Laser control with metasurfaces.
Harvard University researchers have developed a single metasurface that can effectively tune the different properties of laser light, including wavelength, without requiring additional optical components. The metasurface can split light into multiple beams with controlled shape and intensity in an independent, precise, efficient manner.
Their work is published in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-24071-2
#sciencenews #photonics
Harvard University researchers have developed a single metasurface that can effectively tune the different properties of laser light, including wavelength, without requiring additional optical components. The metasurface can split light into multiple beams with controlled shape and intensity in an independent, precise, efficient manner.
Their work is published in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-24071-2
#sciencenews #photonics
Nature
Multifunctional wide-angle optics and lasing based on supercell metasurfaces
Nature Communications - The angular dependence is a well-known issue in metasurface engineering. Here the authors introduce a supercell metasurface able to implement multiple independent functions...
Building better wind farms.
A study from the Carnegie Institution for Science shows how the placement of wind turbines is hugely important to their efficiency. They looked at the wake of individual turbines and larger scale networks to understand how the power generation capabilities can be optimized.
The study is published in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103875118
#sciencenews #environment #energy
A study from the Carnegie Institution for Science shows how the placement of wind turbines is hugely important to their efficiency. They looked at the wake of individual turbines and larger scale networks to understand how the power generation capabilities can be optimized.
The study is published in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103875118
#sciencenews #environment #energy
PNAS
Spatial constraints in large-scale expansion of wind power plants
Wind comprised 6.1% of worldwide electricity generation in 2020. If this share is to substantially grow to decarbonize electricity systems, the size of future wind farms may extend far beyond that of current installations. The spatial scale of a wind farm…
Equitable immunogenomics.
Most large-scale immunogenomic studies exploring the association between genes and disease were conducted with a bias toward individuals of European ancestry. University of Louisville researchers are leading a call to actively diversify the genetic resources used in their work to advance genomic medicine more equitably.
Their vision is outlined in Nature Methods: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01169-5
#sciencenews #immunogenomics #bioscience #diversity
Most large-scale immunogenomic studies exploring the association between genes and disease were conducted with a bias toward individuals of European ancestry. University of Louisville researchers are leading a call to actively diversify the genetic resources used in their work to advance genomic medicine more equitably.
Their vision is outlined in Nature Methods: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01169-5
#sciencenews #immunogenomics #bioscience #diversity
Nature Methods
Diversity in immunogenomics: the value and the challenge
Nature Methods - Immunogenomics studies have been largely limited to individuals of European ancestry, restricting the ability to identify variation in human adaptive immune responses across...
3D printing with functional gels.
A study from Dartmouth College describes a process using heat to change the arrangement of molecular rings on a chemical chain creates 3D-printable gels with a variety of functional properties. Printing objects with different mechanical strengths using a single ink could replace the costly and time-consuming use of multiple inks for printing.
The results are published in the journal Chem: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2021.06.004
#sciencenews #chemistry #3dprinting #engineering
A study from Dartmouth College describes a process using heat to change the arrangement of molecular rings on a chemical chain creates 3D-printable gels with a variety of functional properties. Printing objects with different mechanical strengths using a single ink could replace the costly and time-consuming use of multiple inks for printing.
The results are published in the journal Chem: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2021.06.004
#sciencenews #chemistry #3dprinting #engineering
Sciencedirect
Kinetic trapping of 3D-printable cyclodextrin-based poly(pseudo)rotaxane networks
Synthetically trapping kinetically varied (super)structures of molecular assemblies and amplifying them to the macroscale is a promising, yet challeng…
Increased infectiousness of coronavirus variants.
A team of researchers at Duke University has combined concepts from structural biology with computation to show that multiple mutations on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein independently create variants that are both more transmissible and resistant to antibodies.
The mechanisms are explained in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/06/23/science.abi6226
#sciencenews #biosciences #covid
A team of researchers at Duke University has combined concepts from structural biology with computation to show that multiple mutations on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein independently create variants that are both more transmissible and resistant to antibodies.
The mechanisms are explained in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/06/23/science.abi6226
#sciencenews #biosciences #covid
Science
Effect of natural mutations of SARS-CoV-2 on spike structure, conformation, and antigenicity
SARS-CoV-2 variants with multiple spike mutations enable increased transmission and antibody resistance. Here, we combine cryo-EM, binding and computational analyses to study variant spikes, including one that was involved in transmission between minks and…
Nanoscale thermoplasmonics.
