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When neural spikes break time's symmetry

Researchers developed a method that characterizes collective dynamics of neural activity using principles from thermodynamics. They found that neurons dynamically reshape their interactions during behavior and that the brain's internal temporal asymmetry shifts during task engagement, shedding light on efficient computation.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2025

Cats prefer to sleep on their left side

A research team analyzed YouTube videos of sleeping cats to find that two thirds sleep on their left side. This bias is thought to be an evolutionary strategy, favoring the use of the right hemisphere of the brain for spatial awareness and threat processing after waking.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJun 24, 2025

Activity stabilizes mixtures

Researchers at MPI-DS discovered that non-reciprocal interactions between particles can homogenize mixtures and control particle organization. This study offers a new route to understanding how complex patterns and structures emerge and maintain cellular functions.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 22, 2025
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

New research challenges understanding of cell membranes in mammals

Researchers discovered that mammalian membranes have drastically different phospholipid abundances between their two leaflets, contradicting a major assumption of cell biology. The asymmetry is enabled by cholesterol's unique properties, which act as a buffer to redistribute between the leaflets and maintain robust barriers.

SourceStockholm University·JournalCell·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 4, 2025

Left-right symmetry-breaking of a cellular flow occurs earlier than node formation

Researchers from Kumamoto University and colleagues found that left-right symmetry-breaking occurs prior to node formation, indicating a tightly regulated program for asymmetry. This study demonstrates the involvement of physical mechanisms in biological patterning using quantitative biophysical parameters.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 16, 2025

Researchers create chemotaxic biomimetic liquid metallic leukocytes with versatile behavior

The researchers created a chemotaxic biomimetic liquid metallic entity that exhibits various behaviors like engulfing foreign substances and changing shape, similar to living cells. These liquid metal structures can autonomously climb slopes and move through complicated surfaces with versatility and potential for future applications.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalMatter·DateFeb 12, 2025

Illuminating the beginnings of animal development

Researchers discovered that cell motion shows asymmetry before left-right organizer formation in early animal development, contradicting earlier findings on genetics. This study sheds new light on the origin of bilateral symmetry and could apply to human birth defects.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 4, 2025
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Illuminating an asymmetric gap in a topological antiferromagnet

Researchers have discovered a previously unverified gap in the electronic band structure of MnBi2Te4, a topological insulator. The team found that the material is gapless in equilibrium but develops a gap when exposed to different orientations of circularly polarized light.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 21, 2025

Unidirectional imaging technology breakthrough

Researchers at UCLA developed a new type of imaging technology that forms images in only one direction, enabling efficient and compact methods for asymmetric visual information processing and communication. The technology works exceptionally well under partially coherent light, achieving high-quality imaging with high power efficiency.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateOct 29, 2024

The asymmetric cosine distribution

The asymmetric cosine distribution model offers improved efficiency for analyzing data with values in [-1,1], including standardized scores and temperature anomalies. Key findings include satisfactory results on simulated and real data, as well as potential applications in machine learning models.

SourceELSP·JournalAsymmetry·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2024

KAIST develops Janus-like metasurface technology that acts according to the direction of light​

Researchers at KAIST have developed a Janus metasurface capable of controlling asymmetric light transmission, enabling the creation of two independent optical systems with a single device. This technology also enables optical encryption by generating different images depending on the direction and polarization state of incoming light.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 16, 2024
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Asymmetric placebo effect in response to spicy food

Researchers found that positive expectations lead to increased activity in pleasure-related brain regions, while negative expectations prime pain processing. The study suggests a dissociable impact of hedonic information, with positive expectations facilitating reward processing and negative expectations heightening anxiety.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2024
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Materials research revolutionized by a small change

Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) made a small change to develop highly efficient SOT materials. By creating an imbalance in the spin-Hall effect, they controlled magnetization switching without magnetic fields, achieving 2-130 times higher efficiency and lower power consumption than known single-layer ...

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalNano Letters·DateJun 26, 2024

Newly discovered dinosaur boasts big, blade-like horns

Lokiceratops rangiformis, a plant-eating dinosaur with large horned frill and asymmetrical caribou-like antlers, has been discovered in Montana. The species' unusual features may have played a role in mate selection or species recognition.

SourceColorado State University·JournalPeerJ·DateJun 20, 2024

Riddle of the sphinx

Researchers used the sphinx tile to explore geometry and chirality in life, finding unexpected properties related to its chirality. The study reveals superexponential increases in possible layouts as the number of sphinxes grows, with some tilings having nearly 72,000 possibilities.

