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An unstable, flake-like network in the making

A team of researchers from MPI-CBG discovered that thousands of short-lived droplet-like condensates made up of actin filaments generate a first cortex in C. elegans after fertilization. This finding provides new insights into the formation and control of subcellular structures, crucial for cellular and developmental processes.

Small molecules, giant (surface) potential

Scientists at Kyushu University have developed organic molecules that align in the same direction, creating a 'giant surface potential' when evaporated onto a surface. This alignment leads to a significant electric field, which can improve OLED efficiency and open new routes for realizing devices that convert vibrations into electricity.

SourceKyushu University·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 26, 2022

Towards higher nanopatterning resolution with molecules that fill nanogaps better

A research group from Tokyo University of Science has discovered molecular features that govern the filling process at nanoscales, enabling finer resolutions in ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography. The findings provide valuable insights for guiding the selection and design of optimized resists for sub-10 nm resolution.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalNanomaterials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 8, 2022

Electrons in alcohol – concerted molecule and charge motions at terahertz frequencies

Researchers observed a novel type of excitation, called a polaron, where collective oscillations of the electron and its screening cloud arise at terahertz frequencies. These oscillations persist for tens of picoseconds and are impulsively triggered by ultrafast electron localization.

On the way to cell-type materials

Physicists at University of Münster successfully reveal dynamic interaction of molecular shuttles using molecular-dynamic simulations. The study provides detailed insight into how embedded machines function and interact, enabling targeted control of transport properties and catalytic processes.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 4, 2022

Attosecond-scale measurement of Wigner time delay in molecular photoionization

Scientists successfully measured the attosecond-scale Wigner time delay in molecular photoionization, providing insights into the timing of the photoemission process. The 'double-pointer attoclock' scheme was used to disentangle the orientation-dependent behavior of molecular Coulomb interaction and molecular orbital structure.

SourceUltrafast Science·JournalUltrafast Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 24, 2022

New technology developed by Mass General researchers creates a multi-color molecular movie

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital developed scission-accelerated fluorophore exchange (SAFE) to visualize molecules in living cells without disrupting normal physiological processes. The method uses immunofluorescence tags and fast chemical reactions to remove tags, creating a multi-color movie-like continuous stream of ima...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNature Biotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 2, 2022

New dimensions of cryo-electron microscopy uncover ‘multiverse’ of cancer targets for enabling drug discovery

A research team led by Professor Youdong Mao has developed a new method using time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy and machine learning-based 4D reconstruction to visualize the USP14-proteasome system in atomic detail. This reveals a 'multiverse' of parallel reality pathways, allowing for targeted inhibition of cancer cells.

SourcePeking University-College of Engineering·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 22, 2022

Low-energy protons from strong-field breaking of hydrogen

A joint research team investigated the generation of low-energy protons in dissociative ionization of H2 using time-energy-resolved spectroscopy. They found that low-energy protons are produced via dipole-transition at large bond lengths, contrary to the expected bond-softening scenario.

SourceUltrafast Science·JournalUltrafast Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 11, 2022

Self-healing ice

Researchers from the University of Amsterdam have found that ice can heal itself by forming a new layer of ice to cover scratches and cuts. This discovery could potentially extend breaks between skating races, but careful control of moisture in the air is still necessary.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry·DateFeb 7, 2022

“Taste” and “smell” of coral reefs provide insights into a dynamic ecosystem

Scientists have characterized thousands of small molecules in coral reef ecosystems, providing insights into food web dynamics and chemical ecology. The study found that corals and seaweeds release diverse compounds that influence nutrient concentrations and availability in the ecosystem.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 2, 2022

Novel computer simulation method can accelerate COVID-19 drug discovery

Researchers developed a novel computer simulation method that can analyze key proteins in the reproductive cycle of SARS-CoV-2, promising to accelerate the search for bioactive compounds against COVID-19. The method estimates a reduction in research time from two to three years to under a year.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalJournal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics·DateDec 8, 2021

Molecular scales on biological membranes

Researchers have developed Mass-Sensitive Particle Tracking (MSPT) to analyze proteins on biological membranes in real-time. The method enables the determination of protein location and size changes without labeling, providing valuable insights into dynamic processes at the membrane.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 12, 2021

Growing droplets in the matrix

The study assesses how temperature influences droplet size in elastic matrices, providing insights into biological molecule arrangement and condensate formation. It also explores the role of phase separation and its effect on droplet growth.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 12, 2021

RIT scientists model how coronavirus attaches itself to human cells

Researchers used complex computer simulations to study the attachment of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants to human cells. They found that the virus has two main locations where it grabs onto the host cell receptor ACE2, with early strains having a slippery interaction at one region that becomes less slippery as variants evolve.

SourceRochester Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics·DateSep 13, 2021

It’s elementary: Visualizing molecular motion of substituted 9-phosphaanthracene

Scientists have successfully visualized the molecular motion of a highly unstable compound, 10-mesityl-1,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)-9-phosphaanthracene, using novel spectroscopic techniques. The study revealed unprecedented molecular motions and structure information, shedding light on its radical reactivity and potential applications.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 20, 2021

PCF-based 'parallel reactors' unveils collective matter-light analogies of soliton molecules

Researchers develop parallel optical-soliton reactors to study multi-soliton dynamics, unveiling statistical rules that resemble classic chemical kinetics. The system enables on-demand synthesis and dissociation of soliton molecules, promoting a collective-level insight into soliton dynamics.

A massive advance in spectrometry

Scientists at Kanazawa University developed a new method to study the neutralization of excess charges during mass spectrometry, which can lead to more accurate results. The team used a combination of continuum and molecular dynamics simulations to model the effect of adding molecules of the opposite charge to neutralize excess charge.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateJan 18, 2021

Self-imaging of a molecule by its own electrons

Researchers at the Max Born Institute have developed a method to record high-resolution movies of molecular dynamics using electrons ejected from a molecule by an intense laser field. This technique allows for the observation of ultrafast nuclear rearrangement with both high temporal and spatial resolution.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 17, 2020