# Scientists uncover new way to control magnetism and topology using light in atomically thin materials

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-10-28 07:40 UTC · Category: Science

## Executive Summary
Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a light-based method to control magnetism in atomically thin materials, potentially speeding up computer memory.

## Intelligence Brief
Scientists have uncovered and predicted a new method for controlling magnetism and topology within materials that are atomically thin. According to reports from Phys.org and Nanowerk, this technique utilizes light to manipulate these properties. Specifically, the research involves the use of ultrafast light to control ferromagnetism. A key technical detail highlighted by Phys.org is that this process does not rely on heating to achieve the desired control over the magnetic state of the material. This suggests a departure from previous methods that may have required thermal energy to switch magnetic polarities. Coverage of this breakthrough is widespread across several scientific and technical outlets.


GK Today explicitly identifies UC San Diego as the institution that developed this light-based digital memory technology. Other outlets, including Science Daily and NEWS.am TECH, focus on the practical application of this discovery, noting that a tiny laser beam could be used to write data to computer memory. Nation Path India also reports on the demonstration of this light-based method, emphasizing the potential for a massive increase in the speed of data processing and storage systems. The primary significance of this discovery lies in the potential for a drastic increase in hardware performance. Multiple sources, including Science Daily, NEWS.am TECH, and Nation Path India, state that this laser-driven approach could make writing data to computer memory more than 1,000 times faster than current methods. By leveraging the interaction between light and atomically thin materials, the technology aims to bypass the limitations of current memory writing speeds.


This intersection of topology and magnetism represents a new frontier in how digital information is physically stored and manipulated at the atomic scale. Future developments will likely center on the transition from these scientific predictions and demonstrations to scalable hardware. Current coverage indicates that the mechanism relies on the precision of laser beams to manipulate ferromagnetism without heating. Observers will be watching for further verification of these speed claims and the potential integration of UC San Diego's technology into commercial digital memory. The ability to control topology in atomically thin materials suggests that further research into the stability and efficiency of these light-controlled magnetic states will be necessary to realize the predicted 1,000-fold speed increase.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Nanowerk | Scientists predict a new way to control magnetism and topology using light in atomically thin materials | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMib0FVX3lxTE1PcmtRVjczVHl2RVhVZ21DRHpXdWR3bURwRDJmeTI3SDlJLXR6NGlFbEZJeDZPM21rSV82U09DRFNQT2xPSm9jYWRxZUR5Wk15NENxVEhFVkYtU09ORjg0WG9vS0t2WEdWWjVUanlLSQ?oc=5) |
| NEWS.am TECH | A laser beam could speed up writing data to computer memory by more than 1,000 times | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiSEFVX3lxTE12TnYzS0NQRTR1bXJYZUE3NklHbGVDUUZEZlh4MWVQX1BDbV9ic3pVaTFlaHRoTDllMFZjNnFFSXNIZjZ1VFZTcw?oc=5) |
| Phys.org | Ultrafast light can control ferromagnetism without relying on heating | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMia0FVX3lxTE13SlB6bGZMaG9kMWpZbzdZTFZWVkgyMWZKQVZabkoyTmJTdDViT0tzajRwV1ZmYktteHZyUVlYY0JKbG1GWmpjUlV0X2xoUzJFdFpNeThubGJMWVZqWkNMU0p5akVRTWRGR2lj?oc=5) |
| www.nationpathindia.com | Scientists Demonstrate Light-Based Method That Could Make Computer Memory Over 1,000 Times Faster | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxNbWlPODlFVGltcHNzeVJFNV9tTFJWZF9ZM19LNHdzdGdOc001R3lWWmg5eE5CRzhkSFIzTUZ4NHF4cUdITUh0dFM2UkNkYUFWMC1CN1RyRkVMODZ3ejBZSklmdENRdW84ZWdoRHBKZS12aFlGRXVKeGlsd3FKaHlnZm1tdmx0a1lUZzFLd3BoMWNXVGV5dHRz?oc=5) |
| GK Today | UC San Diego Develops Light-Based Digital Memory Technology | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxQTHRsczdnRXJQUV9CTDFQMUZ3ekpXOXg4dEc3ck1LeFAxYWFmeXZ5Qlp2TEFlei1rWTJTMkU2Y0ZtUVlMVG5jZkpUU2dSTG5iLTlxaWxyZkgwcTB3RXRCN1dxdG9tT0JFMkRnbWlOY3czbEFmWm1wem5uM0picmdMc2RyZGFBYzZ3NDNz?oc=5) |
| Science Daily | A tiny laser beam could make computer memory 1,000 times faster | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMib0FVX3lxTE83MEZ5YnYwV1JHT2c2VENJU0YxWnZJSnhqUTVWSVdwNC1oMklhNXE3WU5lQ3pnWjVRdnkxX2R6MjBhcF9vX3JESEFKU1YxT2hpdWpDMjZYSk1CRXF4emNjM0VMT1lNdXZZZzg1MVlGVQ?oc=5) |
| Phys.org | Scientists uncover new way to control magnetism and topology using light in atomically thin materials | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxNSjI5blRlREc5SER2cjhrWkVUTmlJQV8ta0pHVzhkMFMtNUJaY05lZmNhdjBiMWdKVlh5ZThjcVVPRVFxN0oyd2JkMlNCdGRnT2ptNGFzcEpOTGRyd1RxYXVseENzWGZoeVZoX0VrTmk3djBNVVlJWFRtNmRhV1pqVUNORUY4RF92SDk0?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-10-28/scientists-uncover-new-way-to-control-magnetism-and-topology-using-light-in*