Researchers have discovered a new target for antibiotics that could treat multi-drug resistant superbugs. The antibiotic AMC-109 affects the cell membrane of bacteria by disordering its organization, leading to the death of the bacterium. This approach may also break down resistance to old-fashioned antibiotics.
Ferroelectric materials like hafnia show promise for non-volatile random-access memory (RAM) due to their stability at high temperatures. Hafnia's unique properties, including the movement of oxygen vacancies, make it an attractive candidate for memristors that mimic brain-like computer architectures.
Researchers have developed a simple method to produce large and very clean 2D samples from a range of materials using three different substrates. The kinetic in situ single-layer synthesis (KISS) technique allows for the production of air-sensitive 2D materials, overcoming the drawbacks of previous methods.
Researchers have found a new superconducting state in an Ising superconductor, which can resist magnetic fields and has the potential to control devices such as transistors. The discovery, published in Nature, was made possible by creating a device that can switch between different protection modes using an electric field.
Salt marshes reduce wave run-up on dikes, but their impact is dependent on foreshore elevation and marsh width. In some locations, marshes are absent where mud flats are low-lying, highlighting the need for human interventions or hard engineering solutions to enhance protection.
Organic solar cells fabricated with tin oxide exhibit high performance, surpassing current records. The design involves a conductive layer of tin oxide grown via atomic layer deposition, improving device stability and efficiency.
Researchers discovered a single amino acid mutation in glutamate transporter protein causes transient loss of muscle control. The mutation affects the protein's shape and transport rate, leading to reduced glutamate transport and increased anion imbalance in neural cells.
Scientists from the University of Groningen have developed a theoretical framework to explain how charges move through organic solar cells. The study provides insights into the ultrafast charge transfer process, which is crucial for improving the material's efficiency.
Scientists from the University of Groningen develop complex oxide devices for energy-efficient computing, including magneto-electric spin-orbit and memristive devices. These materials have potential applications in novel computing architectures, such as random number generators.
Scientists have reconstructed the evolutionary history of flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs), a class of detoxifying enzymes present in all lifeforms. The study reveals that a single ancestral gene diverged into two distinct functions, with one gene triggering a different breakdown reaction.
Researchers at the University of Groningen discovered that cells separate essential biochemical reactions into different time periods. This separation explains metabolic oscillations leading up to cell division and has implications for our understanding of cellular physiology, cancer, and aging.
A study finds that governments could help millions of people and save a lot of money with targeted energy subsidies. The research quantifies the impacts of the energy crisis on households worldwide, revealing that indirect energy costs impose the biggest burden on both high- and low-income countries.
Researchers at the University of Groningen have discovered the exact structure of polydopamine coatings, which could lead to new applications in surface adhesion and neurodegenerative disease treatment. The study found that these coatings form through auto-oxidation, crosslinking and isomerization processes.
Chemists at the University of Groningen have developed a simple one-pot reaction to produce chiral Z-alkenes, previously inaccessible molecules. This method uses a phosphine molecule as a starting point, reducing the need for purification and allowing for the creation of complex functionalised alkenes.
A recent study reveals that recovering Madagascar's mammal species would take over 20 million years if currently threatened species go extinct, much longer than other islands.
Researchers have discovered a human-approved medication that can bring back 'lost' memories in mice, suggesting a potential new approach to treating age-induced memory problems or early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The study used optogenetic approaches and the asthma drug roflumilast to revive memories stored in the hippocampus.
A predictive model developed by University of Groningen researchers can identify cows at risk of dystocia before insemination. The model, which uses machine learning on a large dataset, suggests that it could roughly halve the risk of calving problems.
Researchers developed a biodegradable material that decomposes in weeks to months, replacing toxic metal components of electronic devices. The starch-based polymer uses natural enzymes and has the right properties for sensors, offering an alternative to complex polymers and reducing e-waste.
A team of scientists, led by Marco Fraaije from the University of Groningen, has developed an enzyme that can convert lignin monomers into useful chemical building blocks. The enzyme has been engineered to be stable, selective, and faster in conversion, offering a promising solution for the valorization of biomass.
Researchers reveal the dynamic nature of RNA molecules, which can take on multiple shapes and regulate cellular processes. The 'RNA structurome' holds key to understanding disease mechanisms and developing new therapeutic strategies.
Scientists have successfully created two types of light-driven molecular motors that can both rotate and fluoresce in the same molecule. This achievement demonstrates that these motors can be designed to control various functions using light energy, paving the way for potential applications in biomedical imaging and cellular processes.
Researchers have successfully created a highly conductive metamaterial using self-organized quantum dots, maintaining their optical properties while displaying the highest electron mobility reported for quantum dot assemblies. This breakthrough paves the way for new generation of opto-electronic applications.
A University of Groningen team created two machine learning models to predict app removal risks, achieving accuracy rates of up to 79.2%. The models can help developers avoid bans and users protect their data.
Physicists at the University of Groningen have observed a significant increase in magnon conductivity in ultrathin YIG films, surpassing expectations by three orders of magnitude. This unexpected result could lead to new devices and discoveries in spintronics.
Researchers from the University of Groningen developed a new formula that classifies metals into a simple systematic manner. The formula, which describes the temperature-dependent resistivity response, reveals a surprising similarity among previously categorized 'strange' metals.
