Researchers developed a method to observe single protein vibrational spectra using near-field optical microscopy, enabling detailed analysis of extremely small samples. The technique represents a major breakthrough for ultra-high sensitivity and super-resolution infrared imaging, as well as single-molecule vibrational spectroscopy.
A team of researchers created five unique all-α protein structures with non-uniformly arranged α-helices, holding immense potential for designing functional proteins. The novel approach enables the generation of a diverse set of all-α protein structures by combining typical motifs and canonical α-helices.
Researchers have identified a novel insect repellent, 2-methylthiazoline (2MT), which induces robust aversive responses through multiple sensory pathways in fruit flies. The compound stimulates both olfactory and nociceptive pathways, leading to avoidance behaviors and effective repulsion from fly pests.
Researchers discover extremely red objects (EROs) in James Webb Space Telescope data that resemble blue-excess dust obscured galaxies (BluDOGs) found in Subaru Telescope data. The similarity suggests EROs and BluDOGs may be at similar stages of evolution, with a larger sample needed to confirm the relationship.
Astronomers discover star S0-6 with chemical composition similar to small galaxies outside Milky Way, suggesting extragalactic origin. The star, 10 billion years old, has traveled over 50,000 light-years from its birthplace to reach vicinity of Sagittarius A*, raising questions about its past and possible companions.
Researchers at ALMA achieved the highest resolution ever, observing a ring-like gas structure around R Leporis and confirming gas escape from the star. This capability will now be applied to young stars with protoplanetary disks where planets are forming.
New data from the James Webb Space Telescope reveals a surge in oxygen content within 500-700 million years after the Big Bang. This early appearance of oxygen suggests that life may have appeared sooner than previously thought.
Research reveals that supermassive black holes consume about 3% of the gas flowing towards them, while the remaining 97% is ejected and recycled back into the host galaxy. Gravitational instability drives the inflow, and most expelled outflows are not fast enough to escape the galaxy.
Researchers have discovered that traumatic memories create new neural networks and associations between distinct networks, enabling fear-based learning and recall. The study used optical and machine-learning approaches to visualize the dynamics of brain activity during memory formation.
The GALAXY CRUISE project has published its first scientific paper, showing that colliding galaxies increase the rate of new star formation. Citizen astronomers helped classify over 2 million galaxies in data from the Subaru Telescope, enabling this groundbreaking research.
Researchers have observed a unique stage in the development of planetary systems by detecting a smooth protoplanetary disk around the young star DG Taurus. This discovery provides new insights into the conditions at the start of planet formation, challenging current theoretical expectations.
The study successfully observed the chiro-optical effect at the nanoscale, demonstrating the ability to analyze the chiral structure of matter using light. Different images were obtained when illuminating with right- or left-circularly polarized light, clarifying that local handedness can be distinguished.
Researchers create an ultrafast quantum simulator that can simulate large-scale quantum entanglement on a timescale of several hundred picoseconds. By applying their novel ultrafast quantum computer scheme, they overcome the issue of external noise and achieve high speed and accurate controls.
A team of international researchers has provided direct evidence that the supermassive black hole at the heart of galaxy M87 is spinning. The findings are based on 20 years of observational data, which show that gravitational interactions between the accretion disk and the black hole's spin cause the jet to wobble or precess.
A team of researchers used ALMA to observe the central region of Messier 77, a galaxy hosting an active supermassive black hole. The study found that molecules commonly found in galaxies break down along the path of bipolar jets emanating near the black hole, while distinctive molecules increase in concentration.
Researchers used ALMA to study gravitational lens system MG J0414+0534, detecting dark matter distribution fluctuations down to 30,000 light-years. The observed distribution is consistent with models for slow-moving dark matter particles.
Astronomers have improved the accuracy of the Universe's expansion parameters, reducing uncertainty by up to 35%. This new information will help determine whether the Universe will continue expanding forever or eventually collapse in on itself.
A groundbreaking study has unveiled the positional transmitter of statoliths, a high-density organelle in plants that responds to gravity. The research found that LZY proteins translocate from statoliths to the plasma membrane, generating cell polarity linked to gravity sensing.
Scientists at NIFS have created a stable and strong High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) large-current conductor, named STARS, that can be applied to fusion reactors. The new conductor overcomes challenges in twisting and transposing thin wires, achieving higher current densities than Low-Temperature Superconductors.
Researchers developed a novel method to measure permittivity 100 times more accurately than before. This technology contributes to efficient development of sensitive radio receivers for radio telescopes and high-frequency materials for next-gen communication networks.
The study reveals a double-layered structure of amyloid-β on GM1-containing membranes that acts as a catalyst for fibrillization. This discovery offers new insights into predicting Alzheimer's disease onset and potentially inhibiting its progression.
A recent study published in Nature Communications identified an important brain circuit for socially subjective reward valuation, finding that temporarily disconnecting the medial prefrontal cortex from the lateral hypothalamus reduces susceptibility to others' rewards but not individual expectations. This research has significant impl...
Astronomers have observed and simulated the feeding of gas to three protostars in a trinary system, revealing how spiral arms, or 'streamers,' form and contribute to protostar growth. This study provides new insights into multi-star system formation, an important aspect of overall star formation theory.
Researchers reconstructed six states of a rotary sodium ion pump using cryo-electron microscopy. The study found non-uniform rotation behavior due to structural interference between the rotor and stator components. This reveals a unique molecular mechanism of the rotary sodium ion pump.