SourceChan Zuckerberg Biohub·JournalPhysical Review Research·DateMar 21, 2024
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Ice-ray patterns: A rediscovery of past design for the future

A study discovers that traditional Chinese ice-ray lattice designs can provide unique stiffness and strength under asymmetric loads, offering an alternative to conventional gridshells. The research also explores the potential of integrating complex geometry into facade design and micro-scale material design.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalFrontiers of Architectural Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 20, 2024

UMSOM researchers discover first ever link between hemoglobin-like protein and normal heart development

Researchers found that cytoglobin, a protein similar to hemoglobin, plays a vital role in the correct left-right pattern of the heart and other asymmetric organs. The study's findings could lead to new therapeutic interventions for rare birth defects affecting cilia function.

SourceUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 15, 2023

High-power fibre lasers emerge as a pioneering technology

Scientists from UniSA, UoA and Yale University successfully scale up power in fibre lasers by three-to-nine times while maintaining beam quality. This breakthrough could have significant implications for remote sensing, gravitational wave detection and the defence industry.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 19, 2023

The dance of organ positioning: a tango of three proteins

A new study reveals that flow-sensing cilia activate BICC1 to regulate organ laterality, with a complex network involving ANKS3 and ANKS6. The discovery provides fundamental insights into gene expression and opens avenues for therapies of genetic disorders.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalPLOS Biology·DateSep 21, 2023
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

‘Brainless’ robot can navigate complex obstacles

Researchers at North Carolina State University have created a soft robot that can navigate simple mazes without human or computer guidance. The new robot has an asymmetrical design, allowing it to turn and move in arcs, enabling it to navigate complex and dynamic environments.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2023

TNMSC researchers create high-performance aluminum matrix composites with asymmetric cryocooling

Scientists have developed a new method to manufacture high-performance aluminum matrix composites using asymmetric cryorolling, resulting in improved mechanical properties and increased ductility. The technique produces sheets with fewer microvoids, finer grain size, and higher density of dislocations.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalTransactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2023

An international team identifies the mutations that cause the most frequent congenital heart defects

A new study reveals that biscuspid aortic valve is caused by mutations in the MINDBOMB1 gene, with significant implications for developing alternative treatments to surgery. The research combines genome sequencing and gene editing techniques to analyze the mechanisms of this congenital defect.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalJAMA Cardiology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2023
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

The Ising on the cake

A team of researchers from Kyoto University and international institutions has developed a mathematical solution to the temporal asymmetry of nonequilibrium disordered Ising networks. This breakthrough offers insights into the behavior of biological systems, machine learning, and AI tools.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 4, 2023

What math can teach us about standing up to bullies

A game theory study from Dartmouth College reveals that being uncooperative can lead to a more equal outcome, even for the weaker party. By refusing to fully cooperate, players can resist extortion and ultimately achieve a better payoff.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 27, 2023

A novel method to quantify individual limb contributions to standing postural control

This study validates a novel method to quantify individual limb contributions to standing anteroposterior postural control. The results show that limb contributions are distinct from self-reported limb dominance and between-limb weight distributions, offering new insights into the complex mechanisms of standing postural control.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalGait & Posture·TypeObservational study·DateMay 24, 2023
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Gene responsible for severe facial defects identified

A team of researchers from UNIGE and Beihang University has identified the FOXI3 gene as responsible for one form of Goldenhar syndrome, a rare congenital disorder. Pathogenic variants in both copies of the FOXI3 gene are necessary for the disease to develop, following an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateMay 4, 2023

Simple but revolutionary modular organoids

Scientists at RIKEN have developed a new technique for creating complex 3D organoids using a cube-like structure made of hydrogels. This innovation enables researchers to control the environment around cells, allowing for the creation of tissues with faithful reproduction of asymmetric genetic expression. The technology has the potenti...

SourceRIKEN·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

Chemists design new molecule, with oxygen as the star of the show

Researchers at Colorado State University have created a synthetic molecule with an asymmetric oxygen atom that remains stable and nonreactive. This feat is significant because chiral molecules can have drastically different properties and are crucial in fields like drug discovery and materials engineering.

SourceColorado State University·JournalNature·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 29, 2023
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Solving the mystery of left-handed amino acids in primordial RNA reactions

Researchers at Tokyo University of Science used computer simulations to clarify why L-alanine was preferred over D-alanine during primordial RNA aminoacylation reactions. The study revealed that L-amino acid had more electrostatic stability in its transition state, providing a plausible reason for the selective aminoacylation.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalLife·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 16, 2023

Robots and A.I. team up to discover highly selective catalysts

Researchers developed a machine learning model using advanced 2D chemical descriptors to predict highly selective asymmetric catalysts without quantum chemical computations. The model demonstrated high accuracy in predicting catalyst structures and selectivity, outperforming existing methods.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 2, 2023
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Quantum sensors see Weyl photocurrents flow

A team of researchers led by Boston College Assistant Professor Brian Zhou developed a new quantum sensor technique to image and understand the origin of photocurrent flow in Weyl semimetals. They found that the electrical current flows in a four-fold vortex pattern around where light is shined on the material.

