Technology News
Top headlines, latest headlines.
- Biosensing, Brain-Inspired Computation
- Diamond as Large-Scale Quantum Networks
- When Does a Conductor Not Conduct?
- New Circuit Boards Can Be Repeatedly Recycled
- Oxide Semiconductor Challenges Resolved
- Key to Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells
- Entanglement Structure in an Array of Qubits
- Thin-Film Electronics for Chip Design
- Rubber-Like Stretchable Energy Storage Device
- Holographic Displays: An Immersive Future
Earlier Headlines
Friday, may 3, 2024.
- When Injecting Pure Spin Into Chiral Materials, Direction Matters
Monday, April 22, 2024
- 2D Materials Rotate Light Polarization
- Magnetic With a Pinch of Hydrogen
Friday, April 19, 2024
- Development of Organic Semiconductors Featuring Ultrafast Electrons
Thursday, April 18, 2024
- Novel Material Supercharges Innovation in Electrostatic Energy Storage
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
- Atom-by-Atom: Imaging Structural Transformations in 2D Materials
- Machine Learning Used to Create a Fabric-Based Touch Sensor
- Two-Dimensional Nanomaterial Sets Record for Expert-Defying, Counter-Intuitive Expansion
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
- Photonic Computation With Sound Waves
Monday, April 15, 2024
- New Colorful Plastic Films for Versatile Sensors and Electronic Displays
Thursday, April 11, 2024
- 'Surprising' Hidden Activity of Semiconductor Material Spotted by Researchers
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
- Breakthrough for Next-Generation Digital Displays
- Waterproof 'e-Glove' Could Help Scuba Divers Communicate
Thursday, April 4, 2024
- Researchers 3D Print Key Components for a Point-of-Care Mass Spectrometer
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
- Drawing Inspiration from Plants: A Metal-Air Paper Battery for Wearable Devices
Monday, April 1, 2024
- Physics-Based Predictive Tool Will Speed Up Battery and Superconductor Research
Thursday, March 28, 2024
- Revolutionary Biomimetic Olfactory Chips to Enable Advanced Gas Sensing and Odor Detection
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
- Super Permeable Wearable Electronics Developed for Stable, Long-Term Biosignal Monitoring
Monday, March 25, 2024
- Scientists Deliver Quantum Algorithm to Develop New Materials and Chemistry
- Quantum Interference Could Lead to Smaller, Faster, and More Energy-Efficient Transistors
- In-Situ Observation of Nanoscale Heat Propagation
- Artificial Nanofluidic Synapses Can Store Computational Memory
Friday, March 22, 2024
- Downscaling Storage Devices: Magnetic Memory Based on the Chirality of Spiral Magnets
Thursday, March 21, 2024
- N-Channel Diamond Field-Effect Transistor
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
- Quantum Talk With Magnetic Disks
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
- Brain-Inspired Wireless System to Gather Data from Salt-Sized Sensors
- Spectroscopy and Theory Shed Light on Excitons in Semiconductors
Monday, March 18, 2024
- Reimagining the Future of Solar Energy
- Fast-Charging Lithium-Sulphur Batteries on the Horizon
Friday, March 15, 2024
- Printed Polymer Allows Researchers to Explore Chirality and Spin Interactions at Room Temperature
- Breakthrough Could Make Automated Dosing Systems Universal
Thursday, March 14, 2024
- Researchers Prove Fundamental Limits of Electromagnetic Energy Absorption
- New Study Shows Analog Computing Can Solve Complex Equations and Use Far Less Energy
- An Electricity Generator Inspired by the Drinking Bird Toy Powers Electronics With Evaporated Water
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
- Scientists Use Novel Technique to Create New Energy-Efficient Microelectronic Device
- Scientists Develop Ultra-Thin Semiconductor Fibers That Turn Fabrics Into Wearable Electronics
- Straightening Teeth? AI Can Help
- Staying in the Loop: How Superconductors Are Helping Computers 'remember'
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
- Spiral Wrappers Switch Nanotubes from Conductors to Semiconductors and Back
- Powerful New Tool Ushers in New Era of Quantum Materials Research
Monday, March 11, 2024
- Wearable Tech Captures Real-Time Hemodynamics on the Go
Friday, March 8, 2024
- Tiny Wireless Light Bulbs for Biomedical Applications
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
- Compact Chips Advance Precision Timing for Communications, Navigation and Other Applications
- Nanosurgical Tool Could Be Key to Cancer Breakthrough
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
- Using Light to Precisely Control Single-Molecule Devices
- A New Theoretical Development Clarifies Water's Electronic Structure
Monday, March 4, 2024
- Spontaneous Curvature the Key to Shape-Shifting Nanomaterials
Friday, March 1, 2024
- Umbrella for Atoms: The First Protective Layer for 2D Quantum Materials
Thursday, February 29, 2024
- Turning Waste Into Gold
- When the Music Changes, So Does the Dance: Controlling Cooperative Electronic States in Kagome Metals
