Ending childhood respiratory infections.
Human parainfluenza viruses are the leading cause of childhood respiratory infections. There are currently no available vaccines for the most prevalent of these viruses. Research from the University of Wisconsin shows that engineering suitable short chunks of protein can prevent the attachment of human parainfluenza viruses to cells.
The work has recently been published in JACS: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.1c01565
#sciencenews #healthcare #health #medicine #vaccine
Human parainfluenza viruses are the leading cause of childhood respiratory infections. There are currently no available vaccines for the most prevalent of these viruses. Research from the University of Wisconsin shows that engineering suitable short chunks of protein can prevent the attachment of human parainfluenza viruses to cells.
The work has recently been published in JACS: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.1c01565
#sciencenews #healthcare #health #medicine #vaccine
ACS Publications
Engineering Protease-Resistant Peptides to Inhibit Human Parainfluenza Viral Respiratory Infection
The lower respiratory tract infections affecting children worldwide are in large part caused by the parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs), particularly HPIV3, along with human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus, enveloped negative-strand RNA viruses.…
Artificial muscles.
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid researchers offer guidance on the design of magneto-active structural systems that can be applied to stimulate wound healing and artificially replicate muscle tissues. They describe their method as creating an ‘athletic track for cells’.
Two articles on their work have been published recently in Composites Part B: Engineering and International Journal of Solids and Structures: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.108796 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2020.10.028
#sciencenews #AI #bioengineering
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid researchers offer guidance on the design of magneto-active structural systems that can be applied to stimulate wound healing and artificially replicate muscle tissues. They describe their method as creating an ‘athletic track for cells’.
Two articles on their work have been published recently in Composites Part B: Engineering and International Journal of Solids and Structures: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.108796 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2020.10.028
#sciencenews #AI #bioengineering
Sciencedirect
Influence of elastomeric matrix and particle volume fraction on the mechanical response of magneto-active polymers
Magneto-active polymers (MAPs) are revolutionising the fields of material science and solid mechanics as well as having an important presence in the b…
Diagnosing prostate cancer with light.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer globally in men, but rapid and accurate screening remains a challenge. Researchers from Chernivtsi National University & University of Oulu demonstrate a diagnostic method using polarized light that can quickly analyze prostate tissue samples for signs of cancer.
The results are published in Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-83986-4
#sciencenews #medicine #healthcare #health #light
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer globally in men, but rapid and accurate screening remains a challenge. Researchers from Chernivtsi National University & University of Oulu demonstrate a diagnostic method using polarized light that can quickly analyze prostate tissue samples for signs of cancer.
The results are published in Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-83986-4
#sciencenews #medicine #healthcare #health #light
Nature
3D Mueller matrix mapping of layered distributions of depolarisation degree for analysis of prostate adenoma and carcinoma diffuse…
Scientific Reports - <ArticleTitle Language="En" OutputMedium="All" xml:lang="en">3D Mueller matrix mapping of layered...
A graphene key for computing.
Current silicon technology exploits microscopic differences between computing components to create secure keys, but AI techniques can be used to predict defects and gain access to data. Penn State researchers have designed a way to make the encrypted keys harder to crack using graphene.
The results are presented in Nature Electronics: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-021-00569-x
#sciencenews #AI #computing #graphene
Current silicon technology exploits microscopic differences between computing components to create secure keys, but AI techniques can be used to predict defects and gain access to data. Penn State researchers have designed a way to make the encrypted keys harder to crack using graphene.
The results are presented in Nature Electronics: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-021-00569-x
#sciencenews #AI #computing #graphene
Nature
Graphene-based physically unclonable functions that are reconfigurable and resilient to machine learning attacks
Nature Electronics - Disorder in the charge carrier transport of graphene-based field-effect transistors can be used to construct physically unclonable functions that are secure and can withstand...
Light emitters for quantum circuits.
The promise of a quantum internet depends on harnessing light to transmit information over fiber optic networks. Researchers in Sweden have developed integrated chips emit single photons on demand without the need for low temperatures.
The work is published in the journal Advanced Quantum Technologies: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/qute.202100032
#sciencenews #quantum #optics #light
The promise of a quantum internet depends on harnessing light to transmit information over fiber optic networks. Researchers in Sweden have developed integrated chips emit single photons on demand without the need for low temperatures.