Computer scientists have developed a system to analyse noise produced by individual cameras, linking videos or images to specific cameras. The tool extracts camera-specific noise from video frames, achieving high accuracy rates and potential practical use for law enforcement.
Researchers found that fecal transplants restored intestinal function and reduced inflammation in mice lacking the antimicrobial compound catestatin. The study suggests that changes in gut microbial composition are responsible for the inflammatory response.
In Chinese penduline tits, egg burial is primarily done to prevent eggs from rolling out of the nest in strong winds, a function that may have evolved in ancient species of the genus. This study found that 45% of eggs in experimental nests showed signs of being blown out, highlighting the importance of egg burial in these birds.
A team of biochemists at the University of Groningen discovered that membrane thickness, lipid phase, and sterol type are key factors in determining permeability. This knowledge can help companies optimize microbial production and improve drug design.
Scientists at the University of Groningen have designed a new type of flow battery that stores power in a simple organic compound. This breakthrough addresses the limitations of traditional flow batteries, which contain rare metals and are expensive.
A comprehensive analysis of 1,800 bird species found that adult sex ratios are the main driving force behind differences in sex roles. Climate, life histories, and social environment were not significant factors. The study provides new insights into the evolution of sex roles in birds.
Researchers identify three types of mechanisms underlying evolvability, including determinants providing variation, shaping the effect of variation on fitness, and shaping the selection process. Evolvability also depends on the timescale, with asexually reproducing organisms evolving faster but reaching lower adaptation levels, while s...
According to a new study, lifting over 1 billion people out of poverty worldwide would increase global carbon emissions by 1.6-2.1%. The main reason for this is the huge inequality in carbon footprint between rich and poor nations. Rich countries emit significantly more carbon than poor ones.
Scientists discovered that surviving bacteria share a common feature: they accumulate acid in their cells, shutting down protein synthesis. This leads to increased survival and can be exploited to develop new antimicrobial treatments.
Researchers at the University of Groningen have developed an AI system that can recognize indoor spaces with high accuracy by combining image and audio data. The system achieved a 70% accuracy rate in recognizing nine different types of indoor spaces, surpassing previous results.
A team of researchers from the University of Groningen developed an AI-based system that can identify individual Holstein cows in a milking station based on their coat pattern. The system achieved a recognition rate of 99.7% and has several advantages, including non-invasiveness, cost-effectiveness, and scalability.
Scientists at the University of Groningen have developed a nanopore-based method for protein identification and sequencing. They constructed a proteosome-nanopore system that can recognize proteins from peptide spectra and sequence entire proteins directly.
Researchers at the University of Groningen have successfully trapped molecules of strontium fluoride, setting a new record for molecular trapping. This achievement is significant because it allows scientists to investigate the fundamental laws of the universe, including the asymmetry between matter and anti-matter.
Researchers from the University of Groningen and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory created ultra-lightweight yet extremely stiff porous materials by stacking carbon tubes with a strutted tube-in-tube structure. This innovative design enables new applications in micro-electromechanical systems and other small devices.
Scientists at the University of Groningen developed wearable, stitchable, and sensitive sensors from flexible polymers and carbon fibre. These sensors can measure body position, movement, and touch, offering new possibilities for health monitoring and athlete performance tracking.
A team of scientists discovered that Europeans were present in the Americas in 1021 AD, marking the earliest known point of Atlantic crossing. This date also signifies humanity's circumnavigation of the planet.
A team of researchers has discovered a unique organism that lacks essential genes for copying and distributing its DNA. The free-living protist Carpediemonas membranifera is unable to produce kinetochore proteins, which separate chromosomes during cell division.
An agent-based study found that a committed minority can influence the majority to overturn long-standing practices. The researchers created an online game where participants voted on a product launch, with a small group of 'activists' able to sway the majority. The study's findings may help stimulate sustainable behavior.
Researchers developed a feature selection algorithm that uses boosting to select relevant features from high-dimensional data sets. The algorithm outperforms other methods in terms of accuracy and number of features used, making it more scalable and explainable.
Researchers developed a theoretical model to predict the strength of millions of alloys at high temperatures. Experiments confirmed the predictions, highlighting the importance of edge dislocations in determining yield strength in complex high-entropy alloys.
Researchers developed an algorithm to rank apps based on their privacy scores, allowing users to easily find and install non-intrusive apps. The system considers two scores: permission and listener access, providing a ranking of apps from least intrusive to most private.
Scientists at the University of Groningen have created a nanopore system that can measure thiamine (vitamin B1) concentration in urine in under a minute. The system uses an engineered thiamine binding protein and can be adapted to measure other important molecules.
Researchers from the University of Groningen and Spain developed a method to train AI systems using distractions to improve image recognition. By analyzing how deep learning systems process images, they found that forcing the system's focus towards secondary characteristics can lead to better performance.
Researchers successfully synthesized crenarchaeol, a complex organic lipid found in archaea membranes. The correct structure reveals 22 chiral centers and an uncommon cyclohexane group, with implications for understanding oceanic nitrogen cycles and reconstructing past sea temperatures.
A new AI system has been developed to recognize the specific pattern of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, a debilitating blistering disease that can cause scarring and blindness. The system achieved an accuracy of 89.3% in recognizing the disease, outperforming human doctors.