A team led by Takuro Sato found that the chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect can filter out electrons and molecules with specific chirality, enabling enantioselectivity without chiral catalysis. This discovery has broader applications in producing safer chemicals and developing advanced electronics across various scales.
Scientists have discovered a way to control site-specific nonlinear optics using plasmonic nanocavities. The study found that the broadening of nonlinear optical responses can be achieved by manipulating both nanometer- and micrometer-scale structures in tip-substrate nanocavities.
Research finds that skin keratinocytes regulate temperature sensation by controlling the amount of TRPV3 proteins, reducing their activity when bound to TMEM79. This discovery resolves controversy over skin keratinocytes' involvement in temperature detection.
An international team of astronomers used VERA to observe six nearby active NLS1 galaxies, uncovering clues about how rapidly growing massive black holes form and grow. The study revealed significantly greater Faraday rotation compared to older black holes, indicating abundant gas in the nuclear regions.
Researchers used ALMA to study a distant galaxy, detecting structures of star formation and possible death sites within the surrounding nebulae. The findings suggest a complex environment where many stars may form together as massive clusters.
Researchers demonstrate critical roles of metal cocatalysts in modulating surface oxidation kinetics and selectivity in methane oxidation. Metal cocatalysts play a key role in promoting CO2 production over C2H6 formation.
Researchers identify at least 10,000 novel foldable αβ-folds, expanding our understanding of the protein universe. The discovery has significant implications for fields like drug development and enzyme design.
Researchers created artificial allosteric sites in protein complexes using computational design to regulate concerted functions. This breakthrough holds promise for industry, biology, medicine, and agriculture.
A team studied 19 protostars with ALMA to observe disk structure and signs of planet formation. They found fewer ring structures in younger disks, suggesting rapid planetary system progression.
A new calculation shows that a molecular gas filament protected the young Solar System from a nearby supernova explosion, allowing it to capture radioactive isotopes found in meteorites. The filament acted as a buffer, protecting the nascent Sun and helping to channel the isotopes into the forming Solar System.
Researchers mapped 39 interstellar clouds to understand high-mass star formation. They found over 800 stellar seeds that will evolve into stars, but only 1% have enough mass to become high-mass stars.
A new study reveals that neurons expressing steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) influence inflammation in white and brown adipose tissue. SF1 neurons help suppress inflammatory responses in inguinal WAT, but not in epididymal WAT, and activate thermogenic activity in BAT.
Researchers discovered a star with a unique chemical composition matching theoretical expectations for first-generation stars. This finding strongly supports the theory that stars over 140 times the Sun's mass formed in the early Universe.
Researchers observe 'social motor entrainment' in macaques, where movements synchronize with others, and find it varies by animal pairs, social hierarchy, and stimulus type. This study provides insights into the neural underpinnings of social cohesion and has implications for understanding human conditions like autism spectrum disorder.
Astronomers have detected radio waves emitted by a Type Ia supernova for the first time, revealing clues about white dwarf explosions. The supernova was found to be surrounded by helium-rich circumstellar material, indicating mass accretion from a companion star triggered the explosion.
A research team used an improved climate computer model to reproduce the glacial cycle of 40,000-year in the early Pleistocene Epoch. The study found that astronomical forces based on modern state-of-the-art theory drove changes in climate, with small differences in Earth's spin axis orientation and orbit amplitude determining the glac...
A team of astronomers detected a massive superflare and prominence eruption on the star V1355 Orionis, which was capable of breaking free from the star's gravity and developing into Coronal Mass Ejections. The event released trillions of tons of material, making it one of the most massive ever observed.
Researchers have elucidated the mechanism of CELSR cadherin dimerization, revealing a twisted cell-cell adhesion molecule complex structure. The extracellular domains of CELSR cadherins exhibited strand- and globule-like portions, which bound through strand-like structures in an antiparallel orientation.
An international team of astronomers has discovered an exoplanet using a combined approach of direct imaging and precision measurements of a star's motion on the sky. The newly found planet, HIP 99770 b, is 14-16 times more massive than Jupiter and orbits just over three times further from its star.
An international team used AI to analyze old star chemical abundances and found indications that the first stars formed in groups. The study suggests that first-generation stars must have been clustered together rather than isolated, offering a new constraint on the multiplicity of the first stars.
A new mathematical model predicts turbulence and heat transport in fusion plasmas with high accuracy, approximately 1,500 times faster than conventional large-scale nonlinear calculations. This breakthrough accelerates fusion research and expands the range of applicability.
Researchers have developed a new concept for superconducting microwave low-noise amplifiers with significantly lower power consumption. The SIS amplifier has been successfully demonstrated with high-performance gain below 5 GHz and comparable noise temperature to cooled semiconductor amplifiers, with potential applications in radio ast...
Researchers have discovered a supernova that exhibits unusual rebrightening at millimeter wavelengths, offering insights into the evolution of massive stars. The study suggests that interaction with an intermediate-distance binary companion created a hollow shell of circumstellar medium, leading to the observed rebrightening.
A team of astronomers discovered a spiral pattern in the disk around a high-mass protostar, indicating gravitational instability. The pattern revealed episodic growth bursts, a key aspect of high-mass star formation theory.
Researchers discovered that neurons in the deepest part of the neocortex exhibit sensory responses and experience-dependent plasticity. The study found that these cells, known as L6b/surviving subplate neurons, play a role in the maturation of cortical functions.
Researchers have identified a unique gas cloud, nicknamed the Tadpole, revolving around a massive black hole 100,000 times more massive than the Sun. The team used advanced telescopes to detect the unusual cloud's curved shape and motion, suggesting it is being stretched by gravitational forces.