The work is published in the journal Advanced Quantum Technologies: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/qute.202100032
#sciencenews #quantum #optics #light
Wiley Online Library
Deterministic Integration of hBN Emitter in Silicon Nitride Photonic Waveguide
A deterministic process for integrating room-temperature hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) single photon source in silicon nitride waveguides is presented. The encapsulated emitter maintains high single-...
Cold solar cells.
The economic value of solar panels depends upon their lifespan and power conversion efficiency. University of New South Wales researchers have developed new and improved solar panels that improve the device lifetime by operating at lower temperatures.
Their results are reported in Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pip.3405
#sciencenews #physics #solarenergy #energy
The economic value of solar panels depends upon their lifespan and power conversion efficiency. University of New South Wales researchers have developed new and improved solar panels that improve the device lifetime by operating at lower temperatures.
Their results are reported in Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pip.3405
#sciencenews #physics #solarenergy #energy
Wiley Online Library
Singlet fission and tandem solar cells reduce thermal degradation and enhance lifespan
The operating temperature of PV modules affects the rate of degradation. We show the extent to which module operating temperature can be reduced by increasing the efficiency of the PV module via a ta...
The future of LED displays?
Small and efficient micro-LEDs are a promising technology for the next generation of displays. A new red light micro-LED developed at KAUST promises to boost the future of full-colour displays based on just a single semiconductor.
Details of their device can be found in Optics Letters: https://www.osapublishing.org/ol/fulltext.cfm?uri=ol-46-8-1912&id=450025
#sciencenews #physics #light #optics
Small and efficient micro-LEDs are a promising technology for the next generation of displays. A new red light micro-LED developed at KAUST promises to boost the future of full-colour displays based on just a single semiconductor.
Details of their device can be found in Optics Letters: https://www.osapublishing.org/ol/fulltext.cfm?uri=ol-46-8-1912&id=450025
#sciencenews #physics #light #optics
www.osapublishing.org
Investigation of InGaN-based red/green micro-light-emitting diodes
We investigated the performance of InGaN-based red/green micro-light-emitting diodes (µLEDs) ranging from 98×98µm2 to 17×17µm2. The average forward voltage at 10A/cm2 was independent of the dimension of µLEDs. Red µLEDs exhibited a larger blueshift of the…
Improving optical fiberss.
Distortions in the signals passed through optical fibers are a massive challenge for modern communications infrastructure. University of Rochester researchers have devised a novel technique where pre-shaping the wave front and polarization of the optical signal reduces distortions during transmission.
The results can be viewed in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22071-w
#sciencenews #optics #physics #smartmaterials
Distortions in the signals passed through optical fibers are a massive challenge for modern communications infrastructure. University of Rochester researchers have devised a novel technique where pre-shaping the wave front and polarization of the optical signal reduces distortions during transmission.
The results can be viewed in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22071-w
#sciencenews #optics #physics #smartmaterials
Nature
High-fidelity spatial mode transmission through a 1-km-long multimode fiber via vectorial time reversal
Nature Communications - The use of long multimode fibers for multiplexed quantum communication is hindered by modal crosstalk and polarisation mixing. Here, the authors use an auxiliary laser beam...
Why are women under-represented in science?
Women are in the minority in scientific disciplines, but it shouldn’t be that way. What are the barriers that prevent women from gaining equal representation? What solutions should be implemented? How do the challenges vary around the world?
STEMM Global gathered a diverse international panel of Women in Science at the SNAIA 2020 conference to discuss and debate the issues they’ve seen in their careers so far. Joining Anna and Kate from STEMM Global are:
Monica Craciun (University of Exeter)
Yue Wang (University College London)
Silvia Giordani (Dublin City University)
Olga Smolyanskaya (ITMO University)
Madhu Bhaskaran (RMIT University)
Sophie Mancha (University of Wisconsin)
Subscribe STEMM Global Audio Learning Podcast and join the STEMM Global Scientific Community
#podcast #womeninstemm #mothersinstemm #equality
Women are in the minority in scientific disciplines, but it shouldn’t be that way. What are the barriers that prevent women from gaining equal representation? What solutions should be implemented? How do the challenges vary around the world?