- Researchers Improve the Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells
- Researchers Create New Compound to Build Space-Age Antennas
- New Microwave Photonics Chip for High-Speed Signal Processing
- Building Bionic Jellyfish for Ocean Exploration
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
- Quantum Films on Plastic
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
- Movies of Ultrafast Electronic Circuitry in Space and Time
Friday, February 23, 2024
- Mixed-Dimensional Transistors Enable High-Performance Multifunctional Electronic Devices
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
- Method Identified to Double Computer Processing Speeds
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
- These Tiny Power Converters Run on Vibrational Energy
- Physicists Develop More Efficient Solar Cell
- Terahertz Biosensor Detects Skin Cancer With Remarkable Accuracy, Ushering in New Era of Early Detection
- Tapping Into the 300 GHz Band With an Innovative CMOS Transmitter
- Engineers Achieve Breakthrough in Quantum Sensing
Monday, February 19, 2024
- This Tiny, Tamper-Proof ID Tag Can Authenticate Almost Anything
Thursday, February 15, 2024
- Altermagnetism Experimentally Demonstrated
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
- Altermagnetism Proves Its Place on the Magnetic Family Tree
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
- Hand-Held Biosensor Makes Breast Cancer Screening Fast, Affordable, and Accurate
Friday, February 9, 2024
- New Adhesive Tape Picks Up and Sticks Down 2D Materials as Easily as Child's Play
Thursday, February 8, 2024
- Technique Could Improve the Sensitivity of Quantum Sensing Devices
- A New 'metal Swap' Method for Creating Lateral Heterostructures of 2D Materials
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
- Smart Earrings Can Monitor a Person's Temperature
- BESSY II: Molecular Orbitals Determine Stability
Monday, February 5, 2024
- Unveiling the Generation Principles of Charged Particles 'trion' In 2D Semiconductor
Friday, February 2, 2024
- A Sleeker Facial Recognition Technology Tested on Michelangelo's David
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
- Bringing Together Real-World Sensors and VR to Improve Building Maintenance
- Will Electric Fields Lead the Way to Developing Semiconductors With High Power Efficiency?
Monday, January 29, 2024
- Sound-Powered Sensors Stand to Save Millions of Batteries
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
- Researchers Add a 'twist' To Classical Material Design
- A New Design Improves Water Decontamination Via Plasma Jet
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
- Potential Use of Topological Magnets for Magneto-Thermoelectric Energy Conversion
Monday, January 22, 2024
- New Sustainable Method for Creating Organic Semiconductors
- Scientists Advance Affordable, Sustainable Solution for Flat-Panel Displays and Wearable Tech
- Researchers Unveil New Way to Counter Mobile Phone 'account Takeover' Attacks
Thursday, January 18, 2024
- Self-Powered Sensor Automatically Harvests Magnetic Energy
- Researchers Create Faster and Cheaper Way to Print Tiny Metal Structures With Light
- Lighting the Path: Exploring Exciton Binding Energies in Organic Semiconductors
- Unlocking the Secrets of Quasicrystal Magnetism: Revealing a Novel Magnetic Phase Diagram
- Efficiently Moving Urea out of Polluted Water Is Coming to Reality
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
- Scientists Use Heat to Create Transformations Between Skyrmions and Antiskyrmions
Thursday, January 11, 2024
- Artificial Muscle Device Produces Force 34 Times Its Weight
- Artificial Intelligence Helps Unlock Advances in Wireless Communications
- Integrating Dimensions to Get More out of Moore's Law and Advance Electronics
Friday, January 5, 2024
- Using Berry Phase Monopole Engineering for High-Temperature Spintronic Devices
Thursday, January 4, 2024
- Engineers Invent Octopus-Inspired Technology That Can Deceive and Signal
- High-Performance Stretchable Solar Cells
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
- Functional Semiconductor Made from Graphene
- Better Microelectronics from Coal
- Non-Toxic Quantum Dots Pave the Way Towards CMOS Shortwave Infrared Image Sensors for Consumer Electronics
Friday, December 29, 2023
- Breakthrough in Organic Semiconductor Synthesis Paves the Way for Advanced Electronic Devices
Thursday, December 21, 2023
- Are Diamonds GaN's Best Friend? Revolutionizing Transistor Technology
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Biology News
Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms, encompassing various sub-disciplines such as microbiology, botany, zoology, and physiology. We’re dedicated to bringing you the latest research findings, innovative technologies, and thought-provoking discoveries from top scientists, research institutions, and universities around the world.
