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Electroexcitation of Nucleon Resonances and Emergence of Hadron Mass

Developing an understanding of phenomena driven by the emergence of hadron mass (EHM) is one of the most challenging problems in the Standard Model. This discussion focuses on the impact of results on nucleon resonance (N• electroexcitation amplitudes (or γvpN* electrocouplings) obtained from experiments during the 6 GeV era in Hall B at Jefferson Lab on understanding EHM. Analyzed using continuum Schwinger function methods (CSMs), these results have revealed new pathways for the elucidation of EHM. A good description of the Δ(1232)3/2+, N(1440)1/2+, and Δ(1600)3/2+ electrocouplings, achieved by CSM analyses that express a realistic dressed quark mass function, sheds light on the strong interaction dynamics underlying EHM. Extensions to N* studies for higher-mass states are outlined, as well as experimental results anticipated in the 12 GeV era at Jefferson Lab and those that would be enabled by a further increase in the beam energy to 22 GeV.

Breakthrough Helps Scientists Grow More Realistic Human Brain Models

Slicing up and analyzing real, living, three-dimensional brain tissue comes with some obvious complications – as in, it tends to be needed by its owner. But scientists are now closer than ever to being able to grow realistic brain tissue models in the lab to experiment on instead.

A team of researchers led by the University of California, Riverside (UCR) have created a tiny scaffolding some 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide, on which donated neural stem cells can be attached and develop into full neurons.

The scaffolding is called BIPORES – or the Bijel-Integrated PORous Engineered System – and it’s made mostly of the common polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG). The researchers modified the PEG to make it ‘sticky’ for brain cells, without needing the usual coatings that can interfere with the reliability of the science.

Supercomputer Models Revise Enceladus Ice Loss

“The mass flow rates from Enceladus are between 20 to 40 percent lower than what you find in the scientific literature,” said Dr. Arnaud Mahieux.

How much ice is Saturn’s moon, Enceladus, losing to space when it discharges its interior ocean? This is what a recent study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets hopes to address as a team of scientists investigated whether Enceladus’ plume environments, including discharge rates, temperatures, and ice particle sizes could be determined strictly from observational data. This study has the potential to help scientists develop new methods for exploring icy bodies, especially those like Enceladus that could harbor life within its liquid water ocean.

For the study, the researchers used a series of computer models to analyze data obtained from NASA’s now-retired Cassini spacecraft, which intentionally burned up in Saturn’s atmosphere in 2017 after running low on fuel. This was done to avoid potentially contaminating moons like Enceladus with microbes from Earth and interfere with potential life there. During its journey at Saturn and its many moons, Cassino both discovered and flew through the plumes of Enceladus, which are at the moon’s south pole and emit large quantities of water ice and other substances into space from its subsurface liquid water ocean. It’s the amount of water and ice these plumes discharge that have intrigued scientists, and the results were surprising.

Optimizing CAR T cell therapy for solid tumours: a clinical perspective

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is revolutionizing the treatment of haematological malignancies, but expanding applicability to solid tumours presents substantial challenges. This Review describes key strategies to optimize CAR T cell therapy for solid tumours across areas spanning from target selection to response and safety evaluation.

Enzyme-free approach gently detaches cells from culture surfaces

Anchorage-dependent cells are cells that require physical attachment to a solid surface, such as a culture dish, to survive, grow, and reproduce. In the biomedical industry, and others, having the ability to culture these cells is crucial, but current techniques used to separate cells from surfaces can induce stresses and reduce cell viability.

“In the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, cells are typically detached from culture surfaces using enzymes—a process fraught with challenges,” says Kripa Varanasi, MIT professor of mechanical engineering. “Enzymatic treatments can damage delicate cell membranes and surface proteins, particularly in primary cells, and often require multiple steps that make the workflow slow and labor-intensive.”

Existing approaches also rely on large volumes of consumables, generating an estimated 300 million liters of cell culture waste each year. Moreover, because these enzymes are often animal-derived, they can introduce compatibility concerns for cells intended for human therapies, limiting scalability and high-throughput applications in modern biomanufacturing.

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