Two studies from SISSA show that cognitive reserve built over a lifetime, together with emotional resources, helps preserve mental abilities in adults over 65. Cognitive reserve improves language performance and working memory, while emotional intelligence influences responses to emotional stimuli.
A new method allows for the simulation of giant dense polymer systems on an unprecedented scale, revealing concentrated entanglements in localized knots and links. This breakthrough enables the study of dense chain systems beyond idealized polymer physics.
A new study introduces CIGaRS, a novel approach to derive highly precise estimates of cosmic distances and robust cosmological measurements. This method uses artificial intelligence and neural networks to disentangle the intrinsic effects on supernovae light from environmental factors.
Researchers found that bacteria and cells use chemical signals to navigate their environment, while artificial particles exhibit superdiffusion and subdiffusive motion. These findings have potential applications in medicine, particularly in drug delivery.
Research published in PLOS Biology explains how brain processes temporal information, from visual cortex to frontal regions. The study proposes a mechanistic model of time perception, advancing our understanding of subjective experience.
A collaboration between physics, neuroscience groups develops a unified model of memory and perception. The study suggests that distinct perceptual biases can be explained by a single biologically grounded mechanism, Hebbian learning.
Researchers propose that interactions between particles in primordial matter domination could have given rise to the first black holes, boson stars, and cannibal stars. These compact objects could have formed through gravothermal collapse, leading to surprising cosmic structures.
A new study by SISSA researchers found that auditory signals can alter the way rats perceive visual stimuli, compressing their perceptual space. The research used behavioural experiments and computational modelling to demonstrate an inhibitory influence of auditory cues on visual perception.
Stefano Baroni, a renowned physicist, has been awarded the 2026 Aneesur Rahman Prize for his pioneering work in first-principles methods and open-source software development. His research has significantly advanced our understanding of material properties and paved the way for cutting-edge technologies.
A team of scientists used over 250,000 computer simulations to study the cosmic web and understand the influence of primordial magnetic fields. They found that these fields may have been billions of times weaker than a small fridge magnet, yet their traces still remain in the universe.
Researchers discovered plectonemes, DNA supercoils that form when DNA passes through narrow channels, producing a characteristic signature in current measured during translocation. This study provides insights into DNA organization and integrity, enabling the detection of twisted structures using nanopores.
A recent study reveals that rats' visual recognition abilities are extremely efficient and adaptable, even outperforming advances in artificial intelligence. Rats employ more flexible image processing strategies than CNNs, which could inspire new approaches to AI model development.
A study by cognitive neuroscientists found that the relationship between space and time processing varies across different brain regions. In posterior areas, space and time are processed together, while in anterior areas, they are processed independently. The study highlights a functional hierarchy with distinct neural populations resp...
Researchers at SISSA used a backward approach to derive the mass of newly formed stars from observations of supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. The result is surprisingly similar to that measured in regions closest to us, suggesting a possible universal initial mass function. This discovery will be tested by future telescope observations.
The European Research Council awards €12M to GWSky project, led by SISSA, to develop innovative tools for interpreting gravitational wave signals with great precision. The project aims to identify and understand possible anomalies in the signals, revealing new physical phenomena not predicted by Einstein's theory of General Relativity.
A recent study examines the internal nature of black holes and their implications for astrophysical observations. The research reveals that dynamic black holes are subject to significant instability over short timescales, leading to deviations from known models.
A new study finds that the FOXG1 gene has a dual function in regulating RNA transcription and translation, essential for proper brain development. The discovery raises questions about the evolution of this complex mechanism and its potential role in neuroplasticity.
Research discovered that chloride ion channels play a role in glioblastoma cell division and proliferation. By blocking these channels, replication can be stopped, pointing to ion currents as a potential target for therapeutic approaches.
Researchers used numerical simulations to analyze the behavior of dark matter in the giant galaxy cluster El Gordo. The study found that the physical separation between dark matter and other mass components can be explained using the Self-Interacting Dark Matter (SIDM) model.
Researchers used advanced techniques to study TMEM16F's structure and function in its native environment, uncovering previously overlooked structural conformations. The study reveals a dynamic and flexible functioning of the protein, essential for regulating cell functions such as blood coagulation and immune defense.
The somatosensory cortex plays a crucial role in perceiving both touch and time, with neurons carrying codes for both simultaneously. Research using optogenetics demonstrates that the perception of time is rooted in this brain region, influencing the experience of stimulus duration.
A new study proposes that dark matter mini-halos scattered throughout the cosmos could serve as probes for primordial magnetic fields. The researchers suggest that if these fields are indeed primordial, they could cause an increase in dark matter density perturbations on small scales.
Researchers used AI models to analyze rat brain cells and found they can process high-level visual information like primates. This discovery sheds light on the visual system of rodents and has implications for understanding neurodegenerative disorders.
A study using QUBO approach simulates dense polymer mixtures with significantly improved performance on both quantum and conventional computers. This breakthrough enables researchers to discover surprising properties of simulated polymer systems.
A new study has uncovered the potential role of LINE transposons in regulating cerebral cortex development and identifying genetic sequences that contribute to autism spectrum disorders. The research, led by SISSA and IIT scientists, debunks the reputation of 'selfish genes' as mere replicators.
