A new app has been developed that can noninvasively provide detailed information about heart health using a smartphone camera. The app measures pressure waveforms of blood flow through the cardiovascular system and has been shown to be as accurate as echocardiography in estimating left ventricular ejection fraction.
Researchers at Caltech simulated earthquakes in a lab to measure dynamic friction and its impact on seismic events. They found that slip velocity is the key factor in dynamic friction, contradicting previous assumptions.
Astronomers have discovered a unique lensing system that provides the best view yet of blobs of hot gas streaming from supermassive black holes. The discovery allows scientists to see these clumps closer to the central engine of the black hole and in greater detail than before.
A Caltech team has identified a new additive that selectively converts CO2 into fuels containing multiple carbon atoms, including ethylene, ethanol, and propanol. The reaction resulted in an 80% conversion rate, with only 20% going into hydrogen and methane.
A technique called digital holographic microscopy, which uses lasers to record 3-D images, may be used to spot extraterrestrial microbes on Enceladus. The method could help identify living cells by analyzing motion and chemical composition.
Researchers at Caltech and USC identified how to accelerate calcite dissolution in seawater, enabling the ocean to safely lock away carbon dioxide. By adding a common enzyme, they increased the reaction rate by 500 times, opening up new possibilities for mimicking natural processes.
Researchers created nanostructures with varying widths that absorb different wavelengths of light, generating an electric current corresponding to the absorbed wavelength. The new detectors operate faster and detect a wider range of electromagnetic spectrum than traditional devices.
Researchers at Caltech have developed two new viral vectors that can deliver genetic cargo to neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The vectors, AAV-PHP.eB and AAV-PHP.S, can reach their targets via the bloodstream and are customizable for gene therapy applications. They offer a significant improvement over existing me...
A specific protein called prokineticin 2 plays a critical role in setting the correct balance between sleep and wakefulness in response to light and darkness. The study found that Prok2 suppresses the awakening effect of light and the sedating effect of darkness, suggesting a new mechanism for regulating sleep behavior.
Engineers at Caltech developed a new camera design that replaces traditional lenses with an ultra-thin optical phased array, enabling the creation of flat, thin, and lightweight cameras. The system manipulates incoming light to capture images, offering applications in smartphone cameras, astronomy, and wearable technology.
A new study has classified nearly 3,500 confirmed exoplanets into two distinct size groups: rocky Earth-like planets and larger mini-Neptunes. The researchers used data from NASA's Kepler mission and the W.M. Keck Observatory to make this discovery.
A team of researchers from Caltech and Berkeley Lab found that tiny amounts of oxygen beneath the copper catalyst's surface play a critical role in activating carbon dioxide for conversion to ethanol. The discovery sheds light on the atomic-level details of the reaction, enabling scientists to predict ways to improve efficiency.
Researchers at California Institute of Technology have identified a neural circuit in the brain that controls wakefulness. The discovery could lead to new treatments for insomnia and other sleep disturbances. The study found that stimulating these neurons with light can help overcome tiredness, while silencing them can induce sleep.
Researchers at Caltech have discovered that sour-sensing taste cells play a crucial role in detecting water on the tongue. The study found that these cells are responsible for sensing water through a pathway also used for basic tastes, such as salt and sugar. This finding challenges current understanding of how mammals detect water.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a new way of fixing nitrogen, inspired by how microbes do it, which could hold the potential for two major benefits: ease of production and understanding natural nitrogen fixation. The technology being developed is simpler and more efficient than previous methods, making it possible to study fixati...
A genetic switch that regulates blood stem cell maturation is dysregulated in acute myeloid leukemia. Researchers have identified a protein, DPF2, that controls this switch and developed a mutated version of the protein that can block its function. This new approach may lead to more effective treatments for leukemia.
Engineers at Caltech have developed a new microscopy technique that can analyze tumor tissue in real-time, reducing the need for follow-up surgeries. The technology, called photoacoustic microscopy, has the potential to revolutionize breast cancer treatment and could be available to surgeons within several years.
A Caltech engineer explains how comets produce oxygen gas, a rare finding in space, through dynamic molecular oxygen production. The discovery challenges previous theories and has implications for searching for life on exoplanets.
Researchers from Caltech discovered that fast ruptures along thrust faults can cause one side of the fault to twist away from the other, opening a gap that then snaps shut. This mechanism has the potential to change our understanding of how tsunamis are generated.
A new discovery in chemistry could lead to more specific and desired forms of drugs, with the creation of chiral molecular sieves that can sort and create left- and right-handed molecules. This breakthrough has broad implications for pharmaceutical companies and may improve medications such as ibuprofen.
A study found that testosterone administration impairs cognitive reflection in men, making them more likely to rely on their gut instincts. The researchers tested the hypothesis that higher levels of testosterone increase the tendency to make intuitive judgments and reduce self-reflection.
A new method called Bone CLARITY enables the observation of stem cells within intact bones, facilitating research into osteoporosis and bone interactions with other organs. Researchers used this technique to test a new drug developed for treating osteoporosis, revealing increased stem cell proliferation in response to the treatment.
Caltech researchers discovered that the amygdala has distinct neurons that judge the intensity and ambiguity of facial expressions, providing insights into autism and anxiety. The study found two groups of neurons: one for detecting emotion intensity and another for coding emotional ambiguity.
Physicists at Caltech have detected a new state of matter, a three-dimensional quantum liquid crystal, which could play a role in ultrafast quantum computers. This discovery may lead to the creation of topological superconductors, addressing challenges in building quantum computers.
