A thorough study of ${\mathrm{EuZn}}_2{\mathrm{P}}_2$ single crystals, which were grown from Sn flux, was performed using both bulk (heat capacity, ac susceptibility, dc magnetization, electrical resistivitivity, magnetoresistance) and microscopic (Mössbauer spectroscopy) techniques. Electrical resistance and magnetic susceptibility were measured also under high pressure conditions (up to 19 and 9.5 GPa, respectively). Further insight into electronic properties and phonons is provided by ab initio calculations. The results indicate that ${\mathrm{EuZn}}_2{\mathrm{P}}_2$ is an antiferromagnet with strong Eu-Eu exchange coupling of ferromagnetic type within the basal plane and weaker antiferromagnetic interaction along the $c$ axis. The Eu magnetic moments are tilted from the basal plane. Hydrostatic pressure strongly affects both magnetic (increase of the Néel temperature) and electronic (suppression of the band gap and semimetallic behavior) properties, indicating a strong interplay of structure with magnetic and electronic degrees of freedom.

The structural and physical properties of the new titanium- and niobium-rich type-A high-entropy alloy (HEA) superconductor Nb${}_{0.34}$Ti${}_{0.33}$Zr${}_{0.14}$Ta${}_{0.11}$Hf${}_{0.08}$ (in at.%) were studied by X-ray powder diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, magnetization, electrical resistivity, and specific heat measurements. In addition, electronic structure calculations were performed using two complementary methods: the Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker Coherent Potential Approximation (KKR-CPA) and the Projector Augmented Wave (PAW) within Density Functional Theory (DFT). The results obtained indicate that the alloy exhibits type II superconductivity with a critical temperature close to 7.5 K, an intermediate electron–phonon coupling, and an upper critical field of 12.2(1) T. This finding indicates that Nb${}_{0.34}$Ti${}_{0.33}$Zr${}_{0.14}$Ta${}_{0.11}$Hf${}_{0.08}$ has one of the highest upper critical fields among all known HEA superconductors.

A comparison of the results of studies on the influence of structural defects on the critical parameters of superconductivity has been made for the high-entropy alloy (NbTa)${}_{0.67}$(MoHfW)${}_{0.33}$ and for the conventional superconducting magnet material Nb-47wt%Ti. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), electrical resistivity, magnetization and magnetic susceptibility measurements were used. In addition, X-ray powder diffraction studies were performed on the high-entropy alloy (NbTa)${}_{0.67}$(MoHfW)${}_{0.33}$. Due to the rapid cooling of the materials after melting in the arc furnace, they contain a higher concentration of structural defects compared to the heat-treated materials. Magnetic property measurements showed that both the critical temperatures $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ and the upper critical fields ${\mu }_0{H}_{\mathrm{c}2}$ of bulk superconductivity-related materials are improved in the presence of structural defects.

In the experiment, the impact of magnetisation on cucumber seeds is examined with the use of Bitter magnets with a constant magnetic field. The magnetisation process is performed in three magnetic fields: low—200 mT, medium—1 T, and high—9 T for 15 and 60 min. After germination, the biometric parameters are determined. The results of this research show that cucumber after pre-treatment in a magnetic field of 1 T for 60 min has a similar germination capacity and root length as the control sample. However, cucumber seeds magnetised in a 1 T field for 60 min have a significantly higher dry weight than the control sample (5.50 ± 0.32 mg vs. 3.01 ± 0.18 mg). The magnetisation in 9 T for both 15 and 60 min shows that these samples have a significantly lower germination capacity (86.8 ± 4.4% and 81.4 ± 7.3% vs. 91.8 a ± 3.2%) and root length (1.78 ± 0.02 cm and 4.42 ± 0.83 cm vs. 8.21 ± 0.34 cm) compared to the control sample. The cucumber seeds pre-treated at 9 T have a significantly greater dry weight than the control sample. Additionally, our research shows that some magnetic field intensities and magnetisation durations inhibit root growth and limit germination. These results are also important as they indicate which values of magnetic fields should be avoided.