For nearly two centuries, scientists have believed that only the electric side of light played a role in certain magnetic effects. Now, a new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has turned that idea on its head. Researchers have discovered that the magnetic component of light also has a direct and powerful influence on matter in the well-known Faraday effect. This surprising finding opens the door to new advances in optics, data storage, and emerging quantum technologies. The Faraday effect was first discovered in 1845 by the British scientist Michael Faraday. It describes what happens when a beam of light passes through a material that is placed in a strong magnetic field. As the light travels through the material, its polarization, or the direction in which it vibrates, slowly rotates. For more than 180 years, this effect was explained only in terms of the light’s electric field interacting with charged particles inside the material. The weaker magnetic field that travels with light was considered too small to matter. Dr. Amir Capua and Benjamin Assouline, from the Institute of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, challenged this long-standing assumption. Their new study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, provides the first solid theoretical proof that the magnetic field of light contributes directly to the Faraday effect. In simple terms, light does not just shine on materials, it can also influence them magnetically. Light is made up of both electric and magnetic waves that move together through space. When a constant magnetic field is applied to a material and light passes through it, the light is “twisted” in a way that reveals the magnetic properties of that material. What Capua and Assouline found is that the tiny magnetic wave inside the light itself helps create this twisting motion. It acts on the spinning particles inside the material and produces a kind of magnetic push, known as a torque, similar to what a regular magnet would do. To test and measure this effect, the researchers focused on a special crystal called Terbium Gallium Garnet, or TGG. This material is commonly used in experiments involving the Faraday effect. Their calculations showed that the magnetic part of light is responsible for about 17 percent of the rotation seen in visible light. In the infrared range, its contribution becomes even more important, reaching up to 70 percent of the total effect. This discovery changes how scientists understand the interaction between light and matter. It suggests that light “talks” to materials in more ways than previously believed, using both its electric and magnetic components. The findings could lead to new technologies in spintronics, where the tiny spins of particles are used to store and process information, as well as in optical data storage and future quantum computing systems. By revealing the hidden magnetic influence of light, this study not only rewrites a chapter of physics history but also opens up exciting possibilities for the technologies of tomorrow.
https://knowridge.com/2025/11/scientists-discover-lights-hidden-magnetic-power-after-180-years/
Tag: technologies
CFOs On the Move: Week ending Nov. 21
This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Mark Mason | Citi Mark Mason will step down as CFO of Citi in early March 2026. Mason, who joined the bank in 2001 and became CFO in 2019, will transition to the role of executive vice chair and senior executive adviser to the Chair/CEO. Mason held several senior operational, strategic and financial leadership positions throughout his tenure, including CFO of the Institutional Clients Group and CEO of the Citi Private Bank. Mason will be succeeded by Gonzalo Luchetti, who has been with the bank for over 19 years and currently serves as head of U. S. personal banking. Zac Coughlin | SiriusXM Zac Coughlin was appointed finance chief of satellite and online radio company SiriusXM, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Coughlin is currently CFO of PVH, the parent company of apparel brands Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein. He joined PVH in 2022 from DFS Group Limited, a subsidiary of French luxury goods seller LVMH, where he served as group CFO and chief operating officer. Coughlin previously served as CFO of Converse. He began his career at Ford Motor Company, holding several global financial leadership roles. Coughlin succeeds Tom Barry, who is stepping down from the position. Barry joined the company in 2009 and has been CFO since 2023. Melissa Stone | PVH Melissa Stone was named interim CFO of global apparel giant PVH as it searches for a permanent replacement for outgoing CFO Zac Coughlin. Stone has been with the company for over two decades and currently serves as executive vice president of global financial planning and analysis. During her tenure with the company, she has held several financial leadership positions, including senior vice president of accounting and assistant corporate controller. Olivier Leonetti | Eaton Olivier Leonetti, CFO of power management company Eaton, will step down from his role on April 1, 2026, as part of a planned transition. He will continue as chief financial officer until his successor is named. Leonetti joined Eaton in January 2024, having previously served for almost five years as a member of Eaton’s board. He has held several finance leadership roles throughout his career, including as CFO at Johnson Controls, Zebra Technologies and Western Digital. Mike Baughn | Tailored Brands Tailored Brands, the parent company of menswear retailers Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank, named Mike Baughn as CFO, effective Dec. 1. Baughn was most recently CFO of Foot Locker, and before that, he spent over 15 years at Kohl’s in a variety of finance leadership roles, including as executive vice president of finance. Baughn succeeds Brandy Richardson, who stepped down as CFO in July for the same role at multi-brand luxury retailer Saks Global. Since Richardson’s departure, the finance team has reported to John Tighe, the company’s chief executive officer. Ravi Thanawala | Papa Johns Ravi Thanawala, CFO of pizza chain Papa Johns, will take on the additional role of president of North America. Thanawala added executive vice president of international to his title in September 2024 after holding the chief financial officer role since July 2023 He held the interim chief executive officer position from March 2024 to August 2024. Thanawala previously worked at Nike, where he was most recently CFO of Nike North America. Thanawala was also the global VP and CFO of the Converse brand during his seven-year tenure at Nike. Cor van den Berg | Sunsweet Growers Cor van den Berg was named chief financial officer of dried fruits processor Sunsweet Growers. Most recently, van den Berg was CFO at dairy cooperative Darigold. He earlier spent over six years at the cancer research and treatment organization City of Hope, where he held the interim CFO role for over three years. He held key finance and strategy positions at confectionery and food products company Mars for almost 20 years, including as CFO of its health and nutrition division and of its North American food operations. Diane McClintock | Watts Water Technologies Diane McClintock was promoted to finance chief of Watts Water Technologies, a plumbing, heating and water-quality products manufacturer. McClintock has worked at Watts since 2010 and was most recently senior vice president of FP&A and investor relations. Before Watts, she was chief accounting officer and treasurer at AutoImmune, director of the transaction services practice at PwC and audit manager at EY. McClintock replaces Ryan Lada, who is leaving the company after five months in the role to become CFO of James Hardie Industries, an exterior home and outdoor living products provider. Erin Scanlon | Arizent.