This section on biology news includes new research related to many related subjects such as biochemistry, genetics, cytology, and microbiology. Popular sub-topics include Biotechnology , DNA , Microbiology , Neurology , Evolutionary Biology , Genetics , Stem Cells , Neuroscience , Bioengineering , and Cell Biology .
Whether you are a professional biologist, an aspiring scientist, or simply someone with a passion for learning about the living world, our Biology News page offers a wealth of information and insights to keep you informed and inspired.
Biology May 7, 2024
Rare Retinal Cells May Hold the Key to True Color Perception
Rochester researchers harnessed adaptive optics to gain insight into the complex workings of the retina and its role in processing color. They have identified elusive…
Inside the Cellular Tug-of-War: What Drives Cancer’s Spread?
Unveiling Vitamin D’s Hidden Power Against Cancer
Quantum Magnetoreception: The Evolutionary Secrets of Bird Navigation
Orangutan Heals Own Wound With Medicinal Plant: First Ever Evidence of Self-Treatment
Surprising Patterns Unearthed – Study Debunks Traditional Views on Yeast Evolution
Cutting-Edge CRISPR: Princeton Researchers Develop a More Precise Gene-Editing Tool
Timing Is Everything: Squid Birth Dates Influence Love Strategies
Scientists Identify New Brain Circuit That Inhibits Appetite
Biology May 4, 2024
New Global Study Confirms: Conservation Actually Works
A comprehensive meta-analysis examines the success of various conservation interventions globally and across different time periods. A recent study recently published in the journal Science…
Biology May 3, 2024
Marine Mystery Solved: Ancient Origins of Bioluminescence Uncovered
Study explores an ancient lineage of marine invertebrates, including soft corals, pushes back the previous oldest dated example of trait by nearly 300 million years….
Genetic Sleuths Discover Red Squirrels As Medieval Leprosy Carriers
Research reveals medieval English red squirrels hosted leprosy-causing bacteria, impacting our understanding of disease history and its transmission between humans and animals. Evidence from archaeological…
Biology May 2, 2024
“Incredible Hulk” Lizard Unveils Secrets of Evolutionary Adaptation
Body shape, color, and behavior often evolve together as species adapt to their environment. Researchers from Lund University in Sweden have studied this phenomenon in…
Biology May 1, 2024
Implications for Alien Life: Scientists Discover Previously Unexplored Underground Habitat
A new molecular DNA analysis technique has enabled the detection of viable microbes at depths of up to 4.20 meters. This discovery also holds significance…
How Do Birds Flock? Researchers Reveal Previously Unknown Aerodynamic Phenomenon
These findings could be useful in the fields of transportation and energy. As you gaze into the sky in the early weeks of spring, you…
Secrets Beneath the Sweat: Scientists Decode the Molecular Impact of Exercise
MoTrPAC examined the molecular effects of exercise on 2,600 volunteers, incorporating factors like age, race, and gender diversity. Building upon research in rats, MoTrPAC discovered…
Crafting Programmable Living Materials With Synthetic Biology & 3D Printing
New study uses 3D printing and genetically modified plant cells to create complex, self-repairing materials that could revolutionize biomanufacturing and construction. Scientists are harnessing cells…
Biology April 30, 2024
Challenging Our Views of Cognition – New Johns Hopkins Test Reveals That Mice Think Like Babies
Behavior that is “surprisingly strategic” enhances our understanding of animal cognition. Are mice clever enough to be strategic? Kishore Kuchibhotla, a Johns Hopkins University neuroscientist…
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Science News
This snake goes to extremes to play dead — and it appears to pay off
When dice snakes fake their death to avoid predators, those that use a combination of blood, poop and musk spend less time pretending to be dead.
Lampreys have ‘fight or flight’ cells, challenging ideas about nervous system evolution
The discovery of sympathetic nervous system cells in lampreys draws a closer tie between the animal and complex vertebrates — such as humans.
As the Arctic tundra warms, soil microbes likely will ramp up CO 2 production
Experiments in mini greenhouses show how the tiny organisms lurking underground in a "sleepy biome" could be a contributor to climate change.
Online spaces may intensify teens’ uncertainty in social interactions
Little is known of how teens learn about emotions online and then use that knowledge to cope with social uncertainty during in-person encounters.
