Articles tagged with Basic Research
Karen Lozano and Eduardo Salas have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences for their groundbreaking research in materials science and industrial-organizational psychology. Their work has pushed the boundaries of STEM fields, improving team performance and advancing innovation.
Researchers have observed the interactions between electrons and a unique atomic vibration in twisted graphene, called a 'phason', for the first time. The Quantum Twisting Microscope has provided unprecedented insight into electron-phonon dynamics, shedding new light on superconductivity and 'strange metallicity'.
Researchers analyzed massive audio recordings to create a dictionary of short melodies in English-language prosody, assigning functions and meanings. They discovered hundreds of basic patterns with linguistic functions, including conveying attitudes such as curiosity or surprise, and identified syntactic rules governing their order.
The Helmholtz Health Prevention Task Force aims to develop new frameworks for prevention strategies using big data and advanced analytics. The team focuses on personalized health trends and risk factors to enable earlier detection and intervention for common diseases.
A single dose of a psychedelic compound can enhance cognitive flexibility for weeks after administration, according to a groundbreaking study. Mice treated with the compound showed improved performance in reversal learning tasks compared to control groups when tested weeks later.
A mysterious parasite is devastating fish farms globally, causing £50 million in losses annually. Researchers have discovered a new gene regulation process that could lead to the development of gene-based vaccines.
Wesley Sundquist's lab developed lenacapavir, an exceptionally effective HIV-preventing drug with 99.9 to 100 percent efficacy in clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people. The drug has the potential to dramatically decrease infection rates worldwide if distributed broadly.
A new study from Weill Cornell Medicine reveals a critical protein partnership that protects chromosome ends, regulating telomerase activity and preventing cell death. The researchers discovered that the CST complex and DNA polymerase α/primase interact to maintain telomere stability, with disruption leading to telomere abnormalities.
Researchers employed a deep-learning-based method to detect footprints of DNA-protein interactions, allowing them to pinpoint disease-causing variants in non-coding regions. This approach could inform novel treatments for common diseases.
Three NSF-funded investigations are launching on NASA's SpaceX CRS-32 mission to ISS National Laboratory. Investigations aim to advance pharmaceutical manufacturing, develop new materials, and study active matter in microgravity environment.
Researchers have discovered materials that shrink when heated, expand when crushed, and could restore old EV batteries to factory-fresh performance. This discovery represents a fundamental shift in understanding of materials science and has potential applications in construction and energy storage.
The UMass Amherst team, led by Stéphane Willocq, made significant contributions to particle physics, including studies of rare processes and Higgs boson properties. Their work explores the deepest questions about our universe and prepares for the High-Luminosity LHC upgrade.
Dr. Gadhamshetty, a leading expert in environmental engineering, brings over 25 years of experience to the role. He aims to expand the journal's influence and promote transformative research that addresses critical environmental challenges.
Researchers have mapped the hidden control system of vision, revealing a higher degree of systematic organization in visual cells. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, used a new GABA sensor to observe and map inhibitory neuron activity, providing new insights into eye disorders such as congenital nystagmus.
Researchers discovered that aging causes inflammation, oxidative stress, and gene disruption in the retinal pigment epithelium, a vital layer of cells in the eye. This study provides a clearer understanding of why aging leads to eye disease and introduces a reliable laboratory model for testing new therapies.
Researchers have identified new candidate genes that could be responsible for congenital deafness, a condition affecting around one in 1,000 babies born in the UK. The study suggests that understanding these gene mutations may hold the key to devising effective treatments.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology and Jeonbuk National University successfully trapped mechanical waves within a single resonator, overcoming a century-old physics barrier. The discovery opens new possibilities for energy harvesting, ultra-sensitive sensors, and advanced communications.
A unique partnership between researchers and a merchant marine vessel is providing critical data for measuring ocean change, biodiversity, and the interconnectedness of global systems. The project, led by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, is filling gaps in observations of the Middle Atlantic Bight shelf and Slope Sea.
A new study on natural oil seeps in the deep sea has found that hydrothermal processes mobilize dissolved organic matter, influencing local ecosystems and the global marine carbon cycle. The composition of released water-soluble organic molecules is strongly influenced by temperature and petroleum composition.
The authors propose expanding psychological contract theory to include non-human agents, such as algorithms, in digital labor platforms. They analyze how workers form contracts with these agents and explore the implications for understanding digitalized working relationships.
Jason Cong recognized for contributions to field-programmable system design and customizable computing, enabling efficient FPGA programming from software languages like C/C++.
