Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Insights from complexity science: More trust in self-organization needed

A new study combines complexity science and social risk management to understand the impact of globalization, digitalization, and sustainabilization on societal coherence. The research finds that rapid shifts in public opinion and the emergence of populist movements can pose a threat to diversity and cohesion.

Hierarchical self-assembly of atomically precise nanoclusters

Researchers at Anhui University and Nanjing University successfully constructed 1D linear chains, 2D grid networks, and 3D superstructures from Ag29(SSR)12 nano-building blocks. The hierarchical self-assembly enables remarkable optical absorptions and gas storage properties in the assembled frameworks.

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.

Scientists shed new light on viral protein shell assembly

Scientists have gained new insight into the conditions that control self-assembly in viral protein shells, which could lead to a promising new approach to hindering viral infections. The study highlights factors that can cause incorrect self-assembly and suggests manipulating these factors to induce misassembly could be effective.

Scientists uncover principles of universal self-assembly

Researchers have found a way to use nature's inner dynamics to build complex systems, including cells and crystals. They observed the Tracy-Widom distribution in diverse systems, which could help predict and study new examples of systems with this universality.

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.

How molecules self-assemble into superstructures

A research team of physicists and chemists from Kiel University mimicked self-assembly processes to fabricate various patterns of controllable sizes, including the largest structures reported so far. They developed a model of intermolecular forces driving the self-assembly, enabling control over pattern size.

Biomaterial discovery enables 3D printing of tissue-like vascular structures

Researchers have developed a new biomaterial that can be 3D printed to create tissue-like vascular structures, which could enable the recreation of vasculature in the lab. The material exhibits biologically relevant properties and has the capacity to withstand flow, making it suitable for building complex robust structures.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Scientists find common approach to self-organization problem

Researchers have identified a common approach to clustering, a phenomenon that leads to nonequilibrium multiscale assembling in biological systems. The proposed method could simplify studying cluster systems in both natural and artificial objects.

Swing feel in the lab

A team of researchers found that microtiming deviations, previously thought to be crucial for the swing feel in jazz music, are actually unnecessary. Instead, musicians perceive the swing when the timing fluctuations are minimal. The study, conducted by the Max Planck Institute and University of Göttingen, used digital jazz piano recor...

Pretty with a twist

Researchers at TUM functionalized a simple rod-like building block with hydroxamic acids to form molecular networks displaying complexity and beauty. The networks exhibit exceptional properties and chiral symmetry, with unique opportunities for bottom-up nano-templating.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Expanding the palette

A team of UC Santa Barbara researchers have discovered a new phase in block copolymers, expanding the range of possible options for material design. The newly found phase, known as A15, belongs to a class of tetrahedrally close-packed structures and has been observed in both metal and polymer materials.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Silver nanowires promise more comfortable smart textiles

Researchers developed a simple method to create silver nanowire-coated fibers with high conductivity, flexibility, and mechanical strength. The fibers have promising applications in wearable devices, addressing the need for comfortable and functional smart textiles.

Growing bio-inspired shapes with hundreds of tiny robots

Researchers apply biological principles of self-organisation to swarm robotics, enabling robots to grow shapes without predefined plans. The robot swarms adapt to damage and self-repair, making them reliable for real-world applications such as disaster response or temporary structures.

Data storage using individual molecules

Physicists from the University of Basel created a network with pores about one nanometer in size and controlled the physical state of individual Xenon gas atoms between solid and liquid by temperature and electrical pulses. The study paves the way for the development of new, smaller data storage devices.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Don't underestimate the force

A team of researchers at the University of Tokyo has identified the weak van der Waals forces holding together a tiny, self-assembling box. The box can bulge to accommodate large or long guest molecules and contract to eliminate extra space when hosting negatively charged guests.

Modeling crystal behavior: Towards answers in self-organization

A new model by the University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science has shed light on the physical principle behind controlling crystal materials. The findings have practical benefits for applications such as non-volatile memory devices and electro-mechanical actuators.

Research shows graphene forms electrically charged crinkles

Researchers at Brown University discovered that graphene forms sharp, saw-tooth kinks called quantum flexoelectric crinkles, which produce intense electrical charges. These charges can be used to direct nanoscale self-assembly and manipulate biomolecules like DNA.

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.

New type of opal formed by common seaweed discovered

Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered a novel type of opal formed by brown algae, exhibiting iridescence due to self-assembled oil droplet nanostructures. The seaweed's chloroplasts-containing cells can switch on and off this dynamic self-assembly, creating changing opals that react to sunlight.

Simulations document self-assembly of proteins and DNA

Researchers developed an algorithm to simulate molecular dynamics of patchy particles, which are made up of a rigid body with only two charged patches. The findings provide new insights into what makes biological entities like protein/DNA combinations self-assemble.

Modified biomaterials self-assemble on temperature cues

Biomaterials with precisely ordered structures could be used for various biomedical applications due to their precise control of self-assembly. The hybrid approach allows researchers to expand the chemical diversity of protein-based materials by combining different alphabets, such as amino acids and lipids.

Liquid crystal molecules form nano rings

Scientists have discovered a way to create materials with new properties by inducing liquid crystals to form ordered rings in nanopores. This self-assembly process allows for the design of nanomaterials that can be controlled through temperature, enabling novel applications in organic semiconductors.

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.

Self-assembled 'hairy' nanoparticles could give a double punch to cancer

Researchers have developed 'hairy' nanoparticles that can assemble and disassemble on demand, allowing for simultaneous delivery of therapeutic drugs and heating to cancer cells. This technology combines light-sensitive materials with water-repelling yet light-absorbing materials to create photo-responsive gold nanoparticles.

