Researchers developed a new optical gyroscope that detects phase shifts 30 times smaller than previous systems, enabling miniaturization to a chip smaller than a grain of rice. The Sagnac effect relies on detecting differences between two beams traveling in opposite directions.
A new study by Gregory Fu and his team demonstrates a method for creating molecules with only one handedness using abundant, inexpensive materials. This technique can make the discovery and synthesis of bioactive compounds like pharmaceuticals less expensive and time-consuming.
A Caltech-led team observed a faint and rapidly fading supernova, suggesting the presence of an unseen companion gravitationally siphoning away the star's mass. The explosion resulted in a dead neutron star orbiting its dense companion, marking the first time scientists have witnessed the birth of a compact neutron star binary system.
Caltech researchers develop two illusions to demonstrate postdiction, a phenomenon where later stimuli retroactively affect earlier perceptions. The Illusory Rabbit and Invisible Rabbit illusions show how sound can influence vision, highlighting dynamic neural processing.
A new Caltech study finds that the brain's anterior cingulate cortex and striatum are involved in decision-making when faced with too many options, leading to a 'choice overload' effect. The ideal number of options is estimated to be between 8 and 15, depending on perceived reward and individual characteristics.
A Caltech study shows that people can accurately judge a politician's honesty based on their face width. Researchers found that politicians with wider faces were perceived as more corruptible, but it's unclear if they're actually more corrupt. The study suggests that facial appearance may play a role in corruption perceptions.
Researchers found that fruit flies use a small, bright spot (the simulated sun) as a landmark to fly straight with respect to its position. The study also shows that these flies have compass neurons in their brains associated with this navigational behavior.
A new study finds that democratic leaders tend to be more aggressive in international conflicts due to public pressure and audience costs. However, exceptions exist, such as democracies with strong protections for a free press or those facing an existential threat from another nation.
Scientists have created a new way to selectively turn neural circuits on and off without surgery. By combining ultrasound waves, gene therapy, and synthetic drugs, researchers can noninvasively control specific brain regions and cell types. This technique has implications for treating neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Researchers at Caltech developed an artificial neural network made of DNA that can accurately identify handwritten numbers. The network, designed by Kevin Cherry, uses a 'winner take all' competitive strategy and undergoes complex reactions to classify molecular information.
Researchers discovered that men with higher levels of testosterone have a stronger preference for luxury brands, such as Calvin Klein jeans over Levi's. This is because testosterone promotes behaviors associated with status-seeking and status-protecting, similar to animal behaviors like aggression.
A new study reveals that a DNA repair protein associated with cancer can disrupt electron transport through DNA, leading to mutations. The researchers found that a specific mutation in the MUTYH protein causes the iron-sulfur cluster to degrade when exposed to oxygen.
A new laser-sonic scanner developed by Caltech researchers can detect tumors in the breast in just 15 seconds, providing higher-resolution images than traditional mammography. The technology uses near-infrared light to create detailed images of internal structures without exposing patients to X-ray radiation or discomfort.
Neuroscientists from Caltech have discovered neurons in the human brain that respond when targets are spotted, revealing insights into how we perform visual searches. The study found two distinct populations of neurons in the medial temporal lobe, one recognizing objects based on appearance and another focusing on goal-directed relevance.
Researchers have discovered how messenger RNAs are transported out of the nucleus through nuclear pore complexes, a process that occurs in just a fraction of a second. The study also sheds light on how mutations affect protein stability and could lead to the design of therapeutic drugs for motor neuron diseases.
Scientists create three-dimensional maps of DNA in cells to understand genome organization and gene expression. The study reveals that genes cluster together around specific nuclear bodies, influencing gene activity.
Researchers developed a new technique called intron seqFISH that allows for the imaging of over 10,000 genes within single cells. This technique provides precise and instantaneous snapshots of single cells, revealing that gene expression oscillates globally across many genes on a surprisingly short timescale.
Researchers deciphered seismometer readings from a 2017 Montecito landslide to determine the disaster's scale and location. The findings suggest that seismometers can be used to provide an early warning of incoming debris flows, potentially saving lives.
Researchers discovered that chronic social isolation leads to an increase in a specific neuropeptide called neurokinin B, which promotes aggression and fear. Blocking this peptide eliminates negative effects of isolation, suggesting potential applications for treating mental health disorders in humans.
Engineers at Caltech and ETH Zurich developed self-propelled robots that paddle through water using temperature-responsive materials. The devices use a bistable element and polymer strips to activate a switch and propel forward.
A new study from Caltech sheds light on how a specific species of beneficial bacteria harnesses the body's immune response to settle in the gut. The researchers found that the bacteria are encased in a thick capsule made of carbohydrates, which is necessary for colonization and helps anchor them to epithelial cells.
Researchers at Caltech create eye implant inspired by butterfly wings' nanostructures, reducing measurement error and biofouling. The implant's surface flexes to measure intra-eye pressure, providing accurate readings regardless of angle.
Researchers have developed next-generation contrast agents that can be turned off using ultrasound, allowing for clearer MRI scans. The new technology relies on nanoscale structures called gas vesicles, which bounce back sound waves and react differently to magnetic fields.
A team of researchers has developed a glowing contact lens that reduces the retina's oxygen demands at night, potentially preventing diabetic retinopathy. Early testing shows promising results, with rod cell activity reduced by up to 90 percent when worn in the dark.
Researchers at Caltech have successfully induced natural sensations in a paralyzed man by stimulating his somatosensory cortex with tiny arrays of electrodes. The study could enable people with prosthetic limbs to feel physical feedback from sensors.