Want to see butterflies in your backyard? Try doing less yardwork
Growing out patches of grass can lure adult butterflies and moths with nectar and offer lawn mower–free havens for toddler caterpillars.
College students want to help during an opioid overdose but don’t know how
A survey of college students reported many are comfortable calling emergency services for an overdose, but fewer know how to intervene with naloxone.
This orangutan used a medicinal plant on his face wound
Rakus the orangutan appeared to be treating a cut to his face with a plant that’s also used in traditional human medicine.
Belugas may communicate by warping a blob of forehead fat
Jiggling the “melon” like Jell-O seems to be associated with sexual behaviors, scientists say.
Scientists developed a sheet of gold that’s just one atom thick
Ultrathin goldene sheets could reduce the amount of gold needed for electronics and certain chemical reactions.
50 years ago, margarine’s ‘healthy’ reputation began to melt away
In the 1970s, scientists began to suspect that margarine was bad for heart health. A key component, artificial trans fat, was a major factor.
Scientists are getting closer to understanding the sun’s ‘campfire’ flares
The detection of cool plasma before the tiny outbursts on the sun is helping researchers make connections between campfire flares and other solar eruptions.
A ruinous hailstorm in Spain may have been supercharged by warming seas
Giant hail that pummeled northeast Spain in August 2022 could not have formed without climate change, computer simulations suggest.
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Machine learning & AI
A framework to detect hallucinations in the text generated by LLMs
Large language models (LLMs) are advanced AI-based dialogue systems that can answer user queries and generate convincing texts following human instructions. After the advent of ChatGPT, the highly performing model developed ...
15 hours ago
Earth Sciences
Computer models show heat waves in north Pacific may be due to China reducing aerosols
A team of oceanographers and planetary scientists at the Ocean University of China, working with a pair of colleagues from the U.S. and one in Germany, has found via computer modeling, that recent heat waves in the north ...
14 hours ago
Researchers develop nanotechnology for creating wafer-scale nanoparticle monolayers in seconds
Nanoscale materials present us with astonishing chemical and physical properties that help materialize applications such as single molecular sensing and minimally invasive photothermal ...
Nanoscale materials present us with astonishing chemical and physical properties that help materialize applications such as single molecular sensing and ...
Nanomaterials
8 hours ago
Study reveals flaw in long-accepted approximation used in water simulations
Computational scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have published a study in the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation that questions a long-accepted ...
Computational scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have published a study in the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation ...
Analytical Chemistry
New accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar discovered
Astronomers report the discovery of a new pulsar using the Spektr-RG space observatory. The newfound object, designated SRGA J144459.2−604207 (or SRGA J1444 for short), turns out ...
Astronomers report the discovery of a new pulsar using the Spektr-RG space observatory. The newfound object, designated SRGA J144459.2−604207 (or SRGA ...
Study underscores new strategies to fight drug-resistant bacteria
Several billion years ago, a genetic arms race began between bacteria and their viral killers. This seemingly eternal struggle continues today, with implications for diseases killing tens of thousands of people around the ...
Cell & Microbiology
In South Africa, tiny primates could struggle to adapt to climate change
In the "sky islands" of the Soutpansberg Mountains of South Africa, two closely related species of primate jostle for space. One is the thick-tailed greater galago (Otolemur crassicaudatus), also known as a bushbaby, which ...
Plants & Animals
7 hours ago
Researchers establish commercially viable process for manufacturing with promising new class of metals
Nanostructured high entropy alloys—metals made from a chaotic mix of several different elements—show a lot of promise for use in industries such as aerospace and automotive because of their strength and stability at high ...
9 hours ago
New research confirms that Beethoven had lead poisoning—but it didn't kill him
To this day, no one knows for certain what caused the liver and kidney disease that led to Ludwig van Beethoven's untimely death. However, a new letter to the editor in the journal Clinical Chemistry rules out one popular ...
Biochemistry
11 hours ago
Chimps shown to learn and improve tool-using skills even as adults
Chimpanzees continue to learn and hone their skills well into adulthood, a capacity that might be essential for the evolution of complex and varied tool use, according to a study published May 7 in the open-access journal ...
10 hours ago
How NASA's Roman mission will hunt for primordial black holes
Astronomers have discovered black holes ranging from a few times the sun's mass to tens of billions. Now a group of scientists has predicted that NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope could find a class of "featherweight" ...
Scientists create robot snails that can move independently using tracks or work together to climb
A team of roboticists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong has created a robot snail with a helmet-like shell that moves by rolling around on bulldozer-like tracks. They have published a paper on their research in Nature ...