Research from Kazan Federal University demonstrates a new approach using plasmon-assisted optical heating to determine the glass transition temperature in polymers. The optical heating is controllable by adjusting the substrate conformation to probe the temperature in a broad range.
Their results are available in ACS Photonics: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsphotonics.1c00256
#sciencenews #physics #photonics
Research from Kazan Federal University demonstrates a new approach using plasmon-assisted optical heating to determine the glass transition temperature in polymers. The optical heating is controllable by adjusting the substrate conformation to probe the temperature in a broad range.
Their results are available in ACS Photonics: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsphotonics.1c00256
#sciencenews #physics #photonics
ACS Publications
Nanoscale Sensing Vitrification of 3D Confined Glassy Polymers Through Refractory Thermoplasmonics
Advances in plasmonics have been fundamentally rooted in minimizing ohmic losses in metallic nanostructures. However, the losses at resonance can play a positive role; for instance, in optical heating, there are two sides to every story. Under laser illumination…
Looking at tumours through a new lens.
Work from the Institute for Systems Biology describes a new method to look at tumours using machine learning-based image analysis for multiplexed spatial profiling of proteins. The method can be used to uncover the molecular features that determine the effectiveness of immunotherapies.
Their method is presented in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24293-4
#sciencenews #machinelearning #oncology
Work from the Institute for Systems Biology describes a new method to look at tumours using machine learning-based image analysis for multiplexed spatial profiling of proteins. The method can be used to uncover the molecular features that determine the effectiveness of immunotherapies.
Their method is presented in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24293-4
#sciencenews #machinelearning #oncology
Nature
Resolution of tissue signatures of therapy response in patients with recurrent GBM treated with neoadjuvant anti-PD1
Nature Communications - The response to neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in patients with recurrent gliolastoma multiforme (GBM) has been challenging to interpret. Here the authors...
Drinkable seawater.
Around 10% of the world’s population lack a clean source of drinking water. The Korea Institute Of Civil Engineering and Building Technology has developed an electrospun nanofiber membrane to turn seawater into drinking water through a membrane distillation process in just a few minutes.
Their device is described in the Journal of Membrane Science: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376738820316008?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #nanomaterials
Around 10% of the world’s population lack a clean source of drinking water. The Korea Institute Of Civil Engineering and Building Technology has developed an electrospun nanofiber membrane to turn seawater into drinking water through a membrane distillation process in just a few minutes.
Their device is described in the Journal of Membrane Science: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376738820316008?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #nanomaterials
Topological fingerprints.
Scientists at the UNSW have made a breakthrough in the search for the topological magnetic monopole referred to as the Berry curvature. They identified an unconventional Hall effect, driven by an in-plane magnetic field in semiconductor hole systems, stemming from the Berry curvature.
Their insights are published in Physical Review Letters: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.256601
#sciencenews #physics
Scientists at the UNSW have made a breakthrough in the search for the topological magnetic monopole referred to as the Berry curvature. They identified an unconventional Hall effect, driven by an in-plane magnetic field in semiconductor hole systems, stemming from the Berry curvature.
Their insights are published in Physical Review Letters: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.256601
#sciencenews #physics
Physical Review Letters
Generating a Topological Anomalous Hall Effect in a Nonmagnetic Conductor: An In-Plane Magnetic Field as a Direct Probe of the…
We demonstrate that the Berry curvature monopole of nonmagnetic two-dimensional spin-$3/2$ holes leads to a novel Hall effect linear in an applied in-plane magnetic field ${B}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$. Remarkably, all scalar and spin-dependent disorder contributions…
New high-temperature semiconductors.
Skoltech researchers have investigated the properties of novel lanthanum and yttrium ternary hydrides. By alloying the two metals they increased both the stability and the critical temperature for superconductivity.
The properties of the alloys are described in the journal Materials Today: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369702121001309?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #physics
Skoltech researchers have investigated the properties of novel lanthanum and yttrium ternary hydrides. By alloying the two metals they increased both the stability and the critical temperature for superconductivity.
The properties of the alloys are described in the journal Materials Today: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369702121001309?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #physics
Biomass to biofuel.
A Technical University of Munich team has determined the role of water molecules in the process of converting biomass to biofuels with zeolitic catalysts. Their insights should enable increased reactivity at low temperatures, improving the energy efficiency of the process.
