Programming Heat with Magnetic Light | Science News

Science News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 8, 2026 · 2m

Scientists have cracked a long-standing physics rule that tied heat absorption and emission together, creating a breakthrough device that can now control heat directionally, turn it on/off, and even remember its settings. Led by Professor Koichi Okamoto and Doctor Shunsuke Murai at Osaka Metropolitan University, the team used magneto-optical materials that shift behavior under magnetic fields, paired with phase change materials. This innovation lets heat radiate in specific directions—like programming data—offering smarter infrared emitters, better thermal management, and potential new memory…