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Category: nanotechnology – Page 5

The phase and the group velocity of light propagating in conventional optical media cannot exceed the speed of light in vacuum. However, in so-called epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials, light exhibits an infinite phase velocity and a vanishing group velocity for a particular color (frequency).

So far, such properties have only been observed in very few solids and nano-engineered materials. A new study by researchers from the Max Born Institute in Berlin and Tulane University in New Orleans opens a completely new avenue by transiently turning ordinary liquids, such as water and alcohols, into ENZ materials at terahertz (THz) frequencies through the interaction with intense femtosecond laser pulses.

Ionization of a polar molecular liquid with generates , which localize or “solvate” on a femtosecond time scale and eventually occupy voids in the network of molecules, a disordered array of electric dipoles. The binding energy of the electron in its final location is mainly determined by electric forces between the electron and the molecular dipoles of the liquid.

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A complex molecular machine, the spliceosome, ensures that the genetic information from the genome, after being transcribed into mRNA precursors, is correctly assembled into mature mRNA. Splicing is a basic requirement for producing proteins that fulfill an organism’s vital functions. Faulty functioning of a spliceosome can lead to a variety of serious diseases.

Researchers at the Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center (BZH) have succeeded for the first time in depicting a faulty “blocked” at high resolution and reconstructing how it is recognized and eliminated in the cell. The research was published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.

The of all living organisms is contained in DNA, with the majority of genes in higher organisms being structured in a mosaic-like manner. So the cells are able to “read” the instructions for building proteins stored in these genetic mosaic particles, they are first copied into precursors of mRNA, or messenger RNA. The spliceosome then converts them into mature, functional mRNA.

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LiDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging, works by measuring the time it takes for a laser pulse to travel to an object and back. This time-of-flight measurement reveals the distance, and by scanning across an area, a 3D image is created.

This new tech utilizes a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD), an ultrasensitive detector developed by the MIT and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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Dense crowds form some of the most dangerous environments in modern society. Dangers arise from uncontrolled collective motions, leading to compression against walls, suffocation and fatalities. Our current understanding of crowd dynamics primarily relies on heuristic collision models, which effectively capture the behaviour observed in small groups of people. However, the emergent dynamics of dense crowds, composed of thousands of individuals, remains a formidable many-body problem lacking quantitative experimental characterization and explanations rooted in first principles. Here we analyse the dynamics of thousands of densely packed individuals at the San Fermín festival (Spain) and infer a physical theory of dense crowds in confinement. Our measurements reveal that dense crowds can self-organize into macroscopic chiral oscillators, coordinating the orbital motion of hundreds of individuals without external guidance. Guided by these measurements and symmetry principles, we construct a mechanical model of dense-crowd motion. Our model demonstrates that emergent odd frictional forces drive a non-reciprocal phase transition7 towards collective chiral oscillations, capturing all our experimental observations. To test the robustness of our findings, we show that similar chiral dynamics emerged at the onset of the 2010 Love Parade disaster and propose a protocol that could help anticipate these previously unpredictable dynamics.

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Researchers from Nagoya University in Japan and the Slovak Academy of Sciences have unveiled new insights into the interplay between quantum theory and thermodynamics. The team demonstrated that while quantum theory does not inherently forbid violations of the second law of thermodynamics, quantum processes may be implemented without actually breaching the law.

This discovery, published in npj Quantum Information, highlights a harmonious coexistence between the two fields, despite their logical independence. Their findings open up new avenues for understanding the thermodynamic boundaries of quantum technologies, such as and nanoscale engines.

This breakthrough contributes to the long-standing exploration of the second law of thermodynamics, a principle often regarded as one of the most profound and enigmatic in physics.

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Harnessing Static Electricity for Power

Static electricity might be an everyday nuisance, especially in winter, but for some scientists, it holds untapped potential as an energy source. Using a device called a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), mechanical movement can be converted into electrical energy through the triboelectric effect.

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Discover how Caltech’s groundbreaking research on ultrathin light sails is revolutionizing space travel. This video explains the innovative design, precise measurements, and surprising discoveries that are paving the way for interstellar propulsion. Dive into the science behind using laser-driven membranes to propel spacecraft and learn why this breakthrough is a game-changer for future space exploration.