Cannabis, nicotine use during pregnancy found to increase rate of infant death fourfold
In a new study, Oregon Health & Science University researchers report that combined cannabis and nicotine use during pregnancy is associated with significantly higher risk of poor health outcomes for newborns compared with ...
The Future is Interdisciplinary
Find out how ACS can accelerate your research to keep up with the discoveries that are pushing us into science’s next frontier
- Last Comments
Study finds that the transport of mRNAs into axons along with lysosomal vesicles prevents axon degeneration
May 6, 2024
Medical Xpress
Using AI and social media to track depression in communities could offer more reliable assessments than surveys
Mouse study shows intermittent fasting protects against liver inflammation and liver cancer
New analysis links resident physicians' exam scores to patient survival
Researchers use foundation models to discover new cancer imaging biomarkers
A potential treatment for inflammatory bowel disease: Engineered yeast can transport medicines and lower inflammation
New genetic mutation identified for congenital thyroid condition
AI may help physicians detect abnormal heart rhythms earlier
AI predicts tumor-killing cells with high accuracy, study shows
Study finds AI is as good as a physician at prioritizing which patients need to be seen first
Study identifies signifiers of severe COVID-19 disease and death
Seeking medical insights in the physics of mucus
Key role found for gut epithelial cells in the defense against deadly diarrheal infections
Three-dimensional retinal electrodes in a convex Braille shape partially restore sight
You're breathing potential carcinogens inside your car, says study
Almost all counterfeit oxycontin pills contain fentanyl, finds study
Researchers suggest B-cells may play role in lung transplant rejection
Why sleep soothes distress: Neurobiology explained
Researchers demonstrate a new mechanism of neural plasticity underlying learning and memory processes
Researchers develop reminder system to enhance memory recall
Researchers report exceptionally small implant for future vision correction
Biomarker found to help identify cells that can repair damaged blood vessels
Years after his death, late scientist's work could yield new cancer treatments
Study finds genetic link between growth during puberty and long-term health conditions
Researchers make strides in understanding little-known autoimmune myelin-impairing disorder
Study: Progression of herpesvirus infection remodels mitochondrial organization and metabolism
Study shows that the cerebellum is involved in processing emotions, with implications for ataxia care
Gut bacteria metabolite shows promise in fighting inflammatory bowel disease
Ion channel discovery offers hope for long COVID patients
Cellular study of Schaaf-Yang syndrome offers better understanding of a rare disease that causes intellectual disability
Tech xplore.
Computer scientists discover vulnerability in cloud server hardware used by AMD and Intel chips
Why getting in touch with our 'gerbil brain' could help machines listen better
New process brings commercialization of CO₂ utilization technology to produce formic acid one step closer
Australian engineers develop an ultrasonic cold brew coffee machine
Researchers engineer sound-suppressing silk to reduce noise transmission in a large room
Engineers evaluate reliability of pressure relief valves for liquid natural gas tanks in train derailment scenarios
Using artificial ground reflectors to boost the efficacy of solar panels
New software trained on photographic database may allow facial recognition beneath the mask
Streamlined life-cycle assessments of natural gas systems can inform near-term energy transition
Q&A: Economist says EVs can help drive US to carbon-neutral power grid
New large learning model shows how AI might shape LGBTQIA+ advocacy
A second life for discarded lithium-ion cells
Apple's biggest announcements from its iPad event: brighter screen, faster chips and the Pencil Pro
Smartphone app can unmask forged documents
Nintendo to announce Switch successor in this fiscal year as profits rise
Advancing satellite-based PNT service: Low Earth orbit satellite constellations augment the GNSS
Researcher explains why we should care more about converging technologies
TikTok challenges potential US ban in court
Strengthening Swiss hydropower with science
Researchers say cybersecurity education varies widely in US
US seeks information from Tesla on how it developed and verified whether Autopilot recall worked
Amazon says will invest $9 billion in Singapore
Engineers create a caterpillar-shaped robot that splits into segments, reassembles, hauls and crawls
Turing test study shows humans rate artificial intelligence as more 'moral' than other people
Microcapacitors with ultrahigh energy and power density could power chips of the future
Researchers develop a biomechanical dataset for badminton performance analysis
3D video conferencing tool lets remote user control the view
Multiplexed neuron sets make smaller optical neural networks possible
Advanced experimental setup expands the hunt for hidden dark matter particles
Scientific evidence for dark matter comes from observing how it influences the motion of stars and galaxies. Scientists believe that dark matter may consist of particles. To search for these particles and their billiard ball-like ...