Engineered materials mimic quantum behaviors, allowing for the simulation of Schrödinger dynamics in classical systems. This breakthrough enables the study of quantum phenomena in more accessible environments, paving the way for novel technologies.
Researchers investigated Si-C anode's thermal stability through systematic thermal stability tests. They found that floating silicon triggers thermal runaway and optimize electrolyte blending ratios to minimize thermal safety risk. Designs strategies for high-thermal-stable Si-C materials are proposed.
A study by HKU professor Bo Huang's team reveals fundamental principles governing population dynamics across cities. The research demonstrates that population movements scale predictably with urban density and distance from central hubs.
Aging (Aging-US) journal announces a commemorative collection honoring Dr. Mikhail Blagosklonny, a pioneer in aging biology. The special issue will explore key themes central to his scientific contributions, including mechanistic insights and translational approaches.
Researchers at Seoul National University have developed a compact peritoneal dialysis device that can be used as a wearable artificial kidney, offering an alternative to traditional hemodialysis. The device uses nanoelectrokinetic technology to continuously regenerate peritoneal dialysate and remove waste products from the body.
Rachid Guerraoui has made groundbreaking contributions to distributed computing, shaping the landscape of concurrent environments. He also promotes computer science education in Africa, fostering academic excellence through initiatives like the Excellence in Africa program.
The thorium-229 nuclear optical clock has the potential to achieve a very high-precision time and frequency standard due to its unique properties. Despite significant progress, numerous challenges remain, including temperature sensitivity and the scarcity of the isotope.
The NASA Hubble Fellowship Program has selected 24 outstanding astrophysicists for the 2025 class, providing up to three years of support at a U.S. institution. The fellowships aim to foster excellence and leadership in astrophysics by supporting innovative early-career researchers.
A research team has uncovered a fundamental brain circuit that distinguishes between direct and vicarious fear, with the locus coeruleus playing a crucial role in processing fear. The study reveals a lateralized LC-NAergic system that separates personal from socially learned fear, shedding light on empathy and social learning.
The Protein Society recognizes five award winners in 2025 for their groundbreaking research in protein science and technology. Professor Jan Steyaert receives the Christian B. Anfinsen Award for pioneering nanobody technology, while Dr. Brian Kuhlman wins the Emil Thomas Kaiser Award for novel protein design and structural modeling.
Researchers developed a CuO catalyst that enhances lithium–sulfur battery performance by regulating Li-bond chemistries and reducing sulfur conversion kinetics. The study demonstrates exceptional catalytic performance under harsh operating conditions, showcasing the potential of CuO as an earth-abundant alternative to precious metals.
Torsten Hoefler's groundbreaking work on high-performance computing and AI has revolutionized the capabilities of supercomputers. His innovations include MPI-3 nonblocking collective operations, 3D parallelism, and routing protocols that power modern AI systems.
Avelino Corma, John Hartwig, and Helmut Schwarz received the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award for their fundamental advances in catalysis. They have improved efficiency and reduced energy consumption in various industrial processes through their innovative catalysts.
The device enables precise control over terahertz wave polarization, revolutionizing applications such as data transmission, imaging, and sensing. This innovation promises to transform fields like wireless communication and biomedical imaging.
RHIC physicists will complete data collection for one of the collider's central goals: creating and studying a unique form of matter known as a quark-gluon plasma (QGP). The QGP is expected to provide crucial insights for the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), which will be built by reusing components of RHIC.
Researchers propose darkening cities to improve biodiversity, human health, and reduce energy waste by embracing nocturnal living. Professor Nick Dunn's 'Dark Futures: When the Lights Go Down' presents a vision for an alternative future that reconnects humans with nature's rhythms.
Researchers identified a conserved splicing mechanism controlling the production of different proteins from the same gene, crucial for neuronal function and development. The study sheds light on how neuronal identity is established and maintained through alternative splicing.
Researchers discovered that gamma-actin increases the rigidity of cell membranes while beta-actin filaments are less stiff. This mechanism may contribute to hearing loss by affecting the apical membrane's stiffness essential for auditory function.
The Systems Metabolomics Centre will focus on three key areas: profiling populations of healthy people and those living with specific illnesses, leveraging state-of-the-art metabolomic technologies to drive biomarker discovery and metabolism research. The centre aims to develop non-invasive tests, detect diseases earlier and guide doct...
Researchers at Graz University of Technology developed a new understanding of how complex materials like organic semiconductors and MOFs transport thermal energy. They discovered that phonon tunneling plays a crucial role in heat conduction, enabling targeted design of materials with specific thermal properties.
