Flyby of a star explains dynamics of the solar system beyond Neptune. When we think of our solar system, we usually assume that it ends at the outermost known planet, Neptune. „However, several thousand celestial bodies are known to move beyond the orbit of Neptune,“ explains Susanne Pfalzner, astrophysicist at Forschungszentrum Jülich. It is even suspected that there are tens of thousands of objects with a diameter of more than 100 kilometres. „Surprisingly, many of these so-called trans-Neptunian objects move…
Physicists at the University of Southampton have tested and proven a 50 year old theory for the first time using electro-magnetic waves. They have shown that the energy of waves can be increased by bouncing ‘twisted waves’ – those with angular momentum – off of an object which is rotating in a specific way. This is known as the ‘Zel’dovich effect’, named after Soviet physicist Yakov Zel’dovich who developed a theory based on this idea in the 1970s. Until now,…
Molybdenum (Mo) carbides, known for their unique electronic and structural properties, are considered promising alternatives to noble metal catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis. However, traditional methods for preparing Mo carbides suffer from complex processes, stringent synthesis conditions, challenging crystal regulation, and high energy consumption. Additionally, Mo carbides are susceptible to oxidation and deactivation, which poses a significant barrier to their widespread application. In a study published in Nature Chemistry, a research group led by Prof. SUN Jian from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy…
Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have found a chemical “chameleon” that could improve the process used to purify rare-earth metals used in clean energy, medical and national security applications. The study, performed in collaboration with Vanderbilt University, is the latest of many efforts by ORNL’s Chemical Sciences Division to lower the barriers to accessing metals called lanthanides, which are used widely in diverse products and applications, from biomedical imaging to industrial chemical production to electronics….
Study by the Collaborative Research Centre 1266 ‘Scales of Transformation‘ shows possible infection paths of Yersinia pestis 5000 years ago. Since the catastrophic pandemics of the Middle Ages, one disease has almost proverbially symbolised contagion and death: the plague. It is now known that the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis has been present in Central and Northern Europe for more than 5000 years. However, it is still uncertain whether it also led to pandemics and mass deaths in its early forms….
Protective gloves, such as those used for work, sport or household gardening, retrieve their protective function from a special coating. This coating provides abrasion resistance, makes the material waterproof and resistant to chemicals or oil, and even protects against cuts and punctures. Until now, coatings made of oil-based polymers, nitrile rubber or latex have been the main materials used. Using innovative technologies, scientists at the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) have succeeded in developing a robust…
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and ETH Zurich have developed a robotic leg with artificial muscles. Inspired by living creatures, it jumps across different terrains in an agile and energy-efficient manner. Key points: Researchers have developed the first robotic leg powered by artificial electro-hydraulic muscles that can automatically adapt to uneven terrain. The system is more energy efficient than electric motors, enabling high jumps and fast movements without complex sensors. Although still in its infancy, the…
Dangerous mixtures: pesticides in combination can have unexpected effects on the development of honeybees. This is shown by a new study from the Biocenter of the University of Würzburg, in which the last neonicotinoid still approved in the EU was combined with two fungicides. Honeybees are social insects. Their colony only survives as a community, and healthy new generations are very important. It is therefore not surprising that honeybees invest significant care and resources into their offspring: nurse bees feed…
NIST researchers use new method to measure biomolecules in live cells. To accelerate biotechnology innovations, such as the development of lifesaving drug therapies, scientists strive to develop faster, more quantitative and more widely available ways to observe biomolecules in living cells. Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new method that allows the use of infrared (IR) light to capture clear images of biomolecules inside cells, something that was previously not possible due to…
Interdisciplinary research team uses DNA microbeads to control the development of cultivated tissue. A new molecular engineering technique can precisely influence the development of organoids. Microbeads made of specifically folded DNA are used to release growth factors or other signal molecules inside the tissue structures. This gives rise to considerably more complex organoids that imitate the respective tissues much better and have a more realistic cell mix than before. An interdisciplinary research team from the Cluster of Excellence “3D Matter…
HZDR team unveils new insights into uranium’s tricky chemistry. The heavy metal uranium is, besides its radioactive reputation, known for its intricate chemistry and diverse bonding behaviors. Now, an international team of scientists utilized synchrotron light at the Rossendorf Beamline (ROBL) to explore the unique properties of low-valent uranium compounds, as the researchers report in the journal Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50924-7). Here, at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) runs four experimental stations for…
Physicists at the University of Bonn and the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) have created a one-dimensional gas out of light. This has enabled them to test theoretical predictions about the transition into this exotic state of matter for the first time. The method used in the experiment by the researchers could be used for examining quantum effects. The results have been published in the journal “Nature Physics.” Imagine you are standing at a swimming pool and come up with the…
… for millimeter wave satellite communications. With increasing data rates in mobile communications, the need for more powerful high-frequency electronics is growing. This is particularly true for satellite-based global communication networks, which must function reliably and securely in all weather conditions and at any location. In the ESA Magellan project, researchers at Fraunhofer IAF, together with UMS and TESAT, are therefore developing novel efficient GaN transistors and high-power amplifiers for LEO and GEO communication satellites with high throughput by 2027….
R&D projects will engage vendors for forward-looking technologies and energy efficiencies. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science (SC) today announced a new research and development opportunity led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to advance technologies and drive new capabilities for future supercomputers. This industry research program worth $23 million, called New Frontiers, will initiate partnerships with multiple companies to accelerate the R&D of critical technologies with renewed emphasis on energy efficiency for the next generation of…
Researchers with the participation of the PMI Cluster of Excellence have succeeded in isolating and analyzing disease-causing T cells from the blood in autoimmune diseases./ Publication in Immunity. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own structures. A research team from Kiel, Lübeck and Berlin has now succeeded in analyzing certain pathogenic immune cells more precisely using a method they developed. They discovered that these cells can sometimes switch to a dormant (so called “exhausted”) state for…
Misha Kudryshev’s lab at the Max Delbrück Center has identified a molecular intermediate of a serotonin receptor that is involved in diseases such as depression and schizophrenia. Published in The EMBO Journal, the study points to a potentially new target for therapeutics. A new study published in “The EMBO Journal” points to new potential strategies to treat psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorders that are not well addressed by current medications. Dr. Bianca Introini and her colleagues in the In Situ Structural Biology lab of Professor Misha…
Feedback