General Physics
Geologists reveal mysterious and diverse volcanism in lunar Apollo Basin, Chang'e-6 landing site
The far side of the moon is a mysterious place that is never visible from the Earth. The most remarkable feature of the moon is its asymmetry between the lunar near side and far side in composition, crust thickness, and mare ...
Planetary Sciences
12 hours ago
Public cloud services employ special security technologies. Computer scientists at ETH Zurich have now discovered a gap in the latest security mechanisms used by AMD and Intel chips. This affects major cloud providers.
A study that used artificial intelligence (AI) and social media posts to assess the rates of depression and anxiety in nearly half of American counties found that the AI-generated measurements produced more reliable assessments ...
Discharge of scrubber water into the Baltic Sea is responsible for hundreds of millions in costs
Discharge from ships with so-called scrubbers cause great damage to the Baltic Sea. A new study from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, shows that these emissions caused pollution corresponding to socioeconomic costs ...
Environment
19 hours ago
Using algorithms to decode the complex phonetic alphabet of sperm whales
The allure of whales has stoked human consciousness for millennia, casting these ocean giants as enigmatic residents of the deep seas. From the biblical Leviathan to Herman Melville's formidable Moby Dick, whales have been ...
Fatty liver disease often leads to chronic liver inflammation and can even result in liver cancer. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the University of Tübingen have now shown in mice that intermittent ...
Research team discovers new property of light
A research team headed by chemists at the University of California, Irvine has discovered a previously unknown way in which light interacts with matter, a finding that could lead to improved solar power systems, light-emitting ...
Optics & Photonics
How do we know whether newly minted doctors have what it takes to prevent patient deaths? After completing residency training, graduating physicians typically take board certification exams at the time they enter practice—but ...
Researchers at Mass General Brigham have harnessed the technology behind foundation models, which power tools like ChatGPT, to discover new cancer imaging biomarkers that could transform how patterns are identified from radiological ...
Study exposes alarming risks to Scotland's food delivery couriers
A new study highlighting the risks encountered by food delivery couriers reveals a majority feel 'unsafe' when at work with every woman surveyed having experienced sexual harassment or abuse.
Regulating branch development of petunias
Branching is a pivotal determinant of plant architecture, not only influencing the capacity of the plant to adapt to its environment but also significantly impacting crop yield, ornamental characteristics, and production ...
Snap bean panel reveals variability in leaf, pod color phenotypes
A new study led by researchers from Oregon State University explores the significance of vegetable color in consumer choices and agricultural production, focusing on snap beans. The color of snap bean pods, influenced by ...
Proton-lithium interactions model lays the foundation for unlocking the secrets of stellar reactions
The reactions between protons and lithium isotopes, especially lithium-6, are pivotal for several domains ranging from nuclear energy applications to astrophysics. The detailed understanding of these interactions aids in ...
Bsal and beyond: Task force helps stave off amphibian disease threat
Amphibians—like frogs and salamanders—are the most imperiled group of animal species in the world; infectious diseases are among the greatest threats to their existence. After a decade of research, a scientific task force ...
Researchers discover three ingots made of Roman lead in Northern Córdoba
Three ingots from the site of Los Escoriales de Doña Rama (Belmez) and dating from the Roman era demonstrate the importance of lead production and exportation in northern Córdoba. Measuring some 45 centimeters long and ...
Researchers study the intricacies of homologous recombination and abnormal chromosome bridges
Keeping the genetic information stored in genomic DNA intact during the cell division cycle is crucial for almost all lifeforms. Extensive DNA damage invariably causes various adverse genomic rearrangements, which can lead ...
How reports of community firearm violence are framed on local television news in Philadelphia
Two new studies published in Preventive Medicine Reports and BMC Public Health led by corresponding author Jessica H. Beard, MD, MPH, FACS, of Temple University, more closely examine how reports of community firearm violence ...
Study shows female gamers only label half of sexual harassment incidents they experience as such
A new study from the Kinsey Institute reveals that only 50.5% of women who were targets of sexual harassment during online gaming identified qualifying incidents as such. This figure dropped further to only 42.2% for women ...
How do emotions help construct our cultural identity in music festivals?
2022 was a record year for music festivals in Spain, hitting historic highs just two years after the entire country was locked down due to the pandemic. Spain boasts close to a thousand music festivals and a live music industry ...
Business-focused anti-poverty initiatives can have unintended consequences
A new study of entrepreneurial small businesses created to address poverty in rural Africa found that the introduction of the entrepreneurial model led to unexpected social shifts that made the small business operators a ...
