Ultrathin Ruthenium Dioxide Reveals New Magnetism | Science News

Science News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 27, 2026 · 1m

Scientists have discovered a new form of magnetism called altermagnetism in ultrathin ruthenium dioxide, a material previously thought to be nonmagnetic. By reducing it to just a few atomic layers and applying atomic strain, researchers unlocked exotic spin textures that could revolutionize computer memory—making it smaller, faster, and more efficient. This breakthrough, revealed through advanced spectroscopy, highlights how tiny structural changes can dramatically alter quantum behavior, offering new pathways for spintronics and challenging long-held assumptions about magnetic materials…