The Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, led by Caltech's Katherine L. Bouman, generated the first image of Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) using data from eight radio observatories worldwide. The resulting image confirms Sgr A* is a supermassive black hole with a mass nearly four million times that of the sun.
Researchers at Caltech developed Neural-Fly, a deep-learning method that enables drones to adapt to wind conditions in real-time. The method achieved significant improvements in drone performance compared to existing adaptive control algorithms.
Researchers have found evidence for two supermassive black holes orbiting each other every two years, with masses hundreds of millions times larger than our sun. The quasar's radio-light brightness exhibits sinusoidal variations due to the pair's motion, providing a nearly perfect light curve.
Researchers at Caltech developed a novel approach for quantum storage using nuclear spins, which can effectively chain up several atoms to store information. The system utilizes ytterbium ions and surrounding vanadium atoms to create a reliable quantum memory.
A Caltech-led team of researchers discovered that a bacterial metabolite can travel to the brain and alter its function, leading to increased anxiety in mice. The study provides a molecular explanation for recent observations linking gut microbiome changes to complex emotional behaviors.
Researchers studied archival images from the Palomar Observatory's Zwicky Transient Facility and found that Starlink satellite streaks now appear in almost 20% of twilight images. Software can help mitigate potential problems, but the impact on astronomy is still a concern, especially for future surveys like Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
Researchers create an artificial intelligence that allows drones to use ocean currents to aid navigation, reducing energy consumption. The AI uses reinforcement learning networks to exploit low-velocity regions in water currents, outperforming even the most efficient swimming strategies found in nature.
Scientists create a process called 'coherent optical engineering' that can dramatically change the properties of materials without generating heat. The breakthrough uses lasers to alter electron energy levels in a way that is reversible and free from unwanted heating.
Scientists have developed a new material, black phosphorous, only three atoms thick, which can control light with unprecedented precision. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize telecommunications and pave the way for Li-Fi, a light-based replacement for Wi-Fi.
Physicists have made the most precise measurement yet of a neutron's lifetime, revealing that it lives 14.629 minutes with an uncertainty of 0.005 minutes. This result brings scientists closer to understanding why two previous methods disagree and could provide evidence for new physics.
LEONARDO, a bipedal walking robot developed at Caltech, has successfully demonstrated its ability to ride a skateboard and walk on a slackline. The robot's advanced robotic capabilities make it a promising candidate for various applications in fields such as search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and more.
A new study by LIGO reveals a new type of mirror coating made of titanium oxide and germanium oxide reduces background noise in mirrors by a factor of two. This allows for an eight-fold increase in the volume of space that can be probed, enabling more frequent detection of gravitational waves.
Caltech researchers have developed a technique to build embryo-like structures from human stem cells, opening up new possibilities for studying early human development. The technology can generate large quantities of these structures without the need for donated embryos.
The new method uses ink-jet printers and hyperspectral imaging to create hundreds of thousands of material combinations in a single trial run. A cobalt-tantalum-tin compound was discovered that exhibits tunable transparency and acts as a good catalyst for chemical reactions.
Researchers at Caltech studied ant digging habits and uncovered mechanisms guiding their tunnel construction. Ants use efficient techniques to minimize work, digging straight tunnels along cup edges, and sensing force chains to avoid digging there.
A new algorithm developed at Caltech allows autonomous systems to recognize their location by analyzing the terrain around them, even in seasonal changes. The system uses self-supervised learning to identify patterns in images, resulting in more accurate localization, with 92% success rate compared to 50% with traditional techniques.
A new study by California Institute of Technology researchers found that a computer program can accurately predict which paintings a person will like, using low-level visual attributes such as contrast, saturation, and hue. The program achieved similar accuracy to deep convolutional neural networks in predicting art preferences.
Researchers demonstrate Slater mechanism using pyrochlore oxide, a compound with minimal other metal-insulator transition mechanisms. The study provides new insights into fundamental questions about material behavior and has potential applications in spintronics.
A new study reveals that coal fly ash makes up a significant portion of particulate organic carbon carried by the Yangtze River in China. The study found that human activities, such as coal burning, have an outsized impact on river sediment, comparable to natural processes.
A new study explains that strike-slip faults, which were previously believed to trigger only small tsunamis, can generate unusually large waves like the devastating Palu tsunami in 2018. Researchers discovered a mechanism for these massive tsunamis to form, suggesting other coastal cities may need to reevaluate their risk level.
Researchers discovered that fruit flies can fly up to 15 kilometers in a single journey, outpacing many migratory bird species. The study, led by Kate Leitch, used 'release and recapture' experiments with hundreds of thousands of common lab fruit flies.
The discovery of 12 quadruply imaged quasars using machine-learning techniques will help determine the expansion rate of the universe and address mysteries like dark matter. Quasars are extremely luminous cores powered by supermassive black holes, providing a way to probe the intermediate range of the universe.
Scientists predict ocean currents on Enceladus, driven by salinity variations like those in Earth's Southern Ocean. The research suggests a pole-to-equator circulation influencing heat and nutrient distribution.
Researchers developed a new type of minimally invasive BMI using functional ultrasound technology, which can accurately map brain activity from precise regions deep within the brain. This breakthrough allows for high-performance, less-invasive brain-machine interfaces that could benefit people with paralysis or neurological injuries.
A significant portion of Mars's water is still present on the planet, with estimates suggesting 30-99 percent is trapped within minerals in the crust. This discovery challenges the current theory that the Red Planet's water escaped into space due to low gravity.
