Scientists have proposed that human consciousness may actually alter reality around us, but there’s a lot speculation about how.
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New technique protects ‘architecture’ of insulin-producing islet cells for transplant into type 1 diabetics
Stem cell-derived pancreatic islets are being studied as a rich transplantable source for insulin production, a therapeutic for type 1 diabetes that overcomes the need to obtain islet cells from deceased donors.
The first attempts to transplant islet cells to treat type 1 diabetes began half a century ago. Doctors then sought the pancreatic tissue of deceased donors from which islet-producing tissue was removed for transplants. The islets produce life-saving insulin. Substantial advancements and increased success rates have led to islet-cell transplants becoming an approved therapy in Canada and Europe. The technique is still considered investigational in the United States.
But in a series of new advances, a team of endocrinologists and regenerative medicine specialists in the Netherlands has developed methods that improve the production of stem cells used to generate insulin-making islets.
Advanced digital detector array enhances charged-particle decay studies
Exotic nuclei near and beyond the proton drip line exhibit a range of unique decay processes, including β-delayed proton emission, α decay, and direct proton radioactivity. Spectroscopic studies utilizing high-efficiency, low-threshold detection systems have become essential for exploring the intricate properties of these nuclei.
In nuclear physics research, exotic nuclei play a crucial role as their decay characteristics can provide key clues for revealing the nature of nuclear forces and testing nuclear structure theoretical models. However, due to the extreme rarity and difficulty in measuring these decay processes, related research has always faced numerous challenges.
Large-scale cryopump developed for fuel/helium separation in fusion applications
A research team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a novel large-scale compound cryopump (multi-stage cryopump) capable of separating fuel particles from helium ash.
Designed to meet the demanding requirements of radiation resistance and efficient gas handling, the cryopump features an innovative structural configuration and utilizes a new fabrication technique. The researchers developed a process for bonding activated charcoal to cryogenic panels using an inorganic cryo-adhesive, ensuring long-term stability under extreme conditions. The full-scale prototype measures 1.2 meters in diameter, includes a 0.58-meter valve opening, and weighs 4 tons.
Cryopumps based on adsorption technology are widely recognized as essential components in fusion systems. They offer large pumping speeds, broad temperature tolerance, and strong resistance to harsh electromagnetic and nuclear conditions. These capabilities are critical for the removal of unburned fuel and helium ash—key to maintaining plasma stability and enabling sustained fusion reactions.
