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Psychologists call it the dark triad: an intersection of three of the most malevolent tendencies of human nature – psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism.

But the truth goes deeper, and darker. There’s also egoism, sadism, spitefulness, and more. And behind this rogues gallery of all our worst inclinations on the surface, a central, common core of human darkness lies, researchers say.

In a 2018 study, psychologists from Germany and Denmark mapped this driving force behind all our darkest impulses and gave it a name. Meet D, the newly identified Dark Factor of Personality.

Mondal, S., Maity, R. & Nag, A. Sci Rep 15, 4,827 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85765-x.

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Synthetically replicating transmembrane protein signal transduction is a gaol of synthetic biology. Here, the authors show how the dimerization of synthetic transmembrane DNA receptors can be used to engineer sensing and actuation cascades in response to external molecular signals.

All genomes are replicated in a temporal order, though the determinants of such timing are poorly characterized. Here, the authors show that the unusual chromosome size-dependent DNA replication timing in Leishmania is influenced by RNA-DNA hybrids that are recognised by the endonuclease RNase H1.

The automated synthesis of plasmonic nanoparticles with on-demand properties is a challenging task. Here the authors integrate a fluidic reactor, real-time characterization, and machine learning in a self-driven lab for the photochemical synthesis of nanoparticles with targeted properties.

Manu Prakash, an assistant professor of bioengineering at Stanford, and his students have developed a synchronous computer that operates using the unique physics of moving water droplets. Their goal is to design a new class of computers that can precisely control and manipulate physical matter. For more info: http://news.stanford.edu/news/2015/ju

Music: “Union Hall Melody” by Blue Dot Sessions.