A new study by SISSA has identified the distribution of water vapour in galaxy J1135, which is 12 billion light years away. The researchers used gravitational lensing to observe this remote galaxy and ALMA observations to map its water distribution.
A new study published in Brain Communications found that cognitive reserve can protect brain function in patients with brain tumors. The research revealed that higher levels of education, occupation, and urban environment are associated with improved neuropsychological performance.
Researchers from SISSA have measured the electrical activity of cells in human olfactory epithelium, revealing a complex communication process between neurons and support cells. The study also explores reactions to various odorant molecules and sets the stage for investigating anomalies related to COVID-19's impact on smell.
A recent study from SISSA suggests that dark matter interacts with gravity in a non-local way, providing a fresh perspective on its nature. The new model, which employs fractional calculus, accurately describes the motion of stars in smaller galaxies.
Researchers found that past images can distort our perception of current stimuli, with brain activity revealing a
Researchers propose using a constellation of space interferometers to map the flat and almost perfectly homogeneous background signal, detecting subtle fluctuations known as anisotropies. These fluctuations hold information on the distribution of gravitational wave sources on the largest cosmological scale.
Researchers reconstructed thermodynamics of double helix formation and breaking using simulated DNA unzipping speed. The technique can be applied to other molecular systems, including molecular motors.
A mysterious, extremely remote celestial body has been identified as a young, compact galaxy forming stars at an incredibly high rate of 1000 times the Milky Way's. Its features were finally described by a team from SISSA using ALMA interferometer technology.
Scientists have successfully created a quantum potential with energy levels corresponding to the first 15 prime numbers and the first 10 lucky numbers. This achievement opens up new possibilities for addressing mathematical questions related to number theory using quantum mechanical experiments.
Researchers have found a possible explanation for the discrepancy between observations and simulations in the cosmic web. By using low-redshift intergalactic medium data as a calorimeter, they discovered that ultralight dark photons could provide an additional heating mechanism to reconcile the difference.
A new study reveals the molecular mechanism that causes prion proteins to take on their pathological form, paving the way for possible therapeutic options. The discovery highlights the structure of the human prion protein and its intermediate forms, enabling the design of new organic molecules to block disease progression.
Researchers developed nanometric photodiodes that can bind to nerve cell surfaces and activate them with infrared light, allowing for selective stimulation of individual neurons. This technology has the potential to study the nervous system in-depth and develop targeted therapies for neurological diseases.
Researchers investigate astrocyte production in the brain, discovering distinct dynamics in different parts of the cortex. The study suggests that early exposure to specific genes regulates stem cell behavior, leading to variations in astrocyte generation.
A recent study has identified an important molecular analogy between the octopus brain and the human brain, specifically with LINE transposons active in both species. This discovery sheds light on the secret of the intelligence of these fascinating organisms, suggesting a convergent evolution of cognitive abilities.
Researchers found that nanocontacts remain solid despite vibrations, due to reversible rheological steady state. This phenomenon, previously thought to be a liquid, is actually caused by the movement of internal micro-surfaces.
A new study by the POLARBEAR collaboration provides a new correction algorithm that allows for almost double the amount of reliable data on Cosmological Gravitational Waves (CGWs), produced during Inflation in the early Universe. This enhances our understanding of the signal and brings us closer to observing CGWs.
A new SISSA study proposes the existence of 'non-minimal coupling' in dark matter, which modifies its gravitational influence on standard matter. This new property could be the key to deciphering the dialogue between dark matter and standard matter.
Researchers used simulations to compare Einstein's theory and modified gravity, finding that 'dark gravity' may be equally good at explaining data from binary neutron star collisions. This could lead to the discovery of new phenomena detectable by next-generation gravitational interferometers.
A new study published in Astronomy and Astrophysics suggests that dark matter particles interact with ordinary matter, leading to a constant density region that expands over time. The research challenges the current prevailing theory of Lambda-Cold Dark Matter, which posits that particles are inert and only interact through gravity.
Researchers suggest LISA can detect scalar fields interacting with gravity, providing strong bounds on theories beyond General Relativity. Extreme Mass Ratio Inspirals offer a unique probe of the strong-field regime of gravity.
Researchers discovered a small fraction of diatom cells participate in sexual reproduction, while others block growth and reduce nutrient absorption. This phenomenon occurs in nutrient-rich conditions, representing a paradox for microalgae that usually compete for resources.
Researchers estimate 1% of ordinary matter is locked up in stellar mass black holes, with 40 trillion black holes in observable Universe. The study uses a new method combining stellar evolution codes and empirical prescriptions for galaxy properties.
A recent study by SISSA and University of Padua shows that occupation influences the course of cognitive decline. Work activity is found to be a protective factor for cognitive reserve, contributing to brain's resistance to damage caused by illness or aging.
A study published in eLife found that rats exhibit efficient coding processes for visual stimuli, similar to those observed in humans. This suggests a universal principle in vision, where the brain adapts to its environment by specializing in the recognition of informative signals, thereby conserving computational resources and energy.
A mathematical enigma, the Riemann conjecture, has been unraveled thanks to a new approach from statistical physics. The solution lies in chaotic motions and probability laws that regulate them.