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69 articles from ScienceDaily

Supersymmetry-inspired microlaser arrays pave way for powering chip-sized optical systems

Ring microlasers are eyed as potential light sources for photonic applications, but they first must be made more powerful. Combining multiple microlasers into an array solves only half of the problem, as this adds noisy 'modes' to the resulting laser light. Now, thanks to the math behind supersymmetry theory, engineers have achieved single-mode lasing from such an array. By calculating the...

Repurposing tabletop sensors to search for dark matter

Researchers across the dark matter community that have begun to wonder if they are looking for the right type of dark matter. They have proposed a new way to look for the particles that might make up dark matter by repurposing existing tabletop sensor technology.

Crohn's disease patients have specific IgG antibodies to human bacterial flagellins

Last year, researchers used a mouse model that included immune-reactive T cells from patients with Crohn's disease in a proof-of-principle demonstration that a flagellin-directed immunotherapy might provide similar benefits in patients. Now they have moved a step closer to possible clinical testing of this treatment, with a study that describes IgG antibodies in Crohn's disease specific for...

New ant species named in recognition of gender diversity

A rare and unusual newly discovered ant from Ecuador has been named Strumigenys ayersthey, with the suffix '-they' chosen in contrast to traditional naming practices which, to date, fail to recognize gender diversity formally. The new species is distinguished by its predominantly smooth and shining cuticle surface and long trap-jaw mandibles.

Our immune systems blanket the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with antibodies

A previously underappreciated part of the body's natural defense against SARS-CoV-2, called non-RBD-directed antibodies, actually plays a major role in combating the virus, according to a new study. That's good news for scientists designing the next generation of vaccines to protect against variants of the virus or future emerging coronaviruses.

Stabilization of the borafluorene anion with carbenes

The incorporation of boron into polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon systems leads to interesting chromophoric and fluorescing materials for optoelectronics, including organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDS) and field-effect transistors, as well as polymer-based sensors. A research team has now introduced a new anionic organoborane compound. Synthesis of the borafluorene succeeded through the use of...

Novel switch found in proteins with wide-ranging implications for medical treatments

Proteins perform a vast array of functions in the cell of every living organism with critical roles in biological processes. There are numerous chemical switches that control the structure and the function of proteins, which were thought to be well understood: so a team of researchers were surprised to discover a completely new on/off switch that seems to be a ubiquitous regulatory element in...

Leather-like material created from silk proteins

Engineers have created an environmentally friendly leather alternative made from silk. The material can be printed into different patterns and textures, has similar physical properties to real leather, and can withstand the folding, piercing, and stretching typically used to create leather goods.

International study links brain thinning to psychosis

Subtle differences in the shape of the brain that are present in adolescence are associated with the development of psychosis, according to an international team. The 'sobering' results were made using the largest study to date of brain scans in adolescents at risk for psychosis.

Fast changing smells can teach mice about space

Researchers have found that mice can sense extremely fast and subtle changes in the structure of odors and use this to guide their behavior. The findings alter the current view on how odors are detected and processed in the mammalian brain.

New bonobo genome fine tunes great ape evolution studies

A new, high-quality bonobo genome assembly has been constructed. It is allowing scientists to more accurately compare the bonobo genome to that of other great apes - the gorilla, orangutan, chimpanzee - and to the modern human. This analysis is revealing new information about hominid evolution, distinctions between chimps and bonobos and genetic relations among present-day hominids, and predicts a...

A high-tech textile to stay comfortable outdoors

Clothing, from tank tops to parkas, helps people adapt to temperatures outdoors. But you can only put on or take off so much of it, and fluctuations in weather can render what you are wearing entirely inadequate. Researchers now describe a high-tech alternative: a reversible textile they designed to trap warmth in the cold and reflect it during hot weather, all while generating small amounts of...