A team of scientists has successfully measured the electron capture rate in intermediate-mass stars, revealing that they are more likely to undergo a thermonuclear explosion than collapse. This finding has significant implications for galactic chemical evolution and the discovery of iron-60 in deep-sea sediments.
The TAN conference brings together researchers from around the world to discuss the current state of research on heavy elements, including their chemical and physical properties. The conference features prominent scientists who have contributed to the discovery of new elements, including element 118, Oganesson.
Research groups calculate the signature of a phase transition in gravitational waves emitted by merging neutron stars, which could reveal the presence of quark matter. A phase transition may occur when densities exceed atomic nuclei and temperatures reach 10,000 times those in the Sun's core.
Researchers successfully measured the optical excitation of atomic levels in nobelium isotopes using laser spectroscopy. The results confirm that nobelium nuclei are deformed like an American football, with a lower charge density in their center than at their surface.
Researchers detect electromagnetic waves from neutron star merger, confirming predictions of heavy element production. The event is a milestone in understanding astrophysical processes and requires precise nuclear data to be fully understood.
Researchers develop a non-invasive procedure using high-energy carbon ions to treat cardiac arrhythmias, offering a gentler alternative to catheter-based surgery. The method, tested in animal studies, can permanently interrupt the propagation of disruptive impulses with pinpoint accuracy.
A new European project, MatHero, aims to develop high-efficiency and reliable organic solar cells using novel materials and eco-friendly processes. The goal is to make organic photovoltaics competitive with inorganic counterparts by enhancing efficiency, reducing production costs, and increasing lifespan.
Scientists at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have developed a chemical crosslinking reaction that ensures good short-term healing properties of the material under mild heating. The self-healing mechanism can be initiated by heat, light or chemical substance.
The new material exhibits a high stability to weight ratio, surpassing that of steel and aluminum. It is produced through 3D laser lithography and has potential applications in insulation, shock absorption, and chemical industry filters.
Researchers have developed a gecko-inspired adhesive tape that not only adheres reliably to surfaces like geckos but also features self-cleaning properties. This breakthrough enables the opening and closing of food packagings or bandages multiple times without significant adhesion loss.
Recent developments combining machines and organisms have great potential but also raise major ethical concerns. Cyborgs, technically modified organisms with extraordinary skills, are already reality in medical implants.
Researchers have created an artificial bone marrow that can reproduce hematopoietic stem cells, which could facilitate the treatment of leukemia. The new technology uses synthetic polymers and protein building blocks to mimic the natural environment of bone marrow, allowing for more efficient stem cell reproduction.
A new method allows researchers to design and create three-dimensional structures with precise cell docking sites, enabling the study of individual cells in a close-to-reality environment. The technique uses direct laser writing and photoactive molecules to control the adhesion points for cells.
Researchers from KIT have successfully stabilized a single atom's magnetic spin for ten minutes, opening up possibilities for compact computer memories and quantum computers. By suppressing surrounding interactions at low temperatures, they achieved a stability period of about a billion times longer than comparable atomic systems.
Researchers achieve world-record rate of 100 gigabits per second via wireless data transmission. The method integrates photonic and electronic technologies to generate high-frequency radio signals, enabling efficient transmission over long distances without intermediate electronic circuits.
Researchers developed a new method to create biomimetic membranes, allowing for the study of cell membrane functions and development of novel applications in medicine and biotechnology. The method uses lipid dip-pen nanolithography to write tailored patches of phospholipid membrane onto graphene substrates.
Researchers have developed a new method to reconstruct past temperatures in the eastern Mediterranean using tree rings. The study, which covers over 900 years, reveals that the region experienced a medieval warm period and a little ice age, with modern warming trends not reflected in the data.
Research found that artificial lighting and noise cause blackbirds in city centers to become active earlier, starting their dawn song up to five hours before sunrise. This alters their natural cycles, affecting their ability to defend territories and interact with humans during rush hour.
Researchers at the DZNE and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin have discovered a gradient of inhibition within the entorhinal cortex, which may play a crucial role in creating synchronous rhythms and oscillations. This finding has implications for understanding Alzheimer's disease, where the entorhinal cortex is affected early on.
Researchers Charles Weissmann and Adriano Aguzzi received the prestigious Hartwig Piepenbrock-DZNE Prize for their groundbreaking work on prion diseases. Their findings shed light on fundamental mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Biologists have discovered that a part of the Southern Hemisphere humpback whale population spends its entire winter in Antarctic waters. The whales use ice-free areas to survive the harsh winter months.
Researchers at Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research discovered a protein called Abcb4 in zebrafish embryos that transports and expels toxic chemicals, protecting the embryo. However, certain environmental chemicals render this protective mechanism ineffective, making fish embryos more sensitive to toxic substances.
Researchers develop new tomographic approach to image shallow seismic velocity structure, revealing subducting continental crust for the first time. This allows for early detection of landslides and earthquakes in Central Asia.
A new study by Alfred Wegener Institute researchers analyzed data from over 150 species, finding that most animal groups are affected negatively by higher carbon dioxide concentrations. Corals and echinoderms react sensitively to ocean acidification, while crustaceans may be more resilient in certain scenarios.
A Magdeburg neuroscientist has received a €1.3 million European Research Council grant to study spatial orientation changes in elderly humans. The five-year project aims to detect dementia at an early stage and develop measures to prevent or counteract it.