The preliminary report has been published in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6545/952
#sciencenews #environment #energy
A Technical University of Munich team has determined the role of water molecules in the process of converting biomass to biofuels with zeolitic catalysts. Their insights should enable increased reactivity at low temperatures, improving the energy efficiency of the process.
The preliminary report has been published in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6545/952
#sciencenews #environment #energy
Science
Role of the ionic environment in enhancing the activity of reacting molecules in zeolite pores
Brønsted acidity is introduced into microporous zeolites through the addition of framework aluminum. Pfriem et al. show that in the presence of water, the limited volume in the microchannels of zeolite H-MFI leads to a high concentration of hydrated hydronium…
Integrated frequency combs.
Research from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne has shown how entire optical frequency comb systems can be integrated in a silicon-based platform. Their process is compatible with standard foundry fabrication methods, allowing its scalable implementation to optical communications devices.
Their method is detailed in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/373/6550/99.abstract
#sciencenews #physics
Research from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne has shown how entire optical frequency comb systems can be integrated in a silicon-based platform. Their process is compatible with standard foundry fabrication methods, allowing its scalable implementation to optical communications devices.
Their method is detailed in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/373/6550/99.abstract
#sciencenews #physics
Science
Laser soliton microcombs heterogeneously integrated on silicon
The realization of optical frequency combs, light sources with precisely spaced frequencies across a broad spectrum of wavelengths, in dielectric microresonators has affected a range of applications from imaging and ranging to precision time keeping and metrology.…
AI in 3D printing.
Additive manufacturing allows on-demand production. However, the performance of the final object is hard to predict. A team at the University of Texas has shown that neural networks can be used to better understand the processes.
The study is published in the journal Computational Methods: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045782521002474?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #AI #3dprinting
Additive manufacturing allows on-demand production. However, the performance of the final object is hard to predict. A team at the University of Texas has shown that neural networks can be used to better understand the processes.
The study is published in the journal Computational Methods: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045782521002474?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #AI #3dprinting
Sciencedirect
A mixed interface-capturing/interface-tracking formulation for thermal multi-phase flows with emphasis on metal additive manufacturing…
High fidelity thermal multi-phase flow simulations are in much demand to reveal the multi-scale and multi-physics phenomena in metal additive manufact…
Mefloquine – fighting coronavirus.
Scientists from Tokyo University of Science have identified the anti-malarial drug mefloquine as being effective against SARS-CoV-2. They show that the drug effectively limits the entry of the virus into the cells.
Learn about their insight in Frontiers in Microbiology: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.651403
#sciencenews #coronavirus #healthcare #medicine
Scientists from Tokyo University of Science have identified the anti-malarial drug mefloquine as being effective against SARS-CoV-2. They show that the drug effectively limits the entry of the virus into the cells.
Learn about their insight in Frontiers in Microbiology: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.651403
#sciencenews #coronavirus #healthcare #medicine
Frontiers
Mefloquine, a Potent Anti-severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Drug as an Entry Inhibitor in vitro
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused serious public health, social, and economic damage worldwide and effective drugs that prevent or cure COVID-19 are urgently needed. Approved drugs including Hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir or Interferon were reported…
Massive white dwarf.
Astronomers at the Zwicky Transient Facility have discovered the smallest and most massive white dwarf ever seen, formed from the merger of a binary system of two smaller white dwarfs. The star has a mass greater than the Sun, but a size closer to that of the Moon.
The discovery has recently been published in Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03615-y
#sciencenews #astronomy
Astronomers at the Zwicky Transient Facility have discovered the smallest and most massive white dwarf ever seen, formed from the merger of a binary system of two smaller white dwarfs. The star has a mass greater than the Sun, but a size closer to that of the Moon.
The discovery has recently been published in Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03615-y
#sciencenews #astronomy
Nature
A highly magnetized and rapidly rotating white dwarf as small as the Moon
Nature - A binary star merger has produced a white dwarf with a spin period of under 7 minutes, a magnetic field of 600 to 900 million gauss and a radius only slightly larger than that of our Moon.
Long-life lithium batteries.
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have increased the lifetime of lithium-metal electric vehicle batteries to a record level by using microscale structured anodes. This is an important step towards the goal of lighter, cheaper, and longer-lasting electric vehicle batteries.
Their latest results are published in Nature Energy: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41560-021-00852-3
#sciencenews #physics #chemistry #energy
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have increased the lifetime of lithium-metal electric vehicle batteries to a record level by using microscale structured anodes. This is an important step towards the goal of lighter, cheaper, and longer-lasting electric vehicle batteries.
