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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.

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.

SourceeLife·DateApr 21, 2020

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.

SourceKiel University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMar 19, 2020

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...

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 29, 2020

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.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 16, 2020

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.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 30, 2019

3D microchannels promote self-assembly of ordered emulsions at low droplet concentrations

Researchers from Singapore University of Technology and Design have discovered a method to achieve self-assembly of low-density droplets in microfluidic flows using three-dimensional microchannels. The study shows that by introducing a gradual increase in height, droplets can accumulate and assemble into ordered 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.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalSmall·DateDec 17, 2018

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.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 31, 2018

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.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 17, 2018

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.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateMar 28, 2018

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.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMar 19, 2018

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.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 1, 2018

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.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateNov 15, 2017

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.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 3, 2017

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.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJun 13, 2017

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.

SourceLinguistic Society of America·JournalLanguage·DateMar 10, 2017

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.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 14, 2017

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.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateNov 28, 2016

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.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMay 30, 2016