Caltech chemical physicists have quantitatively modeled electron interactions in real quantum materials using atomic and electronic structures. The new technique allows for accurate predictions of material properties, exceeding model-based calculations by two orders of magnitude for seven different transition-metal atoms embedded in co...
Scientists have successfully prepared and studied radium molecules precisely with lasers in tabletop experiments, marking a breakthrough in understanding the universe's matter-antimatter asymmetry. The new method can be applied to other atoms to create similarly chilled molecules.
Scientists developed a bioelectronic material called SIRES that maintains conductivity despite stretching up to 300%. The device can be attached to internal organs and provide stable performance even during movement. A new platform for implantable sensors also sticks to wet tissues while delivering therapeutic interventions.
A team of scientists at Caltech has developed a new autofocus technique called Digital Defocus Aberration Interference (DAbI) that can be used to keep microscopes in focus automatically. The technique uses LED lights and physics-based processing, and has been tested on six different types of microscopes with excellent results.
Researchers create a new way to generate optical frequency combs at the chip scale, utilizing robust light pulses called topological solitons. This advance promises to make frequency combs more practical and easier to use outside the laboratory.
Scientists have discovered new ways to kill bacteria by targeting the MurJ transporter, a key component of peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Researchers found that phage-derived protein antibiotics inhibit MurJ's activity, providing potential targets for antibacterial drugs.
Researchers create ultra-coherent and efficient photonic integrated circuits by extending optical fiber's ultralow loss performance to silicon wafers. This breakthrough paves the way for precision measurements, AI data-center communications, and quantum computing applications.
A Caltech-led team developed bubble bots that can autonomously target tumors using chemotactic behavior, reducing tumor weight by 60% in mice. The robots use a biocompatible protein shell and can be controlled using ultrasound imaging or magnetically responsive particles.
Scientists have developed a new technique that combines rotational ultrasound tomography (RUST) with photoacoustic tomography (PAT) to create 3D color images of soft tissues and blood vessel function. This method has the potential to enhance breast tumor imaging, monitor nerve damage caused by diabetes, and brain imaging.
Researchers developed EnCompass, a framework that enables programmers to improve agents' performance by allowing easy recovery from errors and testing different search strategies without major code rewriting. This improves the organization of core logic in complex AI systems.
Scientists have discovered a rare superkilonova event, which may have produced gravitational waves and light, as detected by LIGO and Virgo. The candidate kilonova AT2025ulz showed signs of a supernova before fading and brightening again in red wavelengths.
A team of Caltech researchers has created an icy hot plasma system, where electrons and positively charged ions coexist in a mostly neutral gas environment. The study reveals the formation of extremely fluffy ice grains that grow into fractal shapes, leading to unexpected physics.
Neutrino experiments from US and Japan have combined their data to measure precise neutrino behavior, bringing scientists closer to understanding how matter was favored over antimatter in the early universe. The results shed light on neutrino oscillation, a phenomenon that could help solve the missing antimatter problem.
Researchers created the largest qubit array with 6,100 neutral-atom qubits trapped in a grid by lasers, demonstrating improved accuracy and scalability. The team successfully maintained superposition for over 13 seconds and manipulated individual qubits with high accuracy.
A Caltech team led by Alireza Marandi has created a nanophotonic device that generates a frequency comb, a spectrum of evenly spaced laser-like light across a wide range of frequencies. This breakthrough offers potential in areas such as communications and spectroscopy.
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) has made a significant milestone in its 10-year history, detecting over 300 black hole mergers and surpassing previous records. The improved sensitivity of LIGO's detectors allows for the detection of fainter sources, enabling scientists to test fundamental laws of physics.
Researchers developed a new AI method called Deep Loop Shaping to quiet unwanted noise in LIGO's detectors, achieving 30-100 times better performance than traditional methods. This technology will help improve LIGO's ability to detect bigger black holes and build next-generation gravitational-wave detectors.
Researchers at Caltech have created a hybrid approach for storing quantum states by translating electrical information into sound waves. This method allows quantum states from superconducting qubits to survive in storage for an extended period.
The LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration has detected the merger of two massive black holes, producing a final black hole approximately 225 times the mass of our Sun. The signal presents a challenge to current astrophysical models and requires advanced theoretical tools to interpret.
Researchers at Caltech have created a new method to sum up large numbers of Feynman diagrams, enabling the prediction of electron-phonon interactions in materials. This breakthrough has solved the polaron problem, allowing scientists to predict how electrons flow in certain materials, both conventional and quantum.
A new AI-assisted technique called PACT has been developed to help differentiate between suspicious and healthy tissue in breast imaging. The method, which combines light and sound into a single modality, performs as well as or better than conventional techniques like mammography and MRI.
Researchers at Caltech have created a 'smart capsule' called PillTrek that can measure various biomarkers in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, providing real-time profiling. The device is tiny, wireless, and inexpensive, and has the potential to revolutionize diagnosis and monitoring of diseases.
Researchers developed a novel quantum-centric supercomputing method to calculate electronic energy levels of complex molecules. This breakthrough enables faster and more accurate simulations, paving the way for advancements in fields like materials science, nanotechnology, and drug discovery.
A new study from Caltech finds that the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, commonly referred to as the AMOC, will weaken by around 18 to 43 percent at the end of the 21st century. This represents a limited decline, rather than substantial weakening as previously predicted, addressing a long-standing uncertainty in climate sci...
Researchers create aerially transforming morphobot ATMO to address complex aerodynamic forces near ground level. The system uses advanced control method model predictive control to adapt quickly to changing dynamics during transformation.