Paper link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s4156… 00:00 Introduction 00:57 Experimental Innovations in Lightsail Design 03:56 Precision Measurement of Radiation Pressure 07:37 Future Directions, Implications, and a Relevant Discovery 11:06 Outro 11:16 Enjoy MUSIC TITLE: Starlight Harmonies MUSIC LINK: https://pixabay.com/music/pulses-star… Visit our website for up-to-the-minute updates: www.nasaspacenews.com Follow us Facebook: / nasaspacenews Twitter: / spacenewsnasa Join this channel to get access to these perks: / @nasaspacenewsagency #NSN #NASA #Astronomy#InterstellarLightsail #Caltech #SpaceExploration #BreakthroughStarshot #LaserPropulsion #Nanotechnology #SpaceTech #InterstellarTravel #LightsailDesign #Physics #Astrophysics #SpaceInnovation #RocketScience #FutureTech #LaserSail #PhotonPropulsion #SciTech #SpaceResearch #Astronomy #Innovation #ScienceNews #Interstellar #SpaceMission #LabResearch #Nanofabrication #EdgeScattering #RadiationPressure #Metamaterials #SpaceExplorationNews #NextGenTech.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction.
00:57 Experimental Innovations in Lightsail Design.
03:56 Precision Measurement of Radiation Pressure.
07:37 Future Directions, Implications, and a Relevant Discovery.
11:06 Outro.
11:16 Enjoy.

MUSIC TITLE: Starlight Harmonies.

Continue reading “Revolutionary Laser Propulsion: Caltech’s New Lightsail Innovation Promises Stellar Journeys” | >

DNA-nanoparticle motors are exactly as they sound: tiny artificial motors that use the structures of DNA and RNA to propel motion through enzymatic RNA degradation. Essentially, chemical energy is converted into mechanical motion by biasing the Brownian motion.

The DNA-nanoparticle motor uses the “burnt-bridge” Brownian ratchet mechanism. In this type of movement, the motor is propelled by the degradation (or “burning”) of the bonds (or “bridges”) it crosses along the substrate, essentially biasing its motion forward.

These nano-sized motors are highly programmable and can be designed for use in molecular computation, diagnostics, and transport.

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious public health concern worldwide. Immune checkpoint inhibition medication is likely to remain a crucial part of CRC clinical management. This study aims to create new super paramagnetic iron oxide nano-carrier (SPION) that can effectively transport miRNA to specific CRC cell lines. In addition, evaluate the efficiency of this nano-formulation as a therapeutic candidate for CRC. Bioinformatics tools were used to select a promising tumor suppressor miRNA (mir-497-5p). Green route, using Fusarium oxyporium fungal species, manipulated for the synthesis of SPION@Ag@Cs nanocomposite as a carrier of miR-497-5p. That specifically targets the suppression of PD1/PDL1 and CTLA4pathways for colorectal therapy. UV/visible and FTIR spectroscopy, Zeta potential and MTT were used to confirm the allocation of the miR-497 on SPION@Ag@Cs and its cytotoxicity against CRC cell lines. Immunofluorescence was employed to confirm transfection of cells with miR-497@NPs, and the down-regulation of CTLA4 in HT29, and Caco2 cell lines. On the other hand, PDL1 showed a significant increase in colorectal cell lines (HT-29 and Caco-2) in response to mir497-5p@Nano treatment. The data suggest that the mir-497-loaded SPION@Ag@Cs nano-formulation could be a good candidate for the suppression of CTLA4in CRC human cell lines. Consequently, the targeting miR-497/CTLA4 axis is a potential immunotherapy treatment strategy for CRC.

Elfiky, A.M., Eid, M.M., El-Manawaty, M. et al. Sci Rep 15, 4,247 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88165-3

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Scientists at Osaka University have designed a nanogate that opens and closes using electrical signals, offering precise control over ions and molecules.

This tiny innovation has the potential to transform sensing technology, chemical reactions, and even computing. By adjusting voltage, researchers can manipulate the gate’s behavior, making it a versatile tool for cutting-edge applications.

Nanogates: control at the macro and nanoscale.

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