SourceBoston College·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2023

Better hydrogen transfer brings better hydrogen evolution reaction performance

A new superaerophilic/superaerophobic cooperative Pt electrode promotes efficient mass transfer of hydrogen, reducing oversaturated dissolved hydrogen and improving HER efficiency. The design achieves significant overpotential reductions compared to traditional flat electrodes.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 18, 2023

Scientists offer a new explanation for a mystery surrounding Jupiter’s two massive asteroid swarms

An international team of scientists suggests that an outward, fast migration of Jupiter can distort the configuration of Trojan swarms, resulting in more stable orbits in one swarm than the other. This new mechanism provides a natural explanation for the observed asymmetry in the number of asteroids in the L4 and L5 swarms.

SourceNew York University·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateJan 17, 2023

Think before you design your brand's logo: How marketers can capitalize on the power of perception to influence beliefs about brand performance

A new study found that structured visual design properties, such as symmetry and balance, reinforce claims about a brand's utilitarian benefits. In contrast, unstructured designs are associated with hedonic benefits. The research suggests marketers can use perception to influence beliefs about brand performance and consumer choice.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateJan 4, 2023
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Flip-flopping cholesterol in the cell membrane

Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered a vital role of two proteins, ABCA1 and Aster-A, in maintaining the asymmetric distribution of cholesterol within cells. This process allows for selective control over substances entering and leaving cells.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 15, 2022

A crystal shape conundrum is finally solved

Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to predict the shapes of crystals that lack symmetry by assigning arbitrary latent energies to their surfaces. This approach uses closure equations with arbitrary parameters to mimic nature's solution, allowing for accurate crystal shape predictions.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Computational Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 28, 2022

A skewed model for imbalanced health data

Researchers at KAUST develop a novel multivariate skew-elliptical link model to address the challenges of highly imbalanced health data. The new model provides a better fit to COVID-19 datasets and offers flexibility over existing models.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalBiometrics·DateNov 8, 2022
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Study reveals a broken symmetry in the roughness of elastic interfaces

The study reveals that the distribution of local interface displacements exhibits non-zero skewness due to pinned segments lagging behind the rest. The researchers also found that scaling properties of interface segments depend on whether they are lagging or moving ahead of the average displacement.

SourceTampere University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 19, 2022

New research tunes theory of sound levitation

Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney have extended the theory of acoustic levitation to account for asymmetrical particles, which is more applicable to real-world experience. This new understanding enables precise control and sorting of tiny objects using ultrasonic waves.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 18, 2022
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Intestinal fortitude: gut coils hold secrets of organ formation

A study published in Science finds that gut rotation is regulated by two waves of Pitx2 expression, triggered by mechanical cues and a latent TGF-beta sensor. This discovery sheds light on the mechanisms of organ formation and has implications for understanding birth defects such as intestinal malrotation.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateSep 23, 2022

The hemispheres are not equal: How the brain is not symmetrical

Research found that human brain hemispheres have distinct functional patterns, with regions on the left and right sides specialized for different tasks. Individual differences in these arrangements were heritable, suggesting genetic influence, while environmental factors also play a role. The study also compared humans to monkeys, find...

SourceMax Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 15, 2022

Unraveling a mystery surrounding cosmic matter

Researchers propose using precision data from upcoming experiments to test the cosmological collider effect and unravel the mystery of matter's origin. They suggest that leptogenesis, a well-known mechanism, could be used to explain the imbalance between matter and antimatter in the early universe.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 8, 2022

2D boundaries could create electricity

Researchers at Rice University have discovered piezoelectricity in two-dimensional materials across phase boundaries. The discovery enables the creation of ultra-sensitive temperature or pressure sensors and tiny actuators, revolutionizing electronic applications.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 16, 2022

Free-space light coupling using curved micromirrors

The study compares the behavior of flat (1D), cylindrical (2D) and spherical (3D) micromirrors for free-space light coupling. Silicon micromirrors were fabricated and used to experimentally validate the coupling efficiency in visible and near infrared wavelengths.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Optical Microsystems·DateJul 11, 2022
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Time-reversal asymmetry surpasses conversion efficiency limit for solar cells

Researchers have developed a single-cell PV design integrated with nonreciprocal optical components to provide 100-percent reuse of emitted radiation, breaking the Shockley–Queisser limit. This breakthrough enables a quasimonochromatic radiation converter to reach the theoretically maximum Carnot efficiency.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Photonics for Energy·DateJun 1, 2022

A CNIC team creates a dynamic 3D atlas of the formation of the embryonic heart

A CNIC team has created a dynamic 3D atlas of the formation of the heart during embryonic and fetal development, allowing for the identification of the first appearance of left–right asymmetry in the heart. This study provides important information on the development of congenital heart malformations.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalNature Cardiovascular Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2022