Researchers at WVU have discovered a way to fine-tune zinc activity to improve messaging in the brain, with potential applications for treating conditions such as autism, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. The study identified new compounds that can selectively change synaptic connections by modulating zinc levels.
The latest DESI data suggests that dark energy's impact on the universe's acceleration may be weakening over time. Researchers are seeing hints that evolving dark energy could be a more accurate explanation for their findings, which are backed by multiple lines of evidence from different experiments.
Dr. Owen Witte has been awarded the 12th annual Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine for his groundbreaking work on leukemia, lymphoma, and other cancers. His discoveries have led to life-saving therapies like Gleevec and ibrutinib, transforming cancer treatment.
Distributed acoustic sensing systems face data processing speed limitations; researchers leverage photonic neural networks to overcome these challenges. The TWM-PNNA system achieves high recognition accuracy above 90% with low power consumption, outperforming electrical GPUs by orders of magnitude.
Researchers from Virginia Tech have published a visionary paper on fusing wireless technologies and AI to create human-like common sense. The team aims to develop a network that can think, plan, and imagine like humans, enabling seamless merging of physical, virtual, and digital dimensions.
Research teams at Alcal'Hylab joint laboratory are working on designing next-generation materials for boosting green hydrogen production, combining the benefits of alkaline water electrolysis and polymer membrane technology. The goal is to produce ultra-pure gas with high yield while minimizing carbon footprint and pollutants.
Researchers discovered a previously unknown mechanism in mechanical cell competition, where stronger "winner" cells exert more mechanical forces to outcompete weaker "loser" cells. The finding challenges classical interpretation of cell competition and suggests that active resistance to elimination is the key factor in survival.
Susanna Heikkil s doctoral thesis resolves a problem in topology, classification of quasiregularly elliptic 4-manifolds. Her work complements Gromov's question on quasiregular mappings and relates to Euclidean geometry.
Researchers discovered how bacterial swarms transition from organized movement to chaotic flow as confinement radius increases. The study reveals intermediate states between order and turbulence through large-scale experiments, computer modeling, and mathematical analysis. These findings provide insights into the universal properties o...
The StarBurst Multimessenger Pioneer will detect short-duration bursts of gamma-rays from neutron star mergers, providing fundamental insight into these extreme explosions. With an effective area four times greater than the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor, it will increase the detection rate of EM counterparts to NS mergers.
Researchers developed a 'nano-spring coating' technology to increase the lifespan and energy density of EV batteries. The technology, featuring multi-walled carbon nanotubes, absorbs strain energy generated from charging and discharging, preventing cracks and improving stability.
Researchers have created quantum holograms using metasurfaces and nonlinear crystals, enabling precise control over entangled information. The technology holds promise for practical applications in quantum communication and anti-counterfeiting, with potential to increase information capacity and reduce system size.
Binghamton University researchers have created a hydrogel electrode that includes conductive carbon nanotubes to monitor nerve activity in spinal cord neurons and leg muscles in mice. The technology solves the problem of rigid materials causing damage during movement, allowing for long-term functionality and single-cell signal detection.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University developed new formulas to calculate key quantum informative quantities, including entanglement entropy and mutual information. These simplified expressions offer fresh perspectives into quantum behaviors in materials with different physical characteristics.
A study published in Physical Review Letters suggests that a mysterious phenomenon at the center of our galaxy may be caused by a lighter form of dark matter. The research team detected unusual energy signatures radiating from this region, which they believe could be produced by the annihilation of tiny dark matter particles.
A team of scientists used cryo-electron microscopy to investigate G-quadruplexes, which have gained attention as potential therapeutic targets in cancer. The study reveals how secondary DNA structures like G4s can impede DNA replication and provides new insights into fundamental human biology.
Researchers used X-ray light to analyze the structure of 2-thiouracil, a substance with medically relevant properties. The study found that UV radiation causes the molecule to bend, resulting in the protrusion of the sulfur atom and making it reactive.
A team of researchers from Aalto University developed a hydrogel with a unique structure that combines high stiffness with flexibility and self-healing capabilities. The material uses exceptionally large and ultra-thin specific clay nanosheets, allowing it to self-heal via entanglement.
The U.S. research ecosystem, fueled by high-performance computing, is facing a critical moment due to slow infrastructure growth and funding cuts. The National Science Foundation's staffing cuts will slow down the process of innovation, potentially harming the country's competitive edge in research.