STEMM Global gathered a diverse international panel of Women in Science at the SNAIA 2020 conference to discuss and debate the issues they’ve seen in their careers so far. Joining Anna and Kate from STEMM Global are:
Monica Craciun (University of Exeter)
Yue Wang (University College London)
Silvia Giordani (Dublin City University)
Olga Smolyanskaya (ITMO University)
Madhu Bhaskaran (RMIT University)
Sophie Mancha (University of Wisconsin)
Subscribe STEMM Global Audio Learning Podcast and join the STEMM Global Scientific Community
#podcast #womeninstemm #mothersinstemm #equality
Audioboom
Why are women under-represented in science?
An Audioboom post by STEMM Global Audio Learning
Enhanced Raman scattering.
Devices at the single nanometre scale require characterisation at the atomic level. A team at the Japanese Institute for Molecular Science and the Fritz-Haber Institute has demonstrated a huge enhancement of Raman scattering at the atomic point contact of a plasmonic silver tip.
The results are available in ACS Nano Letters: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c00998
#sciencenews #spectroscopy
Devices at the single nanometre scale require characterisation at the atomic level. A team at the Japanese Institute for Molecular Science and the Fritz-Haber Institute has demonstrated a huge enhancement of Raman scattering at the atomic point contact of a plasmonic silver tip.
The results are available in ACS Nano Letters: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c00998
#sciencenews #spectroscopy
pubs.acs.org
Atomic Point Contact Raman Spectroscopy of a Si(111)-7 × 7 Surface
Tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) has recently demonstrated the exceptional sensitivity to observe vibrational structures on the atomic scale. However, it strongly relies on electromagnetic enhancement in plasmonic nanogaps. Here, we demonstrate that atomic…
AI-powered microscopes.
Light field microscopy allows the neuronal signals in the brain to be imaged in real time, but the images are often lacking quality and take a long time to process for visualisation. European Molecular Biology Laboratory scientists are using artificial intelligence to boost the image processing speeds from days to seconds.
Learn about their technique in Nature Methods:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-021-01136-0
#sciencenews #AI #science #microscopy
Light field microscopy allows the neuronal signals in the brain to be imaged in real time, but the images are often lacking quality and take a long time to process for visualisation. European Molecular Biology Laboratory scientists are using artificial intelligence to boost the image processing speeds from days to seconds.
Learn about their technique in Nature Methods:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-021-01136-0
#sciencenews #AI #science #microscopy
Nature Methods
Deep learning-enhanced light-field imaging with continuous validation
A deep learning–based algorithm enables efficient reconstruction of light-field microscopy data at video rate. In addition, concurrently acquired light-sheet microscopy data provide ground truth data for training, validation and refinement of the algorithm.
Liquid light.
Researchers at St. Petersburg State University have experimentally observed the formation of a Bose-Einstein condensate in molybdenum diselenide. The condensate contains thousands of exciton polaritons, or ‘liquid light’ quanta, which can be used to carry information in quantum computing applications.
The work has recently been published in Nature Materials: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-021-01000-8
#sciencenews #physics #light #Quantum
Researchers at St. Petersburg State University have experimentally observed the formation of a Bose-Einstein condensate in molybdenum diselenide. The condensate contains thousands of exciton polaritons, or ‘liquid light’ quanta, which can be used to carry information in quantum computing applications.
The work has recently been published in Nature Materials: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-021-01000-8
#sciencenews #physics #light #Quantum
Nature
Bosonic condensation of exciton–polaritons in an atomically thin crystal
Nature Materials - A coherent condensate of exciton–polaritons, extending spatially up to 4 µm and spin-polarizable with an external magnetic field, is observed at cryogenic...
Writing with graphene.
A Rice University laboratory can fabricate high resolution conductive patterns at the micron-scale using a laser-induced graphene synthesis process. The graphene patterns can be formed on surfaces including wood, paper, and even food.
Their work has been published in ACS Nano: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.1c01843
#sciencenews #graphene #physics
A Rice University laboratory can fabricate high resolution conductive patterns at the micron-scale using a laser-induced graphene synthesis process. The graphene patterns can be formed on surfaces including wood, paper, and even food.
