News

How can we make computing more energy-efficient when nature itself introduces randomness at every step? At the intersection of physics and information science, researchers from AMOLF and Imperial College London explore how thermal noise interferes with the physical switching of bits in computing devices. Their new work, published in Physical Review E, reveals that how we measure these state changes can make a surprising difference in designing the most efficient computational protocols.

A research team from AMOLF created a soft robot that walks, hops, and swims — all without a brain, electronics, or AI. Just soft tubes, air, and some clever physics. Possible future applications range from smart pills to space tech.

In an article published in Physical Review Letters on April 11th, theoretical physicist Menachem Stern describes his latest findings on physical learning. This is a new research field that connects how neural networks learn with how living systems evolve and adapt. One of the advantages of physical learning is that it is extremely energy efficient, which is different from machine learning models, like ChatGPT, that use substantial amounts of energy.

Concentrating light in a volume as small as the wavelength itself is a challenge that is crucial for numerous applications. Researchers from AMOLF, TU Delft, and Cornell University in the USA have demonstrated a new way to focus light on an extremely small scale. Their method utilizes special properties of a photonic crystal and works for a broader spectrum of wavelengths than alternative methods. The researchers publish their findings in Science Advances on April 18th. 

A team of researchers at AMOLF has unveiled a remarkable discovery in physical computing: a soft, flexible material that can compute – not by electronics, but through its very shape and structure. This reprogrammable material, based on so-called “floppy modes”, can carry out matrix-vector multiplications, a mathematical operation fundamental to machine learning and artificial intelligence.

On April 11, 2025, AMOLF hosted the third edition of the OrganoidNL Symposium, bringing together researchers from across the Netherlands and abroad to discuss the latest developments in organoid biology. Following its successful launch in 2023, the event has grown into an important platform for sharing knowledge, building collaborations, and exploring the scientific and medical potential of organoids. 

Crime scene investigation may soon become significantly more accurate and efficient thanks to a new method for detecting gunshot residues. Researchers from the groups of Wim Noorduin (AMOLF/University of Amsterdam) and Arian van Asten (University of Amsterdam) developed the technique that converts lead particles found in gunshot residue into a light-emitting semiconductor. This method is faster, more sensitive, and easier to use than current alternatives. Forensic experts at the Amsterdam police force are already testing it in actual crime scene investigations. The researchers recently published their findings in Forensic Science International. 

Discovery unlocks new exotic properties for soft robotics, smart devices, and more.  When you pull something—like a rubber band—you expect it to get longer. But what if it did the…

On April 3rd, the Ammodo foundation announced that AMOLF/VU researcher Max Kerr Winter is one of the five recipients of the Ammodo Fellowship. The Ammodo Foundation stimulates the development of art, science and architecture. With this new fellowship they want to enable early-career researchers to expand their international networks and to carve out a clear vision for their future academic career. Each fellow receives between 100.000 and 200.000 euros. As an AMOLF/VU postdoctoral researcher, Max will work on getting a better understanding of fungal behavior.

We’re very proud to share that AMOLF Group Leader Bruno Ehrler received the 2025 Energy Lectureship Award at the ACS Spring 2025 conference in San Diego!