Researchers led by electrical engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a better way to perform the comparative analysis of entire genomes. This approach can be used to study relationships between different species across geological time scales.
This new approach is poised to unlock discoveries regarding how evolution has shaped present-day genomes and also how the tree of life is organized. The new method, named CASTER, is described in a paper published in Science on 23 January 2025.
CASTER is poised to offer biologists a far more scalable approach than state-of-the-art for comparing full genomes. This is especially relevant given the exploding number of sequenced genomes of both living and also extinct species.
Many science fiction authors try to incorporate scientific principles into their work, but Ian Tregillis, who is a contributing author of the Wild Cards book series when he’s not working as a physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, took it one step further: He derived a formula to describe the dynamics of the fictional universe’s viral system.
In independent research published in the American Journal of Physics, Tregillis and George R.R. Martin derive a formula for viral behavior in the Wild Cards universe.
Wild Cards is a science fiction series written by a collection of authors and edited by Martin and Melinda M. Snodgrass. Sitting at over 30 volumes, the books are about an alien virus called the Wild Card that mutates human DNA. Martin is credited as a co-author of the paper, making it his first peer-reviewed physics publication.
Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have created a new thermometer using atoms boosted to such high energy levels that they are a thousand times larger than normal. By monitoring how these giant “Rydberg” atoms interact with heat in their environment, researchers can measure temperature with remarkable accuracy. The thermometer’s sensitivity could improve temperature measurements in fields ranging from quantum research to industrial manufacturing.
Unlike traditional thermometers, a Rydberg thermometer doesn’t need to be first adjusted or calibrated at the factory because it relies inherently on the basic principles of quantum physics. These fundamental quantum principles yield precise measurements that are also directly traceable to international standards.
“We’re essentially creating a thermometer that can provide accurate temperature readings without the usual calibrations that current thermometers require,” said NIST postdoctoral researcher Noah Schlossberger.
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have identified a groundbreaking new superconducting material. By combining iron, nickel, and zirconium in specific ratios, they synthesized a novel transition metal zirconide, with varying proportions of iron and nickel.
While pure iron zirconide and nickel zirconide do not exhibit superconductivity, the new mixtures demonstrate superconducting properties, forming a “dome-shaped” phase diagram characteristic of unconventional superconductors. This finding represents a significant step forward in the search for high-temperature superconducting materials that could have widespread applications.
Superconductors are already integral to advanced technologies, such as superconducting magnets in medical imaging devices, maglev trains, and power transmission cables. However, current superconductors require cooling to extremely low temperatures, typically around 4 Kelvin, which limits their practicality. Researchers are focused on discovering materials that achieve zero electrical resistance at higher temperatures, especially near the critical threshold of 77 Kelvin, where liquid nitrogen can replace liquid helium as a coolant—making the technology more accessible and cost-effective.
A major measles alert has been issued for two Australian states.
An urgent measles warning has been issued for two states after a toddler arrived in Australia from Vietnam with the infectious and deadly disease.
The South Australian government issued a warning after being notified of a three-year-old infected with measles travelling from Vietnam on Singapore Airlines flight SQ279, landing in Adelaide about 8.45am on Tuesday January 14.
Over the week, the toddler visited a number of places, including Kmart and Coles supermarket in Ingle Farm Shopping Centre on Wednesday January 15 before attending the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on Friday January 17.
Medical breakthroughs often change lives, but some redefine what’s possible for the future of healthcare. This historic achievement brings hope to millions around the world.
Discover the story of how one doctor’s groundbreaking work is reshaping what we know about hearing loss and recovery.
Imagine living in a world of perpetual silence—where the laughter of loved ones and the melody of a favorite song are mere concepts, never experienced. For millions across the globe, this silence is a daily reality caused by hearing loss. Yet, a breakthrough in medical science has rewritten the possibilities, turning silence into sound. At the center of this transformation stands Dr. Mashudu Tshifularo, a South African surgeon whose revolutionary use of 3D-printed implants has achieved what was once deemed impossible: curing deafness.
This pioneering advancement not only restores hearing but also represents a fusion of cutting-edge technology and unwavering human determination. Who is the man behind this incredible achievement, and how has his work reshaped the future for those living with hearing impairments? Dr. Tshifularo’s journey from humble beginnings to global acclaim is as inspiring as the innovation itself, offering a glimpse into the power of perseverance, creativity, and hope.
Dr. Mashudu Tshifularo’s journey is one of remarkable determination and vision, rooted in a deep sense of purpose. Born in South Africa’s Limpopo province, he grew up in a modest environment that shaped his resilience and curiosity. His passion for helping others led him to pursue a career in medicine, specializing in otolaryngology, the branch of medicine that deals with conditions of the ear, nose, and throat.
Research into stem cells has paid off as 68-year-old Paul Edmonds remains effectively cured of both HIV and leukemia following treatment that included a breakthrough stem cell transplant in 2019. Now, five years after the treatment, Edmonds continues to live his life free of HIV and leukemia.
This makes Edmonds one of only five people in the world who have achieved full remission of HIV. Further, his 31 years of living with the virus also means he had it the longest out of the five in remission. It’s a striking accomplishment that he has remained in remission for so long and showcases just how effective these kinds of treatments can be.
Stem cell transplants aren’t a new idea, either. What particularly makes this treatment so effective and intriguing, though, is that the transplant donor had a rare genetic mutation called homozygous CCR5 delta 32. This mutation makes people immune to most types of HIV.
A blog webpage written by entrepreneur Matt Krisiloff which offers helpful advice to scientific founders of biotechnology companies on how to fundraise and manage relations with investors.
“Because of examples of great success in the broader technology world, we’re seeing the emergence of what I’d call a more ‘Silicon Valley’ mindset in biotech investing. This approach prizes technology development at the core of the company’s DNA and – drawing from examples in tech such as Microsoft and Meta and in biotech such as Regeneron and Genentech – recognizes that technical founders who can grow into business leaders often build more innovative and ultimately more successful companies. This shift has opened up new avenues for fundraising that founders should understand and look towards”
At this point in my career across the biotech-related projects I’ve run, I’ve personally raised about $100 million. In some ways this feels like a lot, but given the scope of biotech and hard tech projects I care most about, it’s really just a drop in the bucket. From these experiences though, I’ve learned some things that I believe can help other founders navigate fundraising, and want to share them – especially for newer founders working on interesting technologies that may be approaching fundraising for the first time.
Most of what I am saying is for biotech, but I think a lot of the observations apply for medical devices and other hard science startup fundraising too.
Biotech exists in a unique corner of the investment world, one where the promise of revolutionary breakthroughs meets harsh realities of extended development timelines and significant capital requirements. This is truer today than ever – while the broader equity markets has seen unprecedented growth over the past two years, the biotech sector has remained in a relatively depressed state.
Scientists have built an artificial motor capable of mimicking the natural mechanisms that power life.
The finding, from The University of Manchester and the University of Strasbourg, published in the journal Nature, provides new insights into the fundamental processes that drive life at the molecular level and could open doors for applications in medicine, energy storage, and nanotechnology.
Professor David Leigh, lead researcher from The University of Manchester, said: Biology uses chemically powered molecular machines for every biological process, such as transporting chemicals around the cell, information processing or reproduction.