Their work has been published in ACS Nano: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.1c01843
#sciencenews #graphene #physics
ACS Publications
High-Resolution Laser-Induced Graphene from Photoresist
The fabrication of patterned graphene electronics at high resolution is an important challenge for many applications in microelectronics. Here, we demonstrate the conversion of positive photoresist (PR), commonly employed in the commercial manufacture of…
STEMM Global & Engineering Seminars Series (University of Exeter)
Recent advances in microrobotics have demonstrated remarkable locomotive capabilities such as hovering flights, impulsive jumps, and fast running in insect-scale robots. However, most microrobots that are powered by power-dense rigid actuators have not achieved insect-like collision resilience. Meanwhile, the agility of most soft-actuated microrobots remains limited compared to that of rigid-actuated robots.
In this talk, Prof Kevin Chen will present their recent effort in developing a new class of microrobots – ones that are powered by high bandwidth soft actuators and equipped with rigid appendages for effective interactions with environments. Their work demonstrates for the first time that soft aerial robots can achieve agile and robust flight capabilities absent in rigid-powered micro-aerial vehicles, thus showing the potential of a new class of hybrid soft-rigid robots.
Prof. Chen is currently the D. Reid Weedon, Jr. ’41 Career Development Assistant Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- He received his PhD in Engineering Sciences at Harvard University in 2017 and his bachelor’s degree in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell University in 2012.
- His work focuses on developing multifunctional and multimodal insect-scale robots.
- His research interests also include developing high bandwidth and robust soft actuators for microrobot manipulation and locomotion.
- He is a recipient of the best student paper award at the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2015 and a Harvard Teaching Excellence Award.
- He was named to the “Forbes 30 Under 30” list in the category of Science.
Join us right now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc1wzprifPQ
Recent advances in microrobotics have demonstrated remarkable locomotive capabilities such as hovering flights, impulsive jumps, and fast running in insect-scale robots. However, most microrobots that are powered by power-dense rigid actuators have not achieved insect-like collision resilience. Meanwhile, the agility of most soft-actuated microrobots remains limited compared to that of rigid-actuated robots.
In this talk, Prof Kevin Chen will present their recent effort in developing a new class of microrobots – ones that are powered by high bandwidth soft actuators and equipped with rigid appendages for effective interactions with environments. Their work demonstrates for the first time that soft aerial robots can achieve agile and robust flight capabilities absent in rigid-powered micro-aerial vehicles, thus showing the potential of a new class of hybrid soft-rigid robots.
Prof. Chen is currently the D. Reid Weedon, Jr. ’41 Career Development Assistant Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- He received his PhD in Engineering Sciences at Harvard University in 2017 and his bachelor’s degree in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell University in 2012.
- His work focuses on developing multifunctional and multimodal insect-scale robots.
- His research interests also include developing high bandwidth and robust soft actuators for microrobot manipulation and locomotion.
- He is a recipient of the best student paper award at the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2015 and a Harvard Teaching Excellence Award.
- He was named to the “Forbes 30 Under 30” list in the category of Science.
Join us right now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc1wzprifPQ
YouTube
Agile and robust micro-aerial-robots powered by soft artificial muscles with Kevin Chen (MIT, USA)
Engineering Seminar Series (University of Exeter)
Agile and robust micro-aerial-robots powered by soft artificial muscles
Recent advances in microrobotics have demonstrated remarkable locomotive capabilities such as hovering flights, impulsive jumps, and…
Agile and robust micro-aerial-robots powered by soft artificial muscles
Recent advances in microrobotics have demonstrated remarkable locomotive capabilities such as hovering flights, impulsive jumps, and…
Quantum bits in 2D materials.
Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have identified quantum bits in 2D materials. The bits could be robustly generated, read, and controlled opening a route to their exploitation in quantum computers.
The results are presented in Nature Materials: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-021-00979-4
#sciencenews #quantum #2DMaterials #Quantum
Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have identified quantum bits in 2D materials. The bits could be robustly generated, read, and controlled opening a route to their exploitation in quantum computers.
The results are presented in Nature Materials: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-021-00979-4
#sciencenews #quantum #2DMaterials #Quantum
Nature
Single-spin resonance in a van der Waals embedded paramagnetic defect
Nature Materials - The optically detected magnetic resonance of a single defect in hexagonal boron nitride is reported.
Understanding biology with light.
A team at Aston University has shown how light can be used to assess structures and changes in biological tissues. By looking at changes in the polarisation of light passing through the tissues, maps can be produced that correlate with the tissue structures.
