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May 21, 2024

Iso-propagation vortices: Optical multiplexing for unprecedented information capacity

Posted by in category: futurism

The future of optical communications just got brighter. In a development reported in Advanced Photonics, researchers from Nanjing University have introduced iso-propagation vortices (IPVs), a novel concept that offers a solution to a long-standing challenge faced by scientists and engineers: how to increase information processing capacity while overcoming the limitations of traditional vortex beams.

May 21, 2024

Seeing the color of entangled photons in molecular systems

Posted by in category: particle physics

Spectroscopy is the study of how matter absorbs and emits light and other radiation. It allows scientists to study the structure of atoms and molecules, including the energy levels of their electrons. Classical optical spectroscopy relies on the way particles of light called photons interact with matter. These classical spectroscopy techniques include one-photon absorption (OPA) and two-photon absorption (TPA).

May 21, 2024

Expanding on the fundamental principles of liquid movement

Posted by in categories: electronics, nanotechnology

From the rain drops rolling down your window, to the fluid running through a COVID rapid test, we cannot go a day without observing the world of fluid dynamics. Naturally, how liquids traverse across, and through, surfaces is a heavily researched subject, where new discoveries can have profound effects in the fields of energy conversion technology, electronics cooling, biosensors, and micro-/nano-fabrications.

May 21, 2024

Researchers develop entangled photon pairs in integrated silicon carbide for first time

Posted by in categories: particle physics, quantum physics

Quantum information science is truly fascinating—pairs of tiny particles can be entangled such that an operation on either one will affect them both even if they are physically separated. A seemingly magical process called teleportation can share information between different far-flung quantum systems.

May 21, 2024

New quantum dot approach can enhance electrical conductivity of solar cells

Posted by in categories: engineering, quantum physics, solar power, sustainability

A team led by Professor Jongmin Choi of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering has developed a PbS quantum dot that can rapidly enhance the electrical conductivity of solar cells. The findings are published in the journal Small.

May 21, 2024

Beautiful and Charming: Physicists Discover a New Tetraquark

Posted by in categories: particle physics, quantum physics

A new study unveils the existence of a tetraquark composed of beauty and charm quarks, advancing our knowledge of subatomic particle physics and strong force interactions.

Exploring the complex domain of subatomic particles, researchers at The Institute of Mathematical Science (IMSc) and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) have recently published a novel finding in the journal Physical Review Letters. Their study illuminates a new horizon within Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), shedding light on exotic subatomic particles and pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the strong force.

May 21, 2024

Darwin Revisited: Modern Data Sheds Light on Ancient Evolutionary Theories

Posted by in category: evolution

Ever since Darwin introduced his groundbreaking theory of evolution, biologists have been captivated by the complex processes that enable species to evolve.

Can mechanisms responsible for the evolution of a species over a few generations, called microevolution, also explain how species evolve over periods of time extending to thousands or millions of generations, also called macroevolution?

A new paper, just published in Science, shows that the ability of populations to evolve and adapt over a few generations, called evolvability, effectively helps us understand how evolution works on much longer timescales.

May 21, 2024

When Nightmares Turn Real: Sleep’s Early Warning Signs of Autoimmune Disease

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Nightmares and hallucinations could be early signs of autoimmune diseases like lupus, potentially improving early diagnosis and treatment, according to a new study.

An increase in nightmares and hallucinations – or ‘daymares’ – could indicate the beginning of autoimmune diseases such as lupus. This is according to an international team led by researchers at the University of Cambridge and King’s College London.

They emphasize the importance of recognizing these mental health and neurological symptoms as early warning signs of an impending ‘flare,’ a phase during which the disease intensifies temporarily.

May 21, 2024

A Symphony of Bonds: Sonification Unlocks Protein Folding Pathways

Posted by in category: futurism

Researchers used sound to reveal hidden patterns in protein folding, emphasizing the role of hydrogen bonds and water molecules in shaping protein structures.

Scientists have transformed their data into sounds to uncover how hydrogen bonds contribute to the lightning-fast gyrations that transform a string of amino acids to fold into a functional protein. Their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offers an unprecedented view of the sequence of hydrogen-bonding events that occur when a protein morphs from an unfolded to a folded state.

Continue reading “A Symphony of Bonds: Sonification Unlocks Protein Folding Pathways” »

May 21, 2024

Pandemic Potential: New Research Shows H5N1 Bird Flu Can Transmit Through Air

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, evolution, surveillance

In March, the United States reported its first detection of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cattle, with outbreaks spreading to nine states by May. The transmission method among cattle remains unclear. However, a study published in the journal Nature Communications revealed that a similar H5N1 strain, subtype clade 2.3.4.4b, which previously caused an outbreak in farmed mink in 2022, was capable of airborne transmission to a small group of ferrets.

This is the first time that a member of the group of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses has been shown to exhibit this ability. According to the Penn State researchers who led the study, the findings suggest these viruses are evolving to infect mammals and with potentially increased risk to humans.

“While there is no evidence that the strain of H5N1 that is presently affecting dairy cattle is capable of airborne transmission, our study suggests that another member of this family of viruses has evolved some degree of airborne transmissibility,” said Troy Sutton, associate professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences, Penn State, and corresponding author on the paper. “This finding underscores the importance of continued surveillance to monitor the evolution of these viruses and their spillover into other mammals, including humans.”

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