New FAMU-FSU research shows importance of precise topography in solid neon qubits. Quantum computers have the potential to be revolutionary tools for their ability to perform calculations that would take classical computers many years to resolve. But to make an effective quantum computer, you need a reliable quantum bit, or qubit, that can exist in a simultaneous 0 or 1 state for a sufficiently long period, known as its coherence time. One promising approach is trapping a single electron on…
MHH researchers find innovative approach to prolong the survival of motor nerve cells. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable, severe disease of the nervous system. As the disease progresses, misfolded proteins accumulate in the motor nerve cells responsible for muscle movement in the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and permanently damaging these cells, known as motor neurons. The entire musculature becomes increasingly weak and death from respiratory paralysis usually occurs after a few years. There is no cure…
Clean, safe water is a limited resource and access to it depends on local bodies of water. But even dry regions have some water vapor in the air. To harvest small amounts of humidity, researchers in ACS Energy Letters have developed a compact device with absorbent-coated fins that first trap moisture and then generate potable water when heated. They say the prototype could help meet growing demands for water, especially in arid locations. Earth’s atmosphere holds trillions of liters of…
Overview article in Redox Biology. An international team comprising 90 authors presents the status of research on “ferroptosis”, a cell death mechanism caused by excess iron and oxygen radicals. Ferroptosis plays an important role in many types of cancer, neurological diseases, stroke, heart attack and other medically relevant situations. Four researchers from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU)/University Hospital Düsseldorf (UKD) have made key contributions to the comprehensive review of this cell death mechanism recently published in the scientific journal Redox…
Compression standard for haptics published. With the help of the new HCTI standard, sensations can be transmitted over the Internet. The tactile counterpart to JPEG, MP3 and MPEG was developed by a consortium led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM). HCTI can be used in tele-surgery, tele-driving or in the gaming industry. What JPEG, MP3 and MPEG are for images, audio and video, haptic codecs are for transmitting the sense of touch via the Internet. After eight years of…
METEOR expedition M201 investigates the volcanic history of unusual volcanoes in Iceland’s Vesturdjúp Basin. With around 130 volcanoes, Iceland is the largest volcanic island in the world. Until now, researchers assumed that most volcanic activity on Iceland was limited to the flank zones and the seabed along the Kolbeinsey and Reykjanes ridges. New seabed maps indicate further underwater volcanoes to the west of Iceland, in the so-called Vesterdjúp Basin, whose conical shape seems geologically suspicious. Expedition M201 with the research…
Scientists identified beneficial bacteria that relieve eczema symptoms in adults and children. NIAID research has led to the availability of a new over-the-counter topical eczema probiotic. The probiotic is based on the discovery by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, that bacteria present on healthy skin called Roseomonas mucosa can safely relieve eczema symptoms in adults and children. R. mucosa-based topical interventions could simplify or complement current eczema…
North Carolina State University researchers have developed a kirigami-inspired mechanical computer that uses a complex structure of rigid, interconnected polymer cubes to store, retrieve and erase data without relying on electronic components. The system also includes a reversible feature that allows users to control when data editing is permitted and when data should be locked in place. Mechanical computers are computers that operate using mechanical components rather than electronic ones. Historically, these mechanical components have been things like levers or…
With MoonIndex, researchers from Constructor University and the National Institute of Astrophysics in Italy have developed an open-source software that for the first time gives scientists access to a free tool that creates science-ready products from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) to study the composition of the lunar surface. At the same time, it enables a wide range of applications. An article now published in the specialist journal ‘Earth and Space Science’ describes the research success. ‘Spectral indices are a…
Experiment captures atoms in free fall to look for gravitational anomalies caused by universe’s missing energy. Dark energy — a mysterious force pushing the universe apart at an ever-increasing rate — was discovered 26 years ago, and ever since, scientists have been searching for a new and exotic particle causing the expansion. Pushing the boundaries of this search, University of California, Berkeley physicists have now built the most precise experiment yet to look for minor deviations from the accepted theory…
The National Institute of Standards and Technology is helping to develop standards and safety protocols that would allow pharmacies to print drugs onsite at a dosage best for you. Chocolate-flavored pills for children who hate taking medicine. Several drugs combined into one daily pill for seniors who have trouble remembering to take their medications. Drugs printed at your local pharmacy at personalized dosages that best suit your health needs. These are just a few potential advantages of 3D drug printing, a…
Without lithium-ion batteries, environmentally friendly mobility and a sustainable energy supply would be virtually inconceivable. However, the increasing demand for batteries and the associated raw materials poses major challenges. The REWIND project aims to overcome important obstacles on the way to an efficient and ecologically sustainable circular economy. REWIND is part of the BattFutur program of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The project goal is clearly defined: To significantly improve the recyclability of batteries in order…
Radial or axial fans that are currently frequently used to cool electronic devices are often too large and too loud. The University of Stuttgart has now developed a membrane fan that is small and quiet. The newly developed mini membrane fan is energy-saving and can be manufactured without the use of environmentally harmful materials. TLB GmbH has been commissioned with the commercialisation of this pioneering technology and offers manufacturers opportunities for licensing or project cooperation. Computers, cell phones, and other…
DFKI unveils pioneering approach to safe and verifiable humanoid walking. Recent advances in robotics based on data-driven AI hold promise for a wide range of practical applications. However, ensuring the safety of these applications is a challenge. The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) in Bremen has developed innovative control methods for complex systems, combining the advantages of fast self-learning and reliable verification via symbolic models. With this hybrid AI approach, the project funded by the Federal Ministry of…
The Kowalinski Group at EMBL Grenoble has revealed how one enzyme hitches a ride on another to recognise tRNA. Imagine your body as a highly organised factory where workers tirelessly assemble proteins around the clock. These proteins are the machines and scaffolds that make up your body and are essential for various functions. In this factory, special delivery trucks called transfer RNA (tRNA) deliver amino acids – the crucial building blocks of proteins – to the protein-making machinery – ribosomes….
This work sheds light on how sensory stimulus information is integrated from the peripheral nervous system into the brain’s cortical networks. Nerve fibers on the eye surface are involved in many relevant physiological processes, from detecting and transmitting external stimuli to maintaining the integrity of the cornea. However, research on the sensory system of the ocular surface has focused mainly on the peripheral axons of the trigeminal ganglia neurons, leaving information processing in the central nervous system unknown. Now, a…
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