Researchers develop technique to precisely place and orient DNA-based molecular devices on chip surfaces. The method enables thousands of molecules to be reliably oriented, opening up new possibilities for applications like DNA sequencing and protein measurement.
Researchers use an ultrafast camera to observe the movement of laser light in a chaotic chamber, capturing the entirety of its path for the first time. This breakthrough could breathe new life into the study of optical chaos, with applications in physics, communications, and cryptography.
A new nanoparticle vaccine platform has been developed to protect against many strains of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine, called a mosaic nanoparticle, presents the immune system with multiple different coronavirus variants at once, generating a diverse antibody response.
A team of researchers has discovered that the titanium atom in crystal BaTiS3 is responsible for its poor thermal conductivity. The titanium atom exists in a double-well potential, allowing it to absorb and emit vibrations in a way that scatters energy rather than transferring it cleanly.
A new survey more than doubles the known number of copies of Isaac Newton's groundbreaking science book, challenging the idea that it was only read by expert mathematicians. The research suggests that the Principia was widely read and comprehended in 17th-century Europe.
Researchers have developed a camera that can film 3D movies at 100 billion frames per second, capturing ultrafast imagery with stereo-polarimetric compression. The camera uses polarization information to enhance its capabilities and may help scientists study sonoluminescence.
A new sensor developed by Caltech researchers can rapidly detect COVID-19 infection in under 10 minutes, offering a potential solution for early diagnosis and monitoring. The sensor uses graphene and antibodies to detect specific proteins and chemical markers of inflammation, providing a full picture of the infection.
Researchers developed a framework to study metabolic processes in cancer cells using Raman spectroscopy and microscopy. The technique identified fatty acid synthesis and mono-unsaturation as new metabolic susceptibilities in cancer cells.
Researchers found that Jupiter's storms behave similarly to hurricanes on Earth but with a much larger scale. The team used math derived from Lord Kelvin's proof to explain the storms' stable geometric arrangement, discovering anticyclonic rings cause them to repel each other.
Researchers have discovered that seismic rumblings on the seafloor can provide a new way to monitor ocean temperatures, using existing seismic monitoring equipment and historic data. By analyzing sound waves from undersea earthquakes, they can determine changes in ocean temperature at depths normally out of reach of conventional tools.
As the pandemic progressed, individuals' personal risk assessments led to increased protective behaviors like hand washing and social distancing. The study found that knowing one's own risk affected behavior more than concerns about others.
Researchers at Caltech demonstrate a molecular approach to quantum computing that leads to fewer errors, using molecules instead of atoms. The method involves rotating molecules in superposition, allowing for simultaneous correction of orientation and angular momentum shifts, which are prone to causing errors.
Rising sea levels may cause more frequent and devastating river avulsions, altering the course of rivers to the sea. This shift in river dynamics could lead to costly infrastructure failures and increased flood risks for coastal communities.
Researchers found that current battery technology is too expensive for seasonal storage, but alternative technologies like hydrogen storage can provide cost-effective solutions. The study's findings may help policy makers develop more efficient renewable energy systems.
Researchers at Caltech have found bacteria that use manganese as their primary source of energy, converting carbon dioxide into biomass through chemosynthesis. This discovery sheds light on the geochemistry of groundwater and has implications for understanding manganese nodules on the seafloor.
Researchers at Caltech have found that amino acid tails on RNA polymerase enzymes help them work with different types of DNA, enabling gene activation. The longer the DNA molecule, the longer the tail.
A study published in Science identifies neurons in the frontal lobe that help retrieve memories and make decisions based on those memories. The researchers used implanted electrodes to record neuron activity in patients undergoing brain surgery for epilepsy treatment.
Scientists have detected an object of 2.6 solar masses, firmly placing it within the 'mass gap' between neutron stars and black holes. The discovery was made using LIGO and Virgo detectors and may challenge current theoretical models.
A four-year-long earthquake swarm near Cahuilla, California was driven by a naturally occurring injection of underground fluids, revealing complex conditions for fluid flow within the fault zone. The study provides new insights into seismic processes and brings closer concrete explanations for how earthquake swarms start and terminate.
Researchers at Caltech propose a new approach to detecting dark matter using lighter-weight particles that can interact with magnons, excited electron spins. They suggest cooling equipment and moving it underground to detect these interactions.
Caltech's Wei Gao creates an electronic skin that runs on biofuel cells powered by lactate in human sweat, generating enough electricity to power sensors and a Bluetooth device. The e-skin can monitor heart rate, body temperature, and metabolic byproducts, enabling continuous health tracking.
Scientists have discovered a unique symbiosis between deep-sea worms and methanotrophic bacteria that harnesses methane as a carbon source. The worms absorb the energy from methane by slowly digesting the bacteria, effectively becoming methanotrophs themselves.
Severe flooding in the Midwest delayed crop growth by around two weeks and reduced maximum seasonal photosynthesis by 15 percent. This led to a 100 million metric ton reduction in net carbon uptake from June to July 2019.
Researchers at Caltech have successfully created a tiny optical cavity that can store and transmit quantum information, a crucial step towards building a quantum internet. The cavity allows scientists to efficiently collect and detect photons emitted by rare-earth ytterbium ions, enabling the creation of a quantum network.
A wireless sweat sensor developed by Caltech researcher Wei Gao accurately detects cortisol levels in near real-time, allowing for non-invasive monitoring of stress and mental health conditions. The sensor has been tested on healthy individuals and patients with depression and PTSD, showing promising results.