… wave of space plasma. Exploring common plasma phenomena in laboratory and space through experiments in the RT-1 artificial magnetosphere. A dipole magnetic field, created by a ring current, is the most fundamental type of magnetic field that is found both in laboratories and in space. Planetary magnetospheres, such as Jupiter’s, effectively confine plasma. The RT-1 project aims to learn from nature and create a magnetosphere-type high-performance plasma to realize advanced fusion energy. Simultaneously, the artificial magnetosphere offers a means…
Bacteria in the Arctic seabed are active all year round. Despite the pronounced seasonality in their habitat, the bacterial community in Arctic sediments is taxonomically and functionally very stable. The Arctic is cold and hostile to life, yet it is home to a large number of microorganisms whose activity has a significant impact on life on our planet. For example, bacteria in the seabed play a central role in processing the biomass of dead organisms, thereby transforming the contained carbon…
… for diverse populations to tackle health disparities. Improved genetic tests more accurately assess disease risk regardless of genetic ancestry. To prevent an emerging genomic technology from contributing to health disparities, a scientific team funded by the National Institutes of Health has devised new ways to improve a genetic testing method called a polygenic risk score. Since polygenic risk scores have not been effective for all populations, the researchers recalibrated these genetic tests using ancestrally diverse genomic data. As reported…
Catalyzing Fine Chemicals in Future Using Iron & Co. At the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis in Rostock, Dr Johannes Fessler has developed new methods for the synthesis of drug precursors using catalysts made of iron, manganese and cobalt. Each of these three chemical elements has the potential to replace a number of noble metals that are commonly used in organic chemistry to catalyze fine chemicals. Platinum and palladium, for example, are expensive due to their rare occurrence, their extraction is…
MHH junior researcher investigates the influence of the immune system on age-related disorders of sensory neurones. The peripheral nervous system includes sensory and motor nerve cells that run through our body in bundles like power cables. Motor nerve cells transmit instructions from the brain to the muscles. Sensory nerve cells inform us about our position in the environment and what is happening in our body. They transmit stimuli from the sensory organs to the brain – i.e. what we see,…
Neuroscientists from Bonn, New York, and Freiburg discover interactions between so-called “ripples” and nerve cells during human memory processes. Spatial navigation and spatial memory play a central role in our lives. Without these abilities, we would hardly be able to find our way around our surroundings and would find it difficult to remember past events. However, the neuronal basis of spatial memory is far from being fully understood. A research group led by Prof. Lukas Kunz, who has recently joined…
A new bonding method enabling instant and effective adhesion of hydrogels has potential to broadly advance new biomaterials solutions for multiple unmet clinical needs. Hydrogels are versatile biomaterials conquering an increasing number of biomedical areas. Consisting of water-swollen molecular networks that can be tailored to mimic the mechanical and chemical features of various organs and tissues, they can interface within the body and on its outer surfaces without causing any damage to even the most delicate parts of the human…
Researchers expand ways to improve the selectivity of catalytic reactions. Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), Harvard Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, and Utrecht University have reported on a previously elusive way to improve the selectivity of catalytic reactions, adding a new method of increasing the efficacy of catalysts for a potentially wide range of applications in various industries including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and much more. The research is published in Nature Catalysis. The chemical industry relies on catalysts for over 90 percent of its processes and…
Like humans struggling to get through the COVID-19 pandemic, bacterial cells need social distancing to thwart viruses. But in some situations, such as inside elevators or within the candy-colored bacterial structures known as “pink berries,” staying apart just isn’t feasible. Looking like spilled Nerds or Pop Rocks, the communal, multicellular pink berries litter the submerged surface of salt marshes in and around Woods Hole. New research conducted at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) uncovers evidence that a genetic mechanism may…
…sounds alarm regarding circulation of this virus in urban environments. The opossum was found dead in a park in the center of Campinas, a large city in São Paulo state (Brazil), with the same viral variant as fruit-eating bats. These mammals are regularly detected in cities, where they are often attacked by dogs. A female White-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris) found dead in 2021 in Bosque dos Jequitibás Park in the center of Campinas, one of the largest cities in São…
Neurological symptoms apparently not a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection of the brain. Scientists still are not sure how neurological symptoms arise in COVID-19. Is it because SARS-CoV-2 infects the brain? Or are these symptoms the result of inflammation in the rest of the body? A study by Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin has now produced evidence to support the latter theory. It was published today in the journal Nature Neuroscience.* Headaches, memory problems, and fatigue are just some of the neurological impacts that arise during coronavirus infection…
Researchers at the University of Regensburg, led by Professor Dr. Burkhard König, Institute of Organic Chemistry, have developed a new synthesis method: Light reaction on a water surface allows chemical syntheses without the use of organic solvents or other reaction additives. This makes the production of chemical products more efficient and environmentally friendly. The results of years of research have now been published in the internationally renowned journal Science. By forming chemical bonds between atoms, complex molecules such as those…
New research proposes to redefine organic solar cells with a hemispherical shell design that offers expanded angular coverage, particularly advantageous for applications requiring flexible light capture, such as wearable electronics. In the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions, the quest for more efficient solar cells is paramount. Organic photovoltaic cells have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional silicon-based counterparts due to their flexibility and cost-effectiveness. However, optimizing their performance remains a significant challenge. Embracing a new form In a pioneering…
Advancing space exploration through diverse collaborations and ethical policies. In the past decade, humanity has seen the birth and expansion of a commercial space sector with new, private players, addressing technological challenges – from space launch to communication and satellite imagery of Earth. Last year, the global space industry skyrocketed launching more than 2,660* satellites into orbit, and, into the universe, interplanetary probes, landers, and much more. In the United States, SpaceX was responsible for almost 90% of these launches….
Applying plasma technology increases efficiency by 3-fold. Confirmation of a novel approach for lithium extraction from brine. New research suggesting a improved method for extracting lithium by applying plasma technology has been recently published. On the 31st of January, the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy(KFE) announced revealed that their researchers have successfully increased the lithium extraction rate by three times compared to pre-existing methods by applying CO2 microwave plasma technology. The most common method of extracting lithium is mixing sodium carbonate(Na2CO3) to…
Millions of users use browser extensions on a daily basis, for example, to block advertisements on websites. But is the use of extensions from third-party providers at all secure? CISPA Faculty Dr. Aurore Fass and her students Sheryl Hsu and Manda Tran have examined this question based on extensions for Google’s web browser Chrome, thus providing the first large study on the Chrome Web Store. Their respective paper “What is in the Chrome Web Store?” was accepted at the ACM…
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