Thanks to a serendipitous discovery and a lot of painstaking work, scientists can now build biohybrid molecules that combine the homing powers of DNA with the broad functional repertoire of proteins—without having to synthesize them one by one, researchers report in a new study. Using a naturally occurring process, laboratories can harness the existing molecule-building capacities of bacteria to generate vast libraries of potentially therapeutic DNA-protein hybrid molecules.
A quantum computing protocol makes it possible to extract energy from seemingly empty space, teleport it to a new location, then store it for later use.
In a recent paper published in PRX Quantum, a team of researchers from Osaka University and RIKEN presented an approach to improve the fault-tolerance of color codes, a type of quantum error correction (QEC) code. Their method, known as Flagged Weight Optimization (FWO), targets the underlying challenges of color-code architectures, which historically suffer from lower thresholds under circuit-level noise. By optimizing the decoder weights based on the outcomes of flag qubits, this method improves the threshold values of color codes.
Color codes are an alternative to surface codes in quantum error correction that implement all Clifford gates transversally, making them a potential solution for low-overhead quantum computing, as noted by the paper. However, their practical use has been limited thus far by the relatively low fault-tolerance thresholds under circuit-level noise. Traditional methods of stabilizer measurement, which involve high-weight stabilizers acting on numerous qubits, introduce substantial circuit depth and errors, ultimately leading to lower overall performance.
The research team focused on two color-code lattices—the (4.8.8) and (6.6.6) color codes. The team noted that while these codes are considered topologically advantageous for QEC, their previous thresholds were relatively low, making them less effective for real-world applications. For example, the threshold for the (4.8.8) color code was previously around 0.14%, limiting its use in fault-tolerant computing.
An electrochemical biosensor capable of detecting low levels of cancer biomarkers is reusable over 200 regeneration cycles without compromising device sensitivity and accuracy.
In her new book, neuroscience researcher Mithu Storoni breaks down how to best structure your work sessions and increase your productivity.
Photonic crystals are materials with repeating internal structures that interact with light in unique ways. We can find natural examples in opals and the vibrant colored shells of some insects. Even though these crystals are made of transparent materials, they exhibit a “photonic bandgap” that blocks light at certain wavelengths and directions.
Even though the strange behaviour we observe in the quantum realm isn’t part of our daily lives, simulations suggest it is likely our reality could be one of the many worlds in a quantum multiverse.
The direction of cause and effect was brought into question for quantum objects more than a decade ago, but new calculations may offer a way to restore it.
In the world of nanotechnology, the development of dynamic systems that respond to molecular signals is becoming increasingly important. The DNA origami technique, whereby DNA is programmed so as to produce functional nanostructures, plays a key role in these endeavors. Teams led by LMU chemist Philip Tinnefeld have now published two studies showing how DNA origami and fluorescent probes can be used to release molecular cargo in a targeted manner.
In the journal Angewandte Chemie (“DNA Origami Vesicle Sensors with Triggered Single-Molecule Cargo Transfer”), the researchers report on their development of a novel DNA-origami-based sensor that can detect lipid vesicles and deliver molecular cargo to them with precision.
The sensor works using single-molecule Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (smFRET), which involves measuring the distance between two fluorescent molecules. The system consists of a DNA origami structure, out of which a single-stranded DNA protrudes, which has been labeled with fluorescent dye at its tip. If the DNA comes into contact with vesicles, its conformation changes. This alters the fluorescent signal, because the distance between the fluorescent label and a second fluorescent molecule on the origami structure changes. This method allows vesicles to be detected.
Researchers say they’ve built and tested a ‘structural battery’ that packs a device or EV’s chassis with energy, saving a ton of weight. It could unlock smartphones as thin as credit cards, laptops at half the weight and a 70% boost to EV range.
EVs rely heavily – pun intended – on large lithium-ion batteries to cover long distances. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology wondered if they could build a battery that doubles as the load-bearing material holding the car together, and shed some weight.
As part of their work on what they call ‘massless energy storage,’ the research team in Sweden has developed a battery made of a carbon fiber composite. It promises similar stiffness to aluminum, while also being capable of storing a fair bit of energy – enough to be used commercially.