Why legal changes aimed at preventing frivolous litigation motivate firms to avoid recalling products
Researchers from University of Adelaide and University of Danang have published a new Journal of Marketing study that examines Universal Demand laws and the unintended consequence of firms becoming less likely to recall products.
Aquatic weed among 'world's worst' expands in northeastern US
An article published in the journal Invasive Plant Science and Management provides new insights on a northern hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) subspecies (lithuanica) and its establishment outside the Connecticut River.
A photocatalyst for sustainable syngas production from greenhouse gases
Researchers have developed a novel photocatalyst, named Rh/InGaN1-xOx, which is a nanoarchitecture consisting of rhodium nanoparticles anchored on oxygen-modified indium gallium nitride nanowires grown on silicon substrates.
The big lesson from past pandemics? Avoid panic buying, says new research
COVID-19 upended almost every aspect of daily life, including consumer and retailer behavior. However, it was not the first pandemic that changed how we shop.
Educational research should pinpoint anti-Black aggressions to build better policy, scholar writes
Educational research has long lumped all people of color together when examining microaggressions perpetrated against them. A University of Kansas scholar has published an article that argues educational research should instead ...
Engineers develop innovative microbiome analysis software tools
Since the first microbial genome was sequenced in 1995, scientists have reconstructed the genomic makeup of hundreds of thousands of microorganisms and have even devised methods to take a census of bacterial communities on ...
From flooding in Brazil and Houston to brutal heat in Asia, extreme weather seems nearly everywhere
In sweltering Brazil, worst-ever flooding killed dozens of people and paralyzed a city of about 4 million people. Voters and politicians in the world's largest election in India are fainting in heat that hit as high as 115 ...
New patent for bio-based polymer to be used in piezoelectric devices
UD engineers are the lead inventors on a new patent for making piezoelectric devices, such as sensors and actuators, using Nodax, a biodegradable, bio-based polymer.
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- 30 April 2024
Why doing social science research is difficult in India today
- Yamini Aiyar 0
Yamini Aiyar is the former president and chief executive of the Centre for Policy Research, based in New Delhi.
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India’s academic freedom has been in steady decline for a decade. This is well documented: in the 2024 Academic Freedom Index update produced by V-Dem, a project on democracy based in Gothenburg, Sweden, India is ranked in the bottom 20% of a list of 179 countries and territories on metrics such as ‘institutional autonomy’ and ‘freedom to research and teach’.
Historically, academic freedoms were certainly not perfect in India. Yet even a cursory glance at the evidence reveals that the scale of restrictions and the misuse of laws to curb academic freedom has increased. In the interests of preserving India’s global competitiveness, whoever wins the election should seek to reverse this trend.
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The documented drop in academic freedom is part of a broader decline in India’s vibrant culture of public debate. I have personally witnessed the growing restrictions during my 15 years as a researcher at the New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research (CPR), where I served as president for 7 years until I stepped down in March.
My own research community — think tanks that aim to support evidence-based policies — engages deeply with the global academic and policy ecosystem. Given that public funds have many competing priorities, much of our research relies on international philanthropic funding. That is becoming increasingly difficult to come by, owing to a tightening of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), which controls licences to access foreign funding.
For instance, after amendments to this law in 2020, recipients of foreign funding cannot give subgrants to other organizations, making collaborative research impossible. And since 2014, nearly 17,000 civil-society organizations have lost their FCRA licences altogether . For those that still have a licence, the renewal process is onerous. Many organizations receive temporary extensions of three to six months, rather than the full period of five years allowed under law.
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It seems that tax laws are also increasingly being used against institutions. Some research organizations are facing penalties and, in extreme cases, the loss of their tax-exempt status, which is required for accessing charitable donations. In September 2022, six institutions, including the CPR, were subject to tax ‘surveys’ that eventually resulted in them having both their FCRA licences and their tax-exempt statuses revoked . This has left them mired in legal minutiae and struggling to fund their work.
Similar challenges to the freedom to pursue independent research are visible on university campuses. In 2022, the India Academic Freedom Network (IAFN) prepared a status report for the United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression. It lists 78 instances in which seminars, lectures or talks at public universities were disrupted by politically aligned groups or the permission to organize such events was denied. It also lists 25 cases of faculty arrests, including some under anti-terror and sedition laws — mostly for speaking on issues of public interest, on campus or in social-media posts. A further 37 incidents pertain to the arrest of students. The IAFN report also points to difficulties associated with foreign researchers obtaining visas and entering India — even for people who hold Overseas Citizenship of India cards.
