Article archives

X-ray fluorescence imaging, a pivotal tool in modern biological research

X-ray fluorescence imaging, a pivotal tool in modern biological research

DIPC Biochemistry

By DIPC

X-ray fluorescence imaging (XFI) is a powerful technique that enables scientists to visualize and map the distribution of elements within various samples, including biological tissues. By detecting the unique fluorescent signals emitted by elements when they are excited by X-rays, XFI provides detailed information about the elemental composition and spatial distribution in a non-destructive manner […]

Western Europe’s oldest human face discovered in Spain

Western Europe’s oldest human face discovered in Spain

AnthropologyEvolution

By Invited Researcher

Author: María Martinón-Torres, CENIEH Director, Atapuerca Research Team and author of “Homo imperfectus” (Ed. Destino), Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) The research team at the Atapuerca archaeological sites in Burgos, Spain, has just broken its own record by discovering, for the third time, the oldest human in Western Europe. The team […]

‘Microlightning’ in water droplets, a twist in the Miller-Urey experiment

‘Microlightning’ in water droplets, a twist in the Miller-Urey experiment

BiochemistryBiologyChemistry

By Mapping Ignorance

Life may not have begun with a dramatic lightning strike into the ocean but from many smaller “microlightning” exchanges among water droplets from crashing waterfalls or breaking waves. New research shows that water sprayed into a mixture of gases thought to be present in Earth’s early atmosphere can lead to the formation of organic molecules […]

MI weekly selection #594

MI weekly selection #594

Weekly Selection

By César Tomé

Rapid crevasse growth on Greenland Ice Sheet Research shows that crevasses on Greenland’s Ice Sheet are growing at an alarming rate, potentially accelerating ice loss and sea level rise. The study, which used advanced digital elevation models to document crevasse volume changes from 2016 to 2021, underscores the need for continued monitoring to refine predictions […]

Confined water vitrification

Confined water vitrification

Chemical engineeringDIPC Polymers

By DIPC

Water, a substance so familiar in our daily lives, harbours complexities that continue to intrigue scientists. One such enigma is the behaviour of water when it transforms into a glass-like state, known as vitrification, especially under confinement. A recent study delves into this phenomenon, shedding light on the intricate nature of confined water vitrification and […]

Quantum tornado in momentum space experimentally demonstrated

Quantum tornado in momentum space experimentally demonstrated

Condensed matterMaterials

By Mapping Ignorance

A team of researchers has experimentally demonstrated a quantum tornado for the first time by refining an established method. In the quantum semimetal tantalum arsenide (TaAs), electrons in momentum space behave like a swirling vortex. This quantum phenomenon was first predicted eight years ago. Scientists have long known that electrons can form vortices in quantum […]

Elinzanetant, a (possible) relief for menopausal hot flashes

Elinzanetant, a (possible) relief for menopausal hot flashes

MedicinePharmacy

By Rosa García-Verdugo

Women’s health has long been ignored by pharmaceutical research. Not only are they less often included in clinical trials, but many exclusive female conditions are either not or barely researched. One of those is menopause. A change that every woman will experience and that is characterised by a plethora of (unwelcome) symptoms: hot flashes, brain […]

MI weekly selection #593

MI weekly selection #593

Weekly Selection

By César Tomé

Prosthetic hand mimics human touch Engineers at Johns Hopkins University developed a prosthetic hand that mimics human touch by blending soft and rigid parts with touch-sensitive technology. The hand uses forearm muscle signals and machine learning to adjust its grip on various objects, achieving 99.69% accuracy in tests. “We want to give people with upper-limb […]