Researchers created a strain of bacteria that can produce bicyclobutanes, high-energy carbon rings useful in chemicals and materials. The bacteria were engineered using directed evolution, allowing them to efficiently create the strained rings under ambient conditions.
A Caltech researcher has found that the Schrödinger Equation governs the evolution of massive astrophysical disks. The equation, typically used for subatomic systems, describes how warps and distortions emerge in these disks over millions of years. This surprising discovery could provide new insights into complex astronomical phenomena.
Researchers discovered two distinct brain areas, cognitive-fear circuit and reactive-fear circuit, that process fear responses to different types of threats. The study used fMRI scans and a virtual predator video game to show how the brain reacts differently to immediate versus distant threats.
Caltech scientists have identified a hierarchical neural circuit in the mouse brain that regulates thirst, involving excitatory and inhibitory neurons. The study reveals how this circuit integrates signals from the subfornical organ and organum vasculosum laminae terminalis to initiate drinking behavior, while also providing insight in...
Researchers have identified a fourth ULX as a neutron star, shedding new light on how these objects can shine so brightly. The study found unusual dip in the ULX's light spectrum attributed to cyclotron resonance scattering, revealing strong magnetic fields around the neutron star.
Caltech scientists have discovered that cells can transmit multiple messages through the Notch signaling pathway by encoding them rhythmically over time. This discovery reveals that cellular messaging is closer to sending smoke signals than texting, and cells use temporal patterns to differentiate between similar ligands.
Researchers at Caltech developed a new technique to create complex nanoscale metal structures using 3D printing. The process involves synthesizing organic scaffolds that contain metal ions, allowing for the creation of metallic structures smaller than previously possible.
Researchers developed water-splitting catalyst made of nickel and iron, but uncertainty remained about its mechanism. New study reveals iron performs water-splitting reaction, not nickel, paving the way for improved catalysts.
Researchers at Caltech and ETH Zürich created a systematic design method for metamaterials using quantum mechanics. They can engineer materials to manipulate incoming waves, such as bending light or reflecting sound waves. This breakthrough could lead to widespread use of metamaterials in various applications.
Researchers at Caltech developed TRACT, a method to visualize neural connections in real-time within living flies, enabling the creation of brain wiring diagrams. This technique could help scientists understand neurological and psychiatric conditions by monitoring neuronal connections in the brains of hundreds of flies daily.
Researchers at Caltech created bacterial cells that can reflect sound waves, allowing them to visualize and locate therapeutic bacteria in the body. This technology uses ultrasound machines to generate images of bacterial cells, enabling doctors to assess treatment efficacy.
Scientists developed a model to estimate the maximum magnitude of an earthquake caused by wastewater injection from hydraulic fracturing. The model takes into account the energy stored on nearby faults and predicts the distance an earthquake can propagate beyond an injection site.
Reduced nitric oxide levels over Los Angeles are triggering the formation of organic hydroperoxides, a potentially harmful class of airborne chemicals. These compounds can form when hydrocarbons react with themselves due to low nitric oxide concentrations, posing unknown health risks.
A team of researchers at Caltech has developed a way to encode multiple holographic images in a single surface using carefully engineered silicon oxide and aluminum surfaces. The technology works by reflecting light differently depending on the angle of incoming light, allowing for high-quality images with no loss of resolution.
Researchers at Caltech developed a method to assemble large DNA structures with customizable patterns, creating a 'canvas' that can display any image. They used fractal assembly to recreate the world's smallest Mona Lisa using DNA origami.
Researchers at Caltech have created bacteria that can produce chemical compounds with boron-carbon bonds, a breakthrough in synthetic biology. The findings could lead to more economical and environmentally friendly ways to manufacture pharmaceuticals and other products.
A team of Caltech engineers has developed an empirical model of the California reservoir network, allowing managers to anticipate and respond to drought conditions more effectively. The model uses statistical techniques to learn from past data and shed light on how reservoirs will respond to different climate patterns in the future.
Researchers at Caltech have characterized the adaptations of Mono Lake flies, enabling them to crawl underwater without getting wet. The flies create a protective bubble around their bodies using an extreme water-repelling phenomenon called superhydrophobicity.
Research finds that social experience with a female mouse triggers separate neural populations and aggressive behavior in males, challenging the 'hardwired' hypothesis. The study reveals that even innate behaviors have a degree of plasticity and computation.
Researchers developed a method to extract Higgs boson signal from noise data using quantum-compatible machine learning techniques, outperforming standard counterparts even with small datasets. The new approach is expected to be useful for problems beyond high-energy physics.
A new test developed at Caltech can identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria in as little as 30 minutes, allowing doctors to choose the most effective antibiotics. The test has been proven accurate with a 95% match rate, and researchers hope to expand its use to other types of infections.
Researchers have found that jellyfish, like humans, enter a state of reduced activity at night and exhibit an increased sleep drive when deprived of sleep. This discovery suggests that sleep is an ancient behavior, largely untouched by evolution.
Researchers develop a single-strand DNA robot that can autonomously pick up and sort molecules into distinct regions on a surface. The robot successfully sorted six scattered molecules in 24 hours, and its design can be generalized to work with dozens of types of cargos.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a prototype miniature medical device that can diagnose and treat diseases by tracking its location in the body. The ATOMS devices, which borrow from MRI principles, contain integrated sensors and wireless transmission technology to mimic atomic resonance properties.
A team of Caltech engineers has developed the world's smallest optical quantum memory chip, capable of storing information in individual photons. The device stores data more efficiently and securely than traditional computer memory, with 97% accuracy rate.