Their latest results are published in Nature Energy: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41560-021-00852-3
#sciencenews #physics #chemistry #energy
Nature
Balancing interfacial reactions to achieve long cycle life in high-energy lithium metal batteries
Nature Energy - The development of Li metal batteries requires understanding of cell-level electrochemical processes. Here the authors investigate the interplay between electrode thickness,...
Nano-cleaners.
University of Colorado Boulder researchers have found that tiny, self-propelled particles can swim to escape from mazes as much as 20 times faster than passive particles, paving the way for their use in cleaning waste from hard to reach areas.
Their nanosystem is described in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101807118
#sciencenews #nanomaterials #environment
University of Colorado Boulder researchers have found that tiny, self-propelled particles can swim to escape from mazes as much as 20 times faster than passive particles, paving the way for their use in cleaning waste from hard to reach areas.
Their nanosystem is described in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101807118
#sciencenews #nanomaterials #environment
PNAS
Mechanisms of transport enhancement for self-propelled nanoswimmers in a porous matrix
As with living microorganisms, many real-world applications of synthetic micro/nanoswimmers are likely to rely on transport in complex environments, a phenomenon that remains poorly understood. Here, we report anomalously rapid transport of self-propelled…
Hawking’s black hole theorem - confirmed.
Hawking’s central law for black holes predicts that the area of their event horizons should never shrink. Physicists at MIT have confirmed Hawking's theorem using experimental observations of gravitational waves.
Their confirmation is published in Physical Review Letters: https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.011103
#sciencenews #astronomy
Hawking’s central law for black holes predicts that the area of their event horizons should never shrink. Physicists at MIT have confirmed Hawking's theorem using experimental observations of gravitational waves.
Their confirmation is published in Physical Review Letters: https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.011103
#sciencenews #astronomy
Physical Review Letters
Testing the Black-Hole Area Law with GW150914
By comparing the sizes of black holes before and after a merger, researchers have tested Hawking's theorem on black hole areas.
Fast nanographene synthesis.
A group of researchers at Nagoya University, Japan have developed a new method for quickly and efficiently synthesising nanographenes. They used an APEX reaction with polycyclic aromatic templates to controllably synthesise a range of different nanographenes.
Their work has been published in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24261-y
#sciencenews #nanomaterials
A group of researchers at Nagoya University, Japan have developed a new method for quickly and efficiently synthesising nanographenes. They used an APEX reaction with polycyclic aromatic templates to controllably synthesise a range of different nanographenes.
Their work has been published in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24261-y
#sciencenews #nanomaterials
Nature
Diversity-oriented synthesis of nanographenes enabled by dearomative annulative π-extension
Nature Communications - Nanographenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are important classes of compounds with numerous applications, but challenging to access due to a lack of...
Gene editing in space.
Researchers from the Genes in Space program have developed and successfully demonstrated a novel method for studying how cells repair damaged DNA in space. They used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to create controlled damage to DNA strands, before observing the self-repair mechanisms in detail.
Their methods are described in PLOS ONE: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253403
#sciencenews #biology #genetics
Researchers from the Genes in Space program have developed and successfully demonstrated a novel method for studying how cells repair damaged DNA in space. They used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to create controlled damage to DNA strands, before observing the self-repair mechanisms in detail.
Their methods are described in PLOS ONE: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253403
#sciencenews #biology #genetics
journals.plos.org
A CRISPR-based assay for the study of eukaryotic DNA repair onboard the International Space Station
As we explore beyond Earth, astronauts may be at risk for harmful DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation. Double-strand breaks are a type of DNA damage that can be repaired by two major cellular pathways: non-homologous end joining, during which insertions…
AI for mental health.
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba have found that AI can be used to detect signs of depression. They used machine learning to predict psychological distress among study participants without the need for subjective data inputs.
The process is described in BMJ Open: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046265
#sciencenews #AI
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba have found that AI can be used to detect signs of depression. They used machine learning to predict psychological distress among study participants without the need for subjective data inputs.
The process is described in BMJ Open: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046265
#sciencenews #AI
BMJ Open
Comparison of predicted psychological distress among workers between artificial intelligence and psychiatrists: a cross-sectional…
Objectives Psychological distress is a worldwide problem and a serious problem that needs to be addressed in the field of occupational health. This study aimed to use artificial intelligence (AI) to predict psychological distress among workers using sociodemographic…