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Solving Alzheimer’s with math? Researcher explores the possibilities

Researchers are using mathematical modeling to examine the influence of common metals on protein aggregation in Alzheimer's disease. A new model developed by Mississippi State University Associate Professor Shantia Yarahmadian successfully reproduced patterns seen in laboratory experiments, providing insights into potential therapies.

SourceMississippi State University·JournalBulletin of Mathematical Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 25, 2026

Capturing fleeting changes in “nanoscale light”—femtosecond nano-imaging reveals ultrafast optical control of phonon polariton

Researchers developed an ultrafast infrared near-field optical microscopy technique that enables frequency-selective imaging of phonon polariton without sacrificing ultrafast time resolution. The technique reveals ultrafast optical modulation of phonon polariton in van der Waals heterostructures.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2026

Vibrating atomic tip sculpts 3D memory channels into fragile semiconductors

Prof. Yanquan Geng's team has devised a way to carve variable-depth, three-dimensional trenches into gallium antimonide using a microscopic tip vibrating thousands of times per second. This process improves the crystal's structural integrity and enables the creation of pristine 3D nanogrooves with controlled depths and widths.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateMar 15, 2026

Atomically-tailored single atom platforms hold promise for next-generation catalysis

Researchers have developed a new approach to overcome limitations in single-atom catalysts by creating one-dimensional organic polymers capable of selectively binding metal atoms. The platform marks a major advance in single atom catalysis, enabling stronger gas binding compared to other structures.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 3, 2025

Is shaping brain activity a mechanical process? An international research team provides new insights

A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that the mechanical properties of the developing brain play a significant role in synapse formation and electrical signal emergence. The researchers found that softer regions exhibit higher synapse densities, while stiffer regions show lower densities.

SourceMax Planck Institute for the Science of Light·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateNov 14, 2025

Pioneering method detects oral cancer earlier

Researchers have developed a pioneering method that combines atomic force microscopy with artificial intelligence to detect changes in cancer cells at a small scale. This enables more accurate and reliable diagnoses, potentially leading to earlier detection and better treatment outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalACS Nano·DateApr 13, 2025

Rolling particles make suspensions more fluid

Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a method to measure frictional forces between single particles in suspensions. By understanding these microscopic interactions, they can optimize suspension flow characteristics and prevent dramatic thickening.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 10, 2025

The insulator unraveled

The researchers used noncontact atomic force microscopy to analyze the surface structure and found that the surface rearranges to allow aluminum atoms to penetrate into the material. This rearrangement reduces energy and stabilizes the structure without changing its composition.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2024

Through the microscope: TMEM16F protein and its molecular dance

Researchers used advanced techniques to study TMEM16F's structure and function in its native environment, uncovering previously overlooked structural conformations. The study reveals a dynamic and flexible functioning of the protein, essential for regulating cell functions such as blood coagulation and immune defense.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2024

The rock that creates clouds

Researchers at TU Wien discovered that feldspar's unique surface geometry provides the perfect anchoring point for water molecules, enabling efficient cloud formation. The hydroxyl layer formed on the feldspar surface allows water molecules to stick and freeze, forming clouds.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateJan 9, 2024

Sodium channel investigation

A team of scientists at Kanazawa University used high-speed atomic force microscopy to study the structural dynamics of sodium ion channels in cell membranes. They found that voltage sensor domains can dissociate from pore domains when the channel is in a resting state, leading to dimerization between neighboring channels. These findin...

SourceKanazawa University·JournalNature Communications·TypeImaging analysis·DateDec 20, 2023

Scientists continue to push the boundaries of imaging techniques and reveal the mysterious world of molecules

Researchers have experimentally confirmed the correctness of a decades-old theory regarding non-uniform electron density distribution in aromatic molecules. This discovery has significant implications for designing new nanomaterials and understanding various chemical and biological processes.

Malaria in the Medici era

Researchers detected Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest form of malaria, in mummified tissues from Medici family members. The parasite was identified through microscopic and molecular analyses, revealing characteristic ring-shaped structures and Maurer's clefts.

SourceEurac Research·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 12, 2023

Seeing electron orbital signatures

Researchers have directly observed the signatures of electron orbitals in two different transition-metal atoms, iron and cobalt, using atomic force microscopy. The study validated that the observed experimental differences primarily stem from the different electronic configurations in 3d electrons near the Fermi level.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 15, 2023

A twisted cell-cell adhesion molecule complex structure revealed by single-molecule fluorescence microscopy and high-speed atomic force microscopy

Researchers have elucidated the mechanism of CELSR cadherin dimerization, revealing a twisted cell-cell adhesion molecule complex structure. The extracellular domains of CELSR cadherins exhibited strand- and globule-like portions, which bound through strand-like structures in an antiparallel orientation.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 24, 2023

Electrocatalysis under the atomic force microscope

Researchers have developed a new approach to correlative atomic force microscopy, allowing for the simultaneous measurement of electrocatalyst properties. This study focuses on nanostructured copper-gold electrocatalysts and provides insights into catalyst-electrolyte interfaces, enabling targeted optimization.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 9, 2023

Fiber sensing scientists invent 3D printed fiber microprobe for measuring in vivo biomechanical properties of tissue and even single cell

Researchers at Shenzhen University have developed a compact fiber optical nanomechanical probe (FONP) to measure in vivo biomechanical properties of tissue and even single cells. The high-precision mechanical sensing system enables accurate measurements with spring constants as low as 2.1 nanonewtons.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateFeb 10, 2023

The last mysteries of mica

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have explained the distribution of potassium ions on mica surfaces using an atomic force microscope in ultra-high vacuum. The study reveals tiny patterns of ion arrangement, which could improve electronic circuit performance and make mica a suitable insulator for 2D materials.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 25, 2023

Nanoscopic tool assesses alternative COVID-19 prevention

Researchers from Kanazawa University have developed a nanoscopic tool using high-speed atomic force microscopy to assess alternative COVID-19 prevention methods. They found that viral surface roughness can enhance the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 variants, but spike-neutralizing antibodies neutralize the Delta variant spike protein.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalNano Letters·DateJan 17, 2023