https://www.cfo.com/news/cfos-on-the-move-nov-21-Zac-Coughlin-SiriusXM-PVH-Olivier-Leonetti-Eaton-Mike-Baughn-Tailored-Brands/806079/
Islantiles Is Coming Out in March 2026, Demo Live on Steam
Build the Best City in Islantiles
Thunderrock Innovations has announced that its upcoming title, Islantiles, will release for PC in March 2026. To give players an early taste, a free demo is already available, along with an official trailer showcasing the game’s charming mix of strategy and relaxation.
Islantiles is a cozy roguelike city-builder that invites players to craft, combine, and strategize as they transform a humble island into a thriving settlement. The adventure begins with a single patch of land and expands across a chain of islands. Along the way, players will unlock new technologies that reshape the way the world works.
Each discovery offers a chance to adjust strategies, experiment with combinations, and build a network of islands. Gameplay revolves around placing buildings, gathering resources, and shaping a deck of cards that triggers satisfying combos.
Technologies serve as the heart of progression, offering far more than simple upgrades. They can alter the very rules of play, influencing how tiles connect, how points are scored, and how settlements evolve. Players can purchase new technologies or trade away older ones to meet the shifting demands of each island’s unique challenges.
Every run in Islantiles offers something fresh, with no two islands ever the same. Beneath its gentle pace and sunlit style lies a deep layer of tactical thinking, rewarding players who balance efficiency with creativity.
Whether you are optimizing layouts or experimenting with new strategies, Islantiles promises a relaxing yet endlessly replayable experience when it sails onto PC next March.
https://cogconnected.com/2025/11/islantiles-is-coming-out-in-march-2026-demo-live-on-steam/
Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft & Meta are all donors to Trump’s White House ballroom project
Renovations have recently begun on the White House in Washington, D.C., as the building’s East Wing was demolished to make way for the construction of a new ballroom. This highly anticipated project marks a significant update to the historic residence.
The new ballroom is being funded through a combination of private donations, including contributions from former President Donald Trump and a group of prominent corporate donors. Notably, some of the biggest names in the technology industry are among the financial backers supporting this initiative.
The White House recently disclosed the full list of companies and individuals financially donating to the ballroom project, as reported by CNBC. The list features a diverse range of influential corporations and foundations, reflecting broad support from various sectors.
Among the corporate donors are:
– Apple
– Google
– Amazon
– Microsoft
– Meta Platforms
– Altria Group Inc.
– Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
– Caterpillar Inc.
– Coinbase
– Comcast Corporation
– Hard Rock International
– HP Inc.
– Lockheed Martin
– Micron Technology
– NextEra Energy Inc.
– Palantir Technologies Inc.
– Ripple
– Reynolds American
– T-Mobile
– Tether America
– Union Pacific Railroad
In addition, several prominent individuals and foundations have also contributed, including:
– Adelson Family Foundation
– Stefan E. Brodie
– Betty Wold Johnson Foundation
– Charles and Marissa Cascarilla
– Edward and Shari Glazer
– Harold Hamm
– Benjamin Leon Jr.
– The Lutnick Family
– The Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Foundation
– Stephen A. Schwarzmann
– Konstantin Sokolov
– Kelly Loeffler and Jeff Sprecher
– Paolo Tiramani
– Cameron Winklevoss
– Tyler Winklevoss
This collaboration of corporate and private contributions underscores the significant interest and investment in the White House renovation project, particularly the new ballroom that promises to enhance the historic site’s functionality and appeal.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146504/apple-google-amazon-microsoft-meta-trump-donation