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Blog – Page 16

Computer simulations help materials scientists and biochemists study the motion of macromolecules, advancing the development of new drugs and sustainable materials. However, these simulations pose a challenge for even the most powerful supercomputers.

A University of Oregon graduate student has developed a new mathematical equation that significantly improves the accuracy of the simplified computer models used to study the motion and behavior of large molecules such as proteins, and synthetic materials such as plastics.

The breakthrough, published last month in Physical Review Letters, enhances researchers’ ability to investigate the motion of large molecules in complex biological processes, such as DNA replication. It could aid in understanding diseases linked to errors in such replication, potentially leading to new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

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Vast to complete Haven-1 primary structure in July 2025, ahead of target May 2026 launch date Space habitation company, Vast, is now one year away from being able to stake its claim as the first commercial space station in history. The company based in Long Beach, California, aims to launch its single-module Haven-1 space station on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in May 2026. To that end, it completed both its primary structure and qualification article and is moving into manufacturing the flight version. More.

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*An S, Zhang S, Guo T, Lu S, Zhang W, Cai Z (2025) Impacts of generative AI on student teachers’ task performance and collaborative knowledge construction process in mind mapping-based collaborative environment. Comput Educ 227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2024.105227.

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The May 2024 solar storm, also known as the Gannon storm or Mother’s Day solar storm, is now ranked by NOAA as one of the most memorable solar events in history, and potentially the most powerful documented this century. It included a parade of powerful solar flares between May 8–11, 2024, originating from a beastly sunspot group that measured 17 times wider than Earth’s diameter. According to NOAA, during this time frame, there were at least eight coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are giant blasts made up of magnetic field and plasma, that targeted Earth. This resulted in the creation of extreme geomagnetic storm (G5) conditions, the highest on NOAA’s space weather scale.

“The Gannon storm was a spectacular event in the sense that so many people got to see the aurora, especially those living in areas that don’t typically see it,” Mike Cook, Space Weather Lead at MITRE Corporation, told Space.com. “But, beyond that, it was a reminder that our sun is capable of producing these very disruptive events that can impact our critical infrastructure.”

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Researchers found the PHGDH gene directly causes Alzheimer’s and discovered a drug-like molecule, NCT-503, that may help treat the disease early by targeting the gene’s hidden function. A recent study has revealed that a gene previously identified as a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease is not jus

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A research team has created a comprehensive evolutionary tree of all bird species, integrating data from hundreds of studies into the Open Tree of Life, a project that continuously updates with new genomic insights. Professor Emily Jane McTavish and her team at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have

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