Researchers at Caltech successfully controlled the motion of individual atoms, encoding quantum information, and demonstrated hyper-entanglement in massive particles. This experiment could lead to advancements in quantum computation and precision clocks.
Researchers create CARL-Bot to ride vortex rings and navigate turbulent ocean currents without fighting them, inspired by nature's ability to conserve energy. The system uses a single accelerometer and simple control laws to achieve energy-efficient propulsion, opening doors for future applications in ocean exploration and monitoring.
Researchers have developed a technique for in vivo 3D printing of polymers using sound localization, which can be used for drug delivery, tissue repair, and internal wound sealing. The new method, called deep tissue in vivo sound printing (DISP), has been successfully tested in mice and shows promising results.
Researchers developed quantum sensors capable of precisely detecting single particles, improving time and spatial resolution. The sensors demonstrated efficiency in detecting high-energy beams of protons, electrons, and pions.
A smart bandage called iCares has been developed to monitor chronic wounds in human patients, detecting biomarkers of inflammation and infection. The bandage can provide real-time data and deliver treatment, accelerating the healing process.
A new version of Caltech's smart bandage, iCares, has been shown to continually sample fluid from human patients with chronic wounds, providing real-time data on biomarkers present. The bandage can detect molecules such as nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide, potentially up to three days before symptoms appear.
Researchers at AWS and Caltech developed a new cat qubit chip, called Ocelot, to suppress errors in quantum computers. The chip uses superconducting circuits to create stable qubits resistant to bit-flip errors.
Engineers at Caltech have successfully demonstrated the operation of a quantum network with two nodes and multiple qubits. The researchers developed a new protocol for distributing quantum information in parallel, creating multiple channels for sending data, which significantly boosts quantum communication rates between nodes.
Researchers at Caltech developed a DNA origami-based approach to create reusable, multifunctional biosensors for quickly detecting proteins in bodily fluids. The system uses a lilypad-like structure with short DNA strands to bind to molecules of interest, allowing for the detection of larger molecules such as large proteins.
Researchers have developed a technique for inkjet printing arrays of special nanoparticles that enables the mass production of long-lasting wearable sweat sensors. These sensors can monitor various biomarkers in real-time, providing patients and physicians with continuous insights into their health.
Caltech researchers have developed a platform to characterize ultrathin membranes that could be used in lightsails for interstellar space travel. The team's experiments mark the first step towards achieving this audacious goal, which aims to reach ultrafast speeds and explore distant star systems.
PAM, a novel material that adapts to stress like both fluids and solids, has been created by Caltech researchers. Its unique properties make it suitable for use in helmets, packaging, and biomedical devices, where energy absorption is crucial.
Scientists discover bacterial cells forming cable-like structures that intertwine like living gels. The cables, found to be thousands of cells long, continue to grow as long as the cells have nutrients.
Researchers at Caltech developed bioresorbable acoustic microrobots that can deliver therapeutics to specific sites within the body, decreasing bladder tumor size in mice. The microrobots use magnetic nanoparticles for precise targeting and are designed to be biocompatible and absorbable.
A team of Caltech researchers has developed an algorithm called Spectral Expansion Tree Search (SETS) that enables autonomous robots to determine the best movements to make as they navigate the real world. SETS uses control theory and linear algebra to find natural motions that use a robotic platform's capabilities to its fullest extent.
A team of scientists has synthesized a highly complex natural molecule using a novel strategy that functionalizes normally nonreactive C–H bonds. The new method opens up possibilities for synthesizing previously unavailable chemicals, representing a whole new way for chemists to create materials.
A recent study reveals that fast radio bursts are more commonly associated with massive and metal-rich star-forming galaxies. This suggests that magnetars, the thought-to-be-triggers of FRBs, likely form in environments conducive to stellar mergers. The discovery was made using Caltech's Deep Synoptic Array-110 project.
Researchers developed a method to identify causal relationships in complex systems using information theory. The SURD model breaks down contributions of each variable to unique, redundant, and synergistic components of causality, allowing for the discovery of hidden causes.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a new technique called 'fingerprint nanoelectromechanical mass spectrometry' that allows for the accurate measurement of individual protein masses. This breakthrough could pave the way to determining the complete proteome, providing insights into an organism's health and potential disease treatments.
Astronomers at Caltech have discovered that the well-studied brown dwarf Gliese 229B is actually a pair of tightly orbiting brown dwarfs weighing about 38 and 34 times the mass of Jupiter. This resolves the long-standing mystery about its dimness.
A Caltech-led team has developed a control strategy called FALCON that uses reinforcement learning to adaptively learn how turbulent wind can change over time, allowing UAVs to predict and respond to extreme turbulence in real-time. The strategy has been tested in a challenging test setup and shows promising results.
A team of engineers and scientists from Caltech has developed a headset-based device that can noninvasively assess a patient's stroke risk by monitoring changes in blood flow and volume. The device uses speckle contrast optical spectroscopy to differentiate between individuals at low and high risk of stroke.
Astronomers have discovered the largest pair of black hole jets yet, stretching 23 million light-years and equivalent to 140 Milky Way galaxies. This finding suggests that these massive jet systems may have played a significant role in shaping galaxies in the early universe.
A new smart mask prototype, EBCare, analyzes chemicals in exhaled breath in real-time, offering personalized health monitoring for respiratory ailments like asthma and COPD. The device's self-cooling system allows for daily wear, while its low cost makes it a promising tool for remote health assessments.
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology have successfully developed a method to recycle samarium diiodide, a crucial reagent in synthesizing molecules that can lead to new pharmaceuticals. This breakthrough enables large-scale industrial production, making it possible to create essential compounds like taxol, an anticance...