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Yale physicists have uncovered a sophisticated and previously unknown set of “modes” within the human ear, which impose crucial constraints on how the ear amplifies faint sounds, withstands loud noises, and distinguishes an astonishing range of sound frequencies.

By applying existing mathematical models to a generic mock-up of the cochlea—a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear—the researchers revealed an additional layer of cochlear complexity. Their findings provide new insights into the remarkable capacity and precision of human hearing.

“We set out to understand how the ear can tune itself to detect faint sounds without becoming unstable and responding even in the absence of external sounds,” said Benjamin Machta, an assistant professor of physics in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Science and co-senior author of a new study in the journal PRX Life. “But in getting to the bottom of this we stumbled onto a new set of low frequency mechanical modes that the cochlea likely supports.”

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Electromagnetic absorbers are essential in energy, stealth, and communication technologies, yet current designs underperform. A research team has introduced ultra-thin absorbers nearing theoretical efficiency limits, promising transformative industrial applications.

Absorbing layers are essential to advancements in technologies like energy harvesting, stealth systems, and communication networks. These layers efficiently capture electromagnetic waves across wide frequency ranges, enabling the creation of sustainable, self-powered devices such as remote sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) systems. In stealth technology, absorbing layers reduce radar visibility, enhancing the performance of aircraft and naval systems. They also play a vital role in communication networks by minimizing stray signals and mitigating electromagnetic interference, making them indispensable in today’s interconnected world.

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Science and research continuously deliver groundbreaking discoveries, expanding the boundaries of what we know. Each year, the renowned journal Science highlights ten of these achievements in its list of top scientific breakthroughs. For 2024, the journal named the drug lenacapavir — hailed for its potential to reduce HIV/AIDS infections to zero — as the Breakthrough of the Year. In the realm of physics, another major milestone was recognized: the discovery of altermagnetism by researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU).

“This is a truly unique tribute to our work, and we are proud and honored to receive this acknowledgment for our research,” said Professor Jairo Sinova of the JGU Institute of Physics. He and his team discovered and demonstrated the phenomenon of altermagnetism.

Until now, physics recognized only two types of magnetism: ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism. Ferromagnetism, known since ancient Greece, is the force that makes refrigerator magnets stick, where all magnetic moments align in the same direction. Antiferromagnetism, on the other hand, involves magnetic moments aligning in a regular pattern but pointing in opposite directions, canceling each other out externally.

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The brain tries to repair damage after a stroke by utilizing its own repair cells, which function like skilled craftsmen. However, their efforts are often obstructed by inflammation, according to new research from the University of Southern Denmark and the University.

A new study conducted by researchers from the Department of Molecular Medicine at SDU highlights one of the most severe consequences of stroke: damage to the brain’s “cables”—the nerve fibers—which results in permanent impairments. Based on unique tissue samples from Denmark’s Brain Bank at SDU, the study could pave the way for new treatments to help the brain repair itself.

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Scientists at the PHENIX experiment at RHIC have uncovered compelling evidence that even collisions involving small nuclei with large ones can produce tiny droplets of quark-gluon plasma.

Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter, along with solid, liquid, and gas. It is an ionized gas consisting of positive ions and free electrons. It was first described by chemist Irving Langmuir in the 1920s.

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Scientists have created over a million simulated cosmic images using the power of supercomputers to anticipate the capabilities of NASA

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is the United States government agency responsible for the nation’s civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. Established in 1958 by the National Aeronautics and Space Act, NASA has led the U.S. in space exploration efforts, including the Apollo moon-landing missions, the Skylab space station, and the Space Shuttle program.

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