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New particle acceleration strategy uses cold atoms to unlock cosmic mysteries

Scientists have used ultracold atoms to successfully demonstrate a novel method of particle acceleration that could unlock a new understanding of how cosmic rays behave, a new study reveals.

More than 70 years after its formulation, researchers have observed the Fermi acceleration mechanism in a laboratory by colliding against engineered movable potential barriers—delivering a significant milestone in high-energy astrophysics and beyond.

Fermi acceleration is the mechanism responsible for the generation of cosmic rays, as postulated by physicist Enrico Fermi in 1949. The process itself also features some universal properties that have spawned a wide range of mathematical models, such as the Fermi-Ulam model. Until now, however, it has been difficult to create a reliable Fermi accelerator on Earth.

NASA’s SPHEREx Is Mapping the Infrared Universe in 102 Colors — And It’s All Public

SPHEREx is scanning the entire sky in 102 infrared colors, beaming weekly data to a public archive so scientists and citizen stargazers alike can trace water, organics, and the universe’s first moments while NASA’s open-science philosophy turbo-charges discovery. NASA’s newest space telescope, SPHE

Cheap Daily Supplement Appears to Boost Brain Function in Older People

What’s good for your aging gut may also be good for your aging brain. The first study of its kind in twins found that taking daily protein and prebiotic supplements can improve scores on memory tests in people over the age of 60.

Published early last year, the findings are food for thought, especially as the same visual memory and learning test is used to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

The double-blinded trial involved two cheap plant fiber prebiotics that are available over the counter in numerous nations around the world.

Why some genes are more error-prone: Scientists uncover hidden rule in DNA transcription

Every living cell must interpret its genetic code—a sequence of chemical letters that governs countless cellular functions. A new study by researchers from the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics at Rice University has uncovered the mechanism by which the identity of the letters following a given nucleotide in DNA affects the likelihood of mistakes during transcription, the process by which DNA is copied into RNA. The discovery offers new insight into hidden factors that influence transcription accuracy.

The work is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The study was authored by Tripti Midha, Anatoly Kolomeisky and Oleg Igoshin. It shows why genetic sequences are not equally prone to errors. Instead, the identity of the two nucleotides immediately downstream of a site significantly alters the error rate during transcription. This discovery builds on prior insights by the same authors on enzymatic proofreading mechanisms, factoring in the effects of distinct kinetics for different nucleotide additions.

3200 Megapixels: The World’s Largest Telescope Unveils Its First Snapshot

In an era where technology constantly pushes the boundaries of space exploration, the Vera Rubin Observatory offers a new window into space. Its camera, the most powerful ever designed for a telescope, promises to unveil new aspects of our universe. Astronomers and sky enthusiasts eagerly await the first images that might redefine our view of distant galaxies and obscure cosmic phenomena.

Perched atop Cerro Pachón in Chile, the Vera Rubin Astronomical Observatory has just created a real event: its very first photographic capture of the universe in 3,200 megapixels. This site, dedicated to the in-depth study of the southern sky, is named after the astronomer Vera Rubin, famous for her research on dark matter. A feat that marks a new era for astronomy!

Peripheral nerve regeneration driven by hundreds of unknown RNA molecules

Unlike the brain and spinal cord, peripheral nerve cells, whose long extensions reach the skin and internal organs, are capable of regenerating after injury. This is why injuries to the central nervous system are considered irreversible, while damage to peripheral nerves can, in some cases, heal, even if it takes months or years. Despite decades of research, the mechanisms behind peripheral nerve regeneration remain only partially understood.

In a new study published in Cell, researchers from Prof. Michael (Mike) Fainzilber’s lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science discovered that a family of hundreds of RNA molecules with no known physiological function is essential to nerve .

Remarkably, the study showed that these molecules can stimulate growth not only in the peripheral nervous system of mice but also in their central nervous system. These findings could pave the way for new treatments for a variety of nerve injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.

Novel AI method sheds light on how enzyme linked to Alzheimer’s selects its targets

Researchers from DZNE, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), and Technical University of Munich (TUM) have found that the enzyme “gamma-secretase”—implicated in Alzheimer’s disease and cancer—selects its reaction partners according to a complex scheme of molecular features.

Their study, published in Nature Communications, introduces a methodology that decodes the enzyme’s recognition logic by bridging biochemistry with explainable artificial intelligence (AI). This novel approach could help to better understand the role of in diseases and aid drug development.

Gamma-secretase is an enzyme belonging to the category of “proteases” that plays a key role in Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. It occurs in the membrane of numerous cells, including neurons, where—acting like a pair of scissors—it cleaves other membrane-bound proteins.