All this comes at a juncture when critical feedback and effective consultation are required to secure the country’s long-term growth and prosperity. But rather than engage with ideas and challenge them in the spirit of inquiry and public debate, in my view, it has now become increasingly common for technocrats in government to seek to discredit researchers and suppress research. In late 2023, for instance, the World Bank removed from its website an important study that highlighted reversals of progress recorded under a flagship sanitation programme. The bank cited procedural issues , but was presumably under government pressure.
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Even crucial government data are now hard to obtain. The decennial census, for example, was last conducted in 2010–11; the public report on the 2017–18 household consumption expenditure survey was junked and only partial data have been released from the 2022–23 survey. The consequences of this are significant. In my field, development and social policy, the data gaps make it harder to measure changes in well-being. The debate on poverty reduction is bogged down in estimates, leaving the public with relatively little objective analysis on the reach and effectiveness of economic policies.
To reverse these trends, researchers must make their voices heard and be willing to defend the principle and value of academic freedom in the public domain. Research bodies should engage more effectively with philanthropists in India and find ways to preserve the space for civil discourse. An alliance with broader civil society is also required to push back against draconian regulations that undermine scientific freedoms.
India’s experience is not unique, but a reflection of a broader malaise. The V-Dem report makes it clear that several countries — including the United States, where university campuses are in turmoil — have witnessed a deterioration in the space available to pursue independent research. Researchers in India and elsewhere should fight to retain that space. It will be a long and difficult battle. But it is an essential one.
Nature 629 , 9 (2024)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01214-1
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Researchers develop ‘founding document’ on synthetic cell development.
Tara Friesen
Cells are the fundamental units of life, forming the variety of all living things on Earth as individual cells and multi-cellular organisms. To better understand how cells perform the essential functions of life, scientists have begun developing synthetic cells – non-living bits of cellular biochemistry wrapped in a membrane that mimic specific biological processes.
The development of synthetic cells could one day hold the answers to developing new ways to fight disease, supporting long-duration human spaceflight, and better understanding the origins of life on Earth.
In a paper published recently in ACS Synthetic Biology , researchers outline the potential opportunities that synthetic cell development could unlock and what challenges lie ahead in this groundbreaking research. They also present a roadmap to inspire and guide innovation in this intriguing field.
“The potential for this field is incredible,” said Lynn Rothschild, the lead author of the paper and an astrobiologist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. “It’s a privilege to have led this group in forming what we envision will be a founding document, a resource that will spur this field on.”
Synthetic cell development could have wide ranging benefits to humanity. Analyzing the intricacies that go in to building a cell could guide researchers to better understand how cells first evolved or open the door to creating new forms of life more capable of withstanding harsh environments like radiation or freezing temperatures.
These innovations could also lead to advancements in food and medical sciences – creating efficiencies in food production, detecting contaminants in manufacturing, or developing novel cellular functions that act as new therapies for chronic diseases and even synthetic organ transplantation.
Building synthetic cells could also answer some of NASA’s biggest questions about the possibility of life beyond Earth.
“The challenge of creating synthetic cells informs whether we’re alone in the universe,” said Rothschild. “We’re starting to develop the skills to not just create synthetic analogs of life as it may have happened on Earth but to consider pathways to life that could form on other planets.”
As research continues on synthetic cell development, Rothschild sees opportunities where it could expand our understanding of the complexities of natural life.
“Life is an amazing thing. We use the capabilities of cells all the time – we build houses with wood, we use leather in our shoes, we breathe oxygen. Life has amazing precision, and if you can harness it, it’s unbelievable what we could accomplish.”
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Evolution of enhanced innate immune evasion by SARS-CoV-2. The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant suppresses innate immune responses more effectively than isolates of first-wave SARS-CoV-2, and this is a ...
Comparative study on effect of pomegranate peel powder as natural preservative and chemical preservatives on quality and shelf life of muffins. Namrata Ankush Giri. Aditi Bhangale. R. A. Marathe ...
The latest science news and developments about space, animal behavior, plant life, the brain, genetics, archaeology, robots and climate change, along with Carl Zimmer and the weekly Science Times.
With an election under way, the future of Indian science is on the ballot. Encouraging research and critical thinking should be a priority for the new government.
As research continues on synthetic cell development, Rothschild sees opportunities where it could expand our understanding of the complexities of natural life. "Life is an amazing thing. We use the capabilities of cells all the time - we build houses with wood, we use leather in our shoes, we breathe oxygen.
Matthew Patitz, associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, received a grant from the National Science Foundation. This grant, worth $533,690, is for his collaborative research project titled "FET: Small: Algorithmic Self-Assembly with Crisscross Slats ...