A team of international astronomers has discovered a magnified Type Ia supernova, allowing for precise measurements of the universe's expansion rate and dark energy. The discovery uses gravitational lensing to amplify the light from a
A new study suggests that hydroxyl radicals, a key component of the atmosphere, are behind unexplained recent increases in methane levels. Fluctuations in hydroxyl concentrations correlate strongly with fluctuations in methane, and changes in hydroxyl availability govern the amount of methane in the atmosphere.
Researchers have discovered the evolutionary history of cyanobacteria, the microorganisms responsible for 'inventing' oxygen-producing photosynthesis. The study found that Oxyphobacteria were the only group to evolve this process, with oxygenic photosynthesis arising around 2.3 billion years ago.
A team of scientists from Caltech has found that lamprey gut neurons originate from cells called Schwann cell precursors, challenging the long-held theory that these cells give rise to vagal neural crest cells. This discovery offers insights into the evolutionary origins of vertebrates and their digestive systems.
A new study finds that colder climates lead to lower atmospheric CO2 levels and increased carbon sequestration in the deep ocean. Deep-sea corals reveal that phytoplankton efficiency is higher during colder periods, reducing nutrients in the surface Southern Ocean, leading to more efficient carbon locking away.
Researchers have discovered 12 new photoanodes that can split water using sunlight, a significant step towards creating practical solar fuels. The new materials discovery pipeline promises to speed up the development of commercially viable solar fuels.
A new compound developed by the Deshaies group inhibits Rpn11 activity, causing massive accumulation of dysfunctional proteins in cancer cells. This leads to catastrophic stress and cell death, making it a promising alternative to existing cancer drugs.
Scientists have developed a new method to remove nearly all sulfur compounds from gas and diesel fuel, potentially reducing air pollution. The technique uses a potassium salt to induce chemical reactions that eliminate sulfur, outperforming traditional methods in industrial-scale applications.
A team of researchers at Caltech has developed a software tool called Seesaw Compiler that allows users to design and build DNA circuits with ease. The tool uses a systematic wet-lab procedure to guide researchers through the process, making it accessible to novices like undergraduate students.
A recent study by Caltech and Vanderbilt University researchers found that electrons play a crucial role in DNA replication, allowing the cell to quickly locate and repair mutations. The discovery reveals a new pathway for cells to regulate DNA replication, which is essential for maintaining genome stability.
Caltech's Stan Whitcomb, a key figure in LIGO's development, will share insights into the project's groundbreaking discovery. He'll discuss how the detection confirmed Einstein's general theory of relativity and opened up new avenues for astronomy. The talk also touches on the technical challenges faced by LIGO detectors.
Researchers at Caltech have discovered the molecular basis for protection of a ribosomal protein from cellular degradation, using X-ray crystallography to solve the structure of the bound pair. This finding has potential applications in developing new cancer drugs by preventing tumor growth.
Engineers at Caltech and ETH Zurich developed artificial skin that senses temperature changes, similar to pit vipers' prey-sensing organs. The material can detect tiny temperature changes and has a responsivity two orders of magnitude larger than existing electronic skins.
Researchers discovered that fruit fly steering muscles are divided into two types, with tonic muscles always in use for fine-tuned adjustments and phasic muscles used for rapid movements. This unique organization enables efficient flight control.
Researchers found two types of face cells that respond differently to human and non-human faces. The study's findings suggest that the brain processes faces based on attention focus, not just visual presence. This discovery may lead to a better understanding of social cognitive defects like autism.
The Caltech instrument, KCWI, will map gas flowing into and out of forming galaxies, revealing dominant modes of galaxy formation. KCWI is a versatile general-purpose instrument that can study cosmic objects in ways not possible before.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a method to link magnetic resonance imaging signals to gene expression in cells, allowing for non-invasive monitoring of disease. The technique uses aquaporin reporter genes to visualize gene expression in living tissues, with potential clinical translation.
Researchers observed 'traffic jams' in the Rutford Ice Stream in Antarctica, where ocean tides speed up or slow down glacial movement. The study used COSMO-SkyMed radar-imaging satellites to gather near-continuous data for nearly nine months.
A team of researchers at Caltech and the University of Oxford identified a protein that degrades and inhibits biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the primary pathogen in cystic fibrosis infections. This discovery offers a new approach to inhibit biofilm development and has promise for treating antibiotic-resistant biofilm infections.
Researchers at Caltech discovered a functional link between bacteria in the intestines and Parkinson's disease, showing that changes in gut bacterial populations contribute to motor skill deterioration. The study found that an imbalance in short-chain fatty acids regulates brain inflammation and symptoms of PD.
Scientists at Caltech have developed a method to combine deterministic and random processes for creating complex nanostructures out of DNA. By controlling the design of individual tiles and their interactions, they can produce emergent features with tunable statistical properties, including loop, maze, and tree structures.
Researchers at Caltech use directed evolution to persuade bacteria to create silicon-carbon bonds, which are found in pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, and computer screens. The new process has the potential to be more environmentally friendly and less expensive than current methods.
Researchers at Caltech have confirmed that the pseudogap phase represents a new state of matter with properties different from the superconducting state. The discovery breaks nearly all spatial symmetries, providing clues about the origin of high-temperature superconductors.
Researchers have developed a technique to remove mutated DNA from mitochondria, which could help slow or reverse aging. The study found that increasing mitophagy, a form of cellular quality control, can reduce the levels of mutant mtDNA in cells.
Researchers developed MEMOIR to record cellular histories in genomes, allowing them to analyze cell relationships, communication patterns, and influential events. The technique aids in understanding tissue and animal development, as well as the abnormal development of diseased tissues like tumors.
Scientists have detected the brightest FRB to date, providing a new understanding of the diffuse intergalactic material and its turbulence. By studying this phenomenon, researchers can gain insights into the production of cosmic magnetic fields.