Scientists Report Possible Evidence of Naturally Occurring Quantum Spin Liquid

The 9 May 2026 issue of New Scientist includes a feature on the long effort to produce a quantum spin liquid in the laboratory. According to the magazine, creating quantum entanglement inside a solid material has proved difficult under controlled conditions.

One scientist has stated that he now has proof the state exists naturally in crystals buried in the earth. The report says crystals found underground could be growing the exotic quantum state without laboratory intervention. The 50-year quest to create a quantum spin liquid may have reached a turning point with this claimed discovery.

The article examines how the finding was reached and what it could mean for physics research.

A separate feature reviews scientific evidence on red-light therapy. The magazine reports that the treatment does produce measurable health benefits. Those benefits differ from many of the claims commonly made for the therapy.

Another article in the issue examines a lost ancient script.

The script provides information on how writing systems developed. The report states that the discovery changes understanding of the beginning of written communication. The magazine also contains news items on varied subjects including a new method of sending messages into the past, coral reefs that survived a large heatwave, and a man who may have avoided Alzheimer's through an accidental therapy.

Additional reports cover scorpions that incorporate metals into their claws and stingers, as well as other developments in physics, health, environment and technology. The issue is available in shops or through the New Scientist app for digital access.