Researchers have developed a 'dark channel mechanism' to explain binding processes in biochemical materials, allowing for deeper understanding of molecular interactions. The discovery, combined with ab initio calculations and high-resolution spectroscopy, provides new information on the chemistry of life.
Researchers at Helmholtz Association's HZB have identified a new area of application for X-rays in solid state physics, leveraging nonlinear physical effects. They observed the interaction between soft X-rays and solids, enabling enhanced color analysis and structural properties correlation.
A study published in Nature reveals that extreme weather events, such as droughts and heatwaves, significantly reduce the global vegetation's ability to sequester carbon. This reduction can have a lasting impact on the global climate and long-term food security.
Researchers developed an infrared camera system to automatically spot whales in the surrounding sea. The system uses a thermal sensor to detect temperature differences and software to analyze video streams for whale spouts.
The Greenland ice sheet is losing about 227 gigatonnes of ice per year, contributing to sea level rise. Researchers have coupled an ice/climate model with a thermo-mechanical model to accurately depict the ice sheet's dynamics and temperature changes.
Researchers have discovered a new effect that enables easier production of spin-polarized currents necessary for magnetic chip switching. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and robust magnetic Random Access Memories (MRAMs) for information processing.
Researchers have successfully documented the atomic-level mechanism of oxide material switching, which occurs in two stages and proceeds in under a picosecond. This confirms that oxides can represent an exciting alternative to semi-conductors for faster, more energy-efficient electronics.
Researchers have developed a highly efficient solar fuel device that can produce hydrogen from sunlight, with a potential to store energy for later use. The device uses a metal oxide photo anode and a cobalt phosphate catalyst to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
A team of physicists has successfully demonstrated magnetism within a single molecule. By applying voltage, researchers were able to switch the magnetic state on and off, reproducing elementary physics in a single molecule. This discovery provides new insights into magnetism as an elementary phenomenon of physics.
Scientists from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin used RIXS spectroscopy and ab initio theory to study the iron carbonyl complex. They discovered a strong orbital mixing between metal and ligands, weakening the chemical bond during excitation. This fundamental insight can help control catalytic properties and produce novel materials.
Researchers investigated rapamycin's effects on aging in mice, finding that it extends lifespan but has only limited impacts on the aging process. The study assessed over 150 traits and found positive effects on memory impairments and red blood cell counts, but no significant impact on wear and tear or disease risk.
Researchers developed a new microscopy method combining STED fluorescence microscopy with raster image correlation spectroscopy to track molecule movements in live cells. This allows for high-resolution analysis of biomolecular dynamics, enabling better understanding of cell membranes and protein interactions.
European grassland butterflies have declined dramatically between 1990 and 2011, mainly due to agricultural intensification and habitat loss. This trend is alarming as butterflies are indicators of ecosystem health and biodiversity.
Eva-Maria and Eckhard Mandelkow have made significant progress in understanding the role of tau protein in Alzheimer's disease. Their findings suggest that modifications to normal tau proteins can destroy synapses and lead to cognitive decline, offering a potential target for therapy.
The study found that Greenland's ice sheets are losing significant amounts of ice at a rate of about 300 billion tons per year. The accelerated loss of ice mass is attributed to both anthropogenic warming and natural processes such as variations in snowfall and ocean currents.
A study by researchers found that forests in the northern hemisphere increase their water use efficiency as atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations rise, exceeding theoretical expectations. This adaptation helps plants conserve water despite increased photosynthesis, potentially shifting the global water and carbon cycle.
In the western Weddell Sea, Antarctic glass sponges have increased in density threefold between 2007 and 2011, colonizing new habitats and outcompeting other species for food. These rapid growths suggest that communities at the sea bed react more quickly to climate-related changes than previously thought.
Researchers have discovered that pilocytic astrocytomas, a common childhood brain tumor, arise from defective activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. The study provides new insights into the disease and potential targets for treatment, including targeted agents to block overactive MAPK signaling.
Researchers at Helmholtz Association discovered that exercise can fully rescue the phenotype of CHD7-deficient neural stem cells, allowing them to differentiate into mature neurons. This breakthrough provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying CHARGE syndrome and may lead to potential treatments.
Researchers found that neuroblastoma cells with low levels of HDAC10 enzyme are more resistant to chemotherapy, and blocking this enzyme using autophagy prevents cancer cell survival. The study suggests a new approach for treating aggressive neuroblastoma tumors.
Researchers have developed a new method to accelerate the growth of solar cells by optimizing the coevaporation process. This technique enables faster growth stages while controlling defect formation, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced material waste. The findings, published in Advanced Energy Materials, provide valuable insi...
Researchers found gliomas produce quinolinic acid, a metabolite of tryptophan, to generate NAD+, evading cell death. A new enzyme, QRPT, enables this process, potentially leading to therapy resistance.
Researchers found that brain tumor cells with intact IDH gene produce a key enzyme BCAT1, which boosts cell proliferation. Blocking BCAT1 reduced tumor aggressiveness and released neurotransmitter glutamate. The study suggests using BCAT1 as a therapeutic target for glioblastoma treatment.
The BigBrain model is based on data from over 7,400 tissue samples and provides a detailed understanding of the normal structure of different functional areas of the brain. The high-resolution model will contribute to precise identification and evaluation of changes in the brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
A gene therapy virus has been approved for treating a rare inherited metabolic disease, and researchers found it rarely integrates into the genome, making it safe. The virus was analyzed in patients and mice, revealing its ability to target mitochondria and potentially correcting genetic defects in human mitochondrial DNA.