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Science News for August 26, 2016


Electrons at the speed limit

Researchers at ETH Zurich have investigated how electrons respond to extremely fast electric fields, reaching speeds of up to petahertz. They observed that the absorption of diamond varied characteristically following the rhythm of the oscillating electric field, confirming the dynamical Franz-Keldysh effect.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateAug 26, 2016

Allergy research: Response to house dust mites is age-dependent

Researchers found that an extract from house dust mites triggers different responses depending on the age of the person, with leukotrienes playing a key role in adults. The study suggests that cortisone therapy may not be effective against this type of allergy and that targeted therapies could be more effective.

Probing how CRISPR-Cas9 works

Scientists at UMass Chan Medical School discovered how CRISPR-Cas9 targets DNA in live cells, finding that guide RNA stability affects cleavage. The study's findings help predict off-target cuts and may improve gene editing tools.

SourceUMass Chan Medical School·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateAug 26, 2016

From rigid to flexible

Researchers have found a mechanism that explains how cells transport cargo efficiently and selectively within their boundaries. The discovery reveals that flexibility in large tether proteins plays a crucial role in initiating the fusion process.

The sound of a healthy reef

A new study suggests that sound plays a limited role in attracting coral larvae to reef systems. By recording particle motion using accelerometers, researchers found that the signal drops rapidly below levels detectable by most marine species just a few meters away from the reef. This finding challenges previous studies and highlights ...

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 26, 2016

Structural, regulatory and human error were factors in Washington highway bridge collapse

A new analysis by civil engineering faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign outlines the factors that led to the 2013 Interstate 5 bridge collapse in Washington. The study highlights the importance of updating databases to reflect minimum heights and implementing automated reporting systems to prevent similar accidents.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Performance of Constructed Facilities·DateAug 26, 2016

CAS researchers and Nobel Laureate develop new monomer fluorescent protein for SR imaging

CAS researchers have developed a new monomer fluorescent protein, Skylan-NS, enabling substantial improvements in the speed, duration, and noninvasiveness of live-cell superresolution microscopy. The protein shows high photostability, cycle numbers and signal-to-noise ratio, making it suitable for live-cell SR imaging.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 26, 2016

FAA announces new Center of Excellence

The University of Oklahoma and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University have been selected to lead the FAA's new Air Transportation Center of Excellence. The center will focus on researching innovative training methods, including part-task training, modeling, and adaptive learning technologies.

Next steps in understanding brain function

Researchers are uniting to tackle the complex challenge of understanding brain function through large-scale computational modeling. This approach aims to improve our knowledge of brain function by creating realistic models based on biological data.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Neuroanatomy·DateAug 26, 2016