Spinning cylinders to recreate nature's patterns

Researchers at Institute for Basic Science developed a method to create dynamic tubular structures by exploiting centripetal force of rotating fluids, enabling self-assembly of particles under non-equilibrium conditions. This breakthrough could lead to creation of various shapes of microcomposites useful in photonics applications.

Tiny aquariums put nanoparticle self-assembly on display

Researchers use liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy to study colloidal gold nanoparticles' interactions and self-assembly. The method provides precise control over particle shape and assembly rates, opening up new possibilities for nanotechnology applications.

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.

Chemists make playdough/Lego-like hybrid to create tiny building blocks

A team of chemists has developed particles that can form endless architectures from a handful of basic pieces, self-assembling without human intervention. This technology enables the creation of microscopic building blocks with on-board instruction manuals, mimicking nature's manufacturing technology.

Man versus (synthesis) machine

Researchers used active machine learning to discover new conditions for synthesizing gigantic polyoxometalate molecules. The algorithm outperformed human experimenters, covering a broader range of the 'crystallization space' and discovering unexpected crystals.

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.

UNIST researchers find new way to tackle cancer cells

Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology have developed a novel method to control cellular fate by introducing organelle-localized self-assembly of peptide amphiphiles. This approach enables targeted cancer chemotherapy by activating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway against cancer cells, reducing side effects.

Why does an anesthetic make us lose consciousness?

Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt discovered that anesthetics decrease local information generation in specific brain areas, which can lead to reduced signal transmission and consciousness loss. This finding challenges the previous assumption that anesthetics disrupt signal transmission between brain areas.

'Inverse designing' spontaneously self-assembling materials

Using molecular simulations, researchers have developed an approach called inverse design that allows them to identify simpler interactions between particles that can spontaneously self-assemble into complex structures. This method enables the discovery of new materials with desired properties, reducing the time and cost required for t...

Flexibility is key in mechanism of biological self-assembly

Researchers modeled the mechanism of biological self-assembly, finding that flexible surfaces allow for rapid joining, while inflexible surfaces fuse slowly. The study explored factors influencing self-assembly and provides insights into understanding protein complexes and drug receptors.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

The hazards of English spelling

A new study by Kristian Berg and Mark Aronoff found that English suffix patterns can categorize words into grammatical categories, such as adjectives. The researchers analyzed a large sample of written English documents over 1,000 years, discovering consistent spellings for common suffixes like -ous and -ic.

Learning how to fine-tune nanofabrication

Researchers developed a computational method that allows for controlled fabrication of tiny electrical wires and other nanomaterials. By analyzing intermolecular interactions, the team was able to predict the outcome of molecular self-assembly with high accuracy, leading to potential breakthroughs in device manufacturing.

Engineered intrinsically disordered proteins provide biomedical insights

Researchers have engineered biomimetic structures from mysterious class of disordered proteins, enabling controlled self-assembly and disassembly. This breakthrough will facilitate thorough studies of these proteins and their cellular function, leading to new opportunities for biomedical applications.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Synthetic nanoparticles achieve the complexity of protein molecules

Carnegie Mellon scientists develop synthetic gold nanoparticles with hierarchical structures similar to proteins, revealing mechanisms of self-assembly and potential applications in drug delivery and electronics. The study achieves the complexity of protein molecules through atomic-level understanding.

The power of attraction

Associate Professor Niveen Khashab's team created self-assembled toroids using a combination of materials and weak chemical bonds. The microstructures held their shape for months, providing insights into the formation of complex biological structures.

Responsive filtration membranes by polymer self-assembly

Researchers from Tufts University review recent developments in stimuli-responsive membranes, highlighting the benefits of polymer self-assembly for improved selectivity. The study showcases various stimuli-responsive behaviors and future development challenges in this promising field.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Nanoscale 'conversations' create complex, multi-layered structures

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory developed a way to efficiently create complex nanoscale structures by leveraging self-assembly and guided layering. The technique enables the creation of intricate 3D structures with internal channels or pockets, advancing nanotechnology for medicine, energy generation, and other applications.

Programmable disorder

Scientists at Caltech have developed a method to combine deterministic and random processes for creating complex nanostructures out of DNA. By controlling the design of individual tiles and their interactions, they can produce emergent features with tunable statistical properties, including loop, maze, and tree structures.

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.

Location matters in the self-assembly of nanoclusters

Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a theoretical framework to understand the relationship between capture zones and the formation of nanoclusters. The study highlights the importance of subtle spatial details in the nucleation process, which is crucial for controlling nanostructure properties.

Smarter self-assembly opens new pathways for nanotechnology

Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a method to guide the self-assembly of multiple molecular patterns within a single material, creating new nanoscale architectures. This technique enables the spontaneous formation of complex nanostructures without exhaustive preliminary patterning.

Seeing 'living' nanofibers in real time

Researchers at Kyoto University have observed artificial nanofibers sorting themselves into organized structures under artificial conditions, a phenomenon similar to that seen in living cells. This achievement elucidates the mechanism of self-sorting and has potential applications in developing intelligent biomimics.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Basketball games mimic nature

Researchers found that basketball teams can be considered self-organised systems, adapting and evolving throughout the game. The final minute of close games is particularly intense, where teams must collaborate and make strategic decisions to win.

Nanocrystal self-assembly sheds its secrets

Researchers have developed a method to observe nanocrystal self-assembly in real-time, shedding light on the complex structures' formation. The technique uses synchrotron X-ray scattering and imaging, allowing for the direct manipulation of superlattices.

Some assembly required to boost robot ratings

Researchers found that participants who assembled their own robots experienced a higher sense of accomplishment and ownership. However, those who faced difficulties during assembly lowered their ratings. The study suggests that manufacturers should balance positive and negative aspects of self-assembly when designing robots.

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.