The results can be viewed in Scientific Reports: www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-83017-2
#sciencenews #light
A team at Aston University has shown how light can be used to assess structures and changes in biological tissues. By looking at changes in the polarisation of light passing through the tissues, maps can be produced that correlate with the tissue structures.
The results can be viewed in Scientific Reports: www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-83017-2
#sciencenews #light
Nature
Embossed topographic depolarisation maps of biological tissues with different morphological structures
Scientific Reports - <ArticleTitle Language="En" OutputMedium="All" xml:lang="en">Embossed topographic depolarisation maps of...
Better batteries.
Solid-state batteries pack a lot of energy into a small space, but their electrodes are not good at keeping in touch with their electrolytes. University of Illinois researchers demonstrate how controlling the atomic alignment of solid materials can improve the electrolyte interface and stability in solid-state batteries.
The results are published in the journal Nature Materials: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-021-01016-0
#sciencenews #energy
Solid-state batteries pack a lot of energy into a small space, but their electrodes are not good at keeping in touch with their electrolytes. University of Illinois researchers demonstrate how controlling the atomic alignment of solid materials can improve the electrolyte interface and stability in solid-state batteries.
The results are published in the journal Nature Materials: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-021-01016-0
#sciencenews #energy
Nature
Revealing the role of the cathode–electrolyte interface on solid-state batteries
Nature Materials - Interfaces play crucial, but still poorly understood, roles in the performance of secondary solid-state batteries. Using crystallographically oriented and highly faceted thick...
The oldest spiral galaxy.
Data from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) has shown a galaxy with a spiral morphology formed just 1.4 billion years after the Big Bang - the most ancient of its kind in the known universe.
The report is published in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/05/19/science.abe9680
#sciencenews #astronomy
Data from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) has shown a galaxy with a spiral morphology formed just 1.4 billion years after the Big Bang - the most ancient of its kind in the known universe.
The report is published in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/05/19/science.abe9680
#sciencenews #astronomy
Science
Spiral morphology in an intensely star-forming disk galaxy more than 12 billion years ago
The early assembly of galaxies is thought to have produced disturbed and asymmetric objects. Morphological features seen in nearby galaxies, such as stellar disks, bulges, and spiral arms, require time to form and would be disturbed by the frequent galaxy…
Low power microchips.
The progress of technology demands ever-faster microchips to be developed. To maintain or improve battery lifetimes of faster devices, the microchips must also be less power-hungry. Brigham Young University researchers have built the world’s most power efficient high speed analogue-to-digital converter.
Details of their device can be found in IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9360313
#sciencenews #energy
The progress of technology demands ever-faster microchips to be developed. To maintain or improve battery lifetimes of faster devices, the microchips must also be less power-hungry. Brigham Young University researchers have built the world’s most power efficient high speed analogue-to-digital converter.
Details of their device can be found in IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9360313
#sciencenews #energy
ieeexplore.ieee.org
An 8-bit 10-GHz 21-mW Time-Interleaved SAR ADC With Grouped DAC Capacitors and Dual-Path Bootstrapped Switch
An 8-bit 10-GHz 8 × time-interleaved successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) incorporates an aggressively scaled digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with grouped capacitors in a symmetrical structure to afford a threefold reduction…
Quantifying oceanic plastic pollution.
Microplastics in the ocean are one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time, but they are hard to both measure and quantify. An intercontinental team has developed a novel method using filter-feeding marine species to extract the tiny particles from seawater for further analysis.
Their method is published in Microplastics and Nanoplastics: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s43591-021-00005-z
#sciencenews #environment
Microplastics in the ocean are one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time, but they are hard to both measure and quantify. An intercontinental team has developed a novel method using filter-feeding marine species to extract the tiny particles from seawater for further analysis.
Their method is published in Microplastics and Nanoplastics: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s43591-021-00005-z
#sciencenews #environment
SpringerOpen
Detection, counting and characterization of nanoplastics in marine bioindicators: a proof of principle study - Microplastics and…
Plastic particulates in the environment pose an increasing concern for regulatory bodies due to their potential risk to higher organisms (including humans) as they enter the food chain. Nanoplastics (defined here as smaller than 1 μm) are particularly challenging…