Tiny magnetic spirals unlock the future of spintronics

Scientists have created magnetic nanohelices that control electron spin at room temperature, achieving over 80% spin polarization through geometry and magnetism alone. The team fabricated these left- and right-handed helical structures using chiral organic molecules to guide metal crystallization, demonstrating that right-handed helices allow only one spin direction to pass. This breakthrough enables spin-based information processing without complex circuitry or extreme cooling, potentially revolutionizing development of faster, more energy-efficient data storage and computing devices.