Unraveling the mathematics behind wiggly worm knots
For millennia, humans have used knots for all kinds of reasons—to tie rope, braid hair, or weave fabrics. But there are organisms that are better at tying knots and far superior—and faster—at untangling them......»»
Unraveling the protein map of the cell"s mitochondria
Mitochondria are responsible for the energy supply of the organism and fulfill functions in metabolic and signaling processes. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Freiburg have gained systematic insight into the or.....»»
The effects of tightening a molecular knot
A study conducted by Anne-Sophie Duwez and Damien Sluysmans from the NANOCHEM group at the University of Liège (Belgium) has made it possible to decode the mechanical response of small-molecule synthetic overhand knots by single-molecule pulling exp.....»»
Apple’s relationship with China ‘untenable’ but will take 20 years to unravel
Apple’s relationship with China has been described as “untenable,” as the company faces criticism from senators on both sides of the political aisle. But unraveling that relationship will take more than 20 years, according to one former Apple.....»»
Unraveling Auger recombination in bipolar devices under high carrier injection
Bipolar high-voltage devices based on silicon carbide (SiC) have been earmarked as the next big step in the development of more efficient power systems. The efficiency of these devices is largely dependent on minimizing the impact of various recombin.....»»
Mathematics at the speed of light
Researchers at AMOLF, University of Pennsylvania, and City University of New York (CUNY) created a nanostructured surface capable of solving equations using light. This discovery opens exciting new opportunities in the field of analog processing base.....»»
Researchers measure size-luminosity relation of galaxies less than a billion years after Big Bang
An international team of researchers including the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU) has studied the relation between galaxy size and luminosity of some of the earliest galaxies in the universe taken by the.....»»
Why don"t students stick with STEM degrees?
The number of jobs requiring expertise in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields has risen by 34% over the past decade, leaving employers scrambling to recruit graduates with the required skills. But training the workforce of.....»»
A widespread logic controller flaw raises the specter of Stuxnet
Over 120 PLC models contain a serious vulnerability—and no fix is on the way. Enlarge In 2009, the computer worm Stuxnet crippled hundreds of centrifuges inside Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment plant by targeting th.....»»
Unraveling the selective transport of sugar and a hormone that underlies male fertility in plants
Researchers at Nagoya University, Japan, have discovered a mechanism for the selective transportation of sugar and hormones in plants. The results also clarify that sugar transportation is necessary for male fertility in plants, which means pollen pr.....»»
Unraveling cell fate decisions through single cell methods and mathematical models
How does an embryonic stem cell decide if it becomes a heart cell or a kidney cell? That's the question computational biologist Maria Mircea studied for her Ph.D. research. She looked at the inside of individual cells to analyze how they change. This.....»»
Unraveling the relationship of alcohol and club culture in women"s amateur soccer
Soccer and alcohol is a constant topic in Melbourne and beyond, even between seasons. Players behaving badly on the turps is a standard club issue......»»
Controlling nematode worm behavior using two different light-sensitive proteins called opsins
Is it possible to control an animal's or a cell's behavior using light? In recent years, remarkable progress in optogenetics has been made as research methods come close to realizing this goal......»»
Guiding worm locomotion with magnetically reconfigurable microtopographies
The living worm Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has ~60% gene similarity to humans. This similarity has been studied to develop therapies for age-induced diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the resear.....»»
Researchers working to improve and simplify models for how PFAS flow through ground
As a growing number of communities are forced to confront PFAS contamination in their groundwater, a key hurdle in addressing this harmful group of chemicals lies in unraveling how they move through a region of the environment called the unsaturated.....»»
Generality vs. specificity: Unraveling the electric double layer structure of highly ionic liquid electrolytes
Using a combination of simulation and experimental techniques, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Material Science and Engineering researchers have been able to identify the electric double layer structure of an ionic liquid on a series of cryst.....»»
Synchrony with chaos: Blinking lights of a firefly swarm embody in nature what mathematics predicted
Imagine an old-growth forest in the fading light of a summer evening. As the last of the sun's rays disappear beneath the horizon, a tiny flash catches your eye......»»
The mathematics that makes us realize we don"t know much: Behavior of spin glasses
Spin glasses are alloys formed by noble metals in which a small amount of iron is dissolved. Although they do not exist in nature and have few applications, they have nevertheless been the focus of interest of statistical physicists for some 50 years.....»»
The myth of the "math person"
In the 1970s, Sheila Tobias noticed something peculiar going on in mathematics. In one of her early studies, the graduate of Radcliffe College, self-described "scholar activist," and author of 14 books, including the 1978 bestseller "Overcoming Math.....»»
Information carrying could be improved through hopfions
The knot theory originates in Lord Kevin's model proposed in 1867 that atoms are made of vortex rings or knots. Although the hypothesis was proved incorrect, the knot theory has since then proliferated in both mathematics and physics. One peculiar ca.....»»
Plant hormones to help prevent Striga invasion
As part of a multipronged approach to prevent infestations by the parasitic plant Striga hermonthica, researchers are unraveling the role of plant hormones, known as strigolactones (SLs). Their latest research is published in Science Advances......»»