Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Fast-acting psychedelic associated with improvements in depression/anxiety

A Johns Hopkins study found that 80% of participants experienced improvements in anxiety and depression after using synthetic psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT. The short-acting effects of the substance may make it easier to use as an adjunct therapy, with potential benefits for individuals experiencing clinically significant negative mood.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalThe American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse·DateMar 18, 2019

'Meta-mirror' reflects sound waves in any direction

A team of researchers from Duke University and Aalto University has developed a device called a meta-mirror that can perfectly reflect sound waves in any direction. The device uses metamaterials to control the speed and amplitude of sound waves, allowing it to steer them towards desired directions.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 7, 2019

Light pulses provide a new route to enhance superconductivity

Researchers found that light pulses can induce eta pairing in Mott insulators, turning them into superconductors. This unconventional type of conductivity arises from repulsive interactions between electrons and is believed to take place under non-equilibrium conditions.

SourceRIKEN·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 3, 2019

Brain scans shine light on how we solve clues

Researchers at Aalto University used brain scanning to study how people reconstruct facts from clues, revealing the brain's ability to activate a range of properties associated with a concept. The method has potential applications in detecting memory disorders and understanding individual differences in perception.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 25, 2019

Controllable electron flow in quantum wires

Princeton researchers have demonstrated a new way of making controllable 'quantum wires' in the presence of a magnetic field. They found channels of conducting electrons that form between two quantum states on the surface of a bismuth crystal subjected to a high magnetic field. The current flow in these channels can be turned on and of...

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature·DateFeb 6, 2019

Stellar winds, the source material for the universe, are clumpy

Researchers led by Penn State astronomer Pragati Pradhan found that stellar winds, composed of protons, electrons, and metal atoms, contain dense clumps. The Chandra data revealed a 'Compton shoulder' indicating back scattering by surrounding matter, providing new insights into star environments.

SourcePenn State·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJan 24, 2019

Thousands of stars turning into crystals

Astronomers have found the first direct evidence of white dwarf stars solidifying into crystals, which could make them billions of years older than previously thought. This discovery has been published in Nature and is based on observations taken with the European Space Agency's Gaia satellite.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature·DateJan 9, 2019

Stop -- hey, what's that sound?

Scientists have identified a 'bottleneck' in the brain's speech perception mechanism, revealing how it processes language in noisy environments. The study found that the brain recognizes phonetic sounds and transitions to linguistic information in under 10ms.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 29, 2018

Interfacial electronic state improving hydrogen storage capacity in Pd-MOF materials

The study found that transferring an electric charge equivalent to 0.4 electrons from Pd to MOFs enables electron bands in Pd nanocubes to store more hydrogen, resulting in doubled storage capacity for hybrid materials. Hybrid materials with superior hydrogen storage properties or catalytic capabilities may be developed using this method.

SourceNational Institute for Materials Science, Japan·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateNov 29, 2018

Being fair: The benefits of early child education

A new study published in Nature Communications found that children from low-income families who received early intensive education tend to exhibit high levels of fairness in their decision-making processes decades later. They are more sensitive to inequality and prioritize long-term benefits over short-term gains, suggesting a lasting ...

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 20, 2018

Pain can be a self-fulfilling prophecy

A new brain imaging study found that when subjects expect more heat, brain regions involved in threat and fear are more activated, leading to increased pain perception. The study also showed that positive expectations can have the opposite effects, suggesting a potential link between negative expectations and chronic pain.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateNov 13, 2018