possible length and charge scales is not well understood. Using optical tweezers, we investigate spontaneous discharges of a single micron-scale particle levitated in air. These ``microdischarges'' have a typical size of $\sim$40 $|e|$, but can be as small as a few $|e|$ and as large as several hundred. The absence of a well-defined trigger charge and the weak dependence on particle size suggest events are not classical gaseous breakdown. Instead, we show that microdischarge events arise from the rapid capture of ions left in the tracks of nearby passing ionizing radiation. Our results highlight the role of natural ionizing radiation in initiating micron-scale discharges and provide a platform for studying discharge physics in electrode-free environments and at the smallest scales.}, author = {Stöllner, Andrea and Lenton, Isaac C. D. and Muller, Caroline J and Waitukaitis, Scott R}, booktitle = {arXiv}, title = {{Discharge at the microscale: Using optical tweezers to observe Muon-induced discharges of a levitated microparticle in air}}, doi = {10.48550/arXiv.2604.16040}, year = {2026}, }