Dec 29, 2024
Organic Molecules in Space: A Key to Understanding Life’s Cosmic Origins
Posted by Genevieve Klien in category: space
Asteroids, comets, and cosmic clouds hold organic molecules, hinting at the building blocks of life beyond Earth.
Asteroids, comets, and cosmic clouds hold organic molecules, hinting at the building blocks of life beyond Earth.
Researchers in Japan made a groundbreaking discovery that could bring us closer to sustainable energy from nuclear fusion reactors, paving the way for longer-lasting, more efficient clean energy systems.
In a recent study, the team developed protective coatings to enhance the durability of materials used in fusion reactors, addressing a key challenge: material degradation from extreme heat and corrosive liquid metal coolants.
Your body is one of the most complex natural structures ever. Billions of cells are put together in a specific way with the result being you. If you look closely between the cells you’ll find the extracellular matrix, a gel-like environment where cells reside and which helps them to talk to each other. However, when disease strikes, cells and the matrix alike can be irreparably damaged, which could lead to the loss of cell function.
In her Ph. D. research, Maritza Rovers looked at ways to make microgel-based scaffolds for cells, which could be used to support eye cells or even promote nerve growth in spinal cord injuries.
Every person on the planet is made up of billions of cells, which are the building blocks of our bodies. Between these cells lies the so-called extracellular matrix (ECM), a gel-like environment in which cells live out their lives.
A rare genetic variant, APOE3 Christchurch, delays Alzheimer’s onset by years in high-risk individuals, offering insights into disease resilience. This discovery could guide new treatments targeting similar protective pathways for Alzheimer’s prevention and therapy.
Six years ago, NASA’s Dawn mission communicated with Earth for the last time, ending its exploration of Ceres and Vesta, the two largest bodies in the asteroid belt. Since then, Ceres —a water-rich dwarf planet showing signs of geological activity— has been at the center of intense debates about its origin and evolution.
Now, a study led by IAA-CSIC, using Dawn data and an innovative methodology, has identified 11 new regions suggesting the existence of an internal reservoir of organic materials in the dwarf planet. The results, published in The Planetary Science Journal, provide critical insights into the potential nature of this celestial body.
In 2017, the Dawn spacecraft detected organic compounds near the Ernutet crater in Ceres’ northern hemisphere, sparking discussions about their origin. One leading hypothesis proposed an exogenous origin, suggesting these materials were delivered by recent impacts of organic-rich comets or asteroids.
2024: A year when AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity converged to redefine our digital landscape. For those navigating these complex technological frontiers, clarity became the most critical currency.
Inside Cyber, Key moments that resonated with our community:
• Cybersecurity Trends for 2025 Diving deep into the evolving threat landscape and strategic priorities.
Continue reading “5 Cybersecurity Priorities for The Trump Administration” »
What does the future hold? A brighter dawn or the end of the line? Join us today, and together we’ll peer into the unknown.
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The 21st century faces an unprecedented energy challenge that demands innovative solutions. This video explores Zero Point Energy (ZPE), a groundbreaking concept rooted in quantum mechanics that promises limitless, clean, and sustainable power. Learn how the quantum vacuum—long considered empty—is teeming with virtual particles and untapped energy potential. From understanding the Casimir effect to leveraging advanced technologies like fractal energy collectors and quantum batteries, this video details how ZPE could revolutionize industries, mitigate climate change, and empower underserved communities. Dive into the science, challenges, and global implications of a ZPE-powered future.
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With so much fascinating research going on in quantum science and technology, it’s hard to pick just a handful of highlights. Fun, but hard. Research on entanglement-based imaging and quantum error correction both appear in Physics World’s list of 2024’s top 10 breakthroughs, but beyond that, here are a few other achievements worth remembering as we head into 2025 – the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
Quantum sensing
In July, physicists at Germany’s Forschungszentrum Jülich and Korea’s IBS Center for Quantum Nanoscience (QNS) reported that they had fabricated a quantum sensor that can detect the electric and magnetic fields of individual atoms. The sensor consists of a molecule containing an unpaired electron (a molecular spin) that the physicists attached to the tip of a scanning-tunnelling microscope. They then used it to measure the magnetic and electric dipole fields emanating from a single iron atom and a silver dimer on a gold substrate.
A quantum state of light has been successfully teleported through more than 30 kilometers (around 18 miles) of fiber optic cable amid a torrent of internet traffic – a feat of engineering once considered impossible.
The impressive demonstration by researchers in the US may not help you beam to work to beat the morning traffic, or download your favourite cat videos faster.
However, the ability to teleport quantum states through existing infrastructure represents a monumental step towards achieving a quantum-connected computing network, enhanced encryption, or powerful new methods of sensing.