In the realm of modern technology, controlling light at the smallest scales is crucial for advancements in areas like medical imaging, environmental sensing, and the development of new computing technologies. A recent study explores innovative methods to manipulate light emission from individual molecules, paving the way for significant progress in these fields. The role of […]
For the problem of scientific realism, the most consequential implication of the ‘ugly duckling theorem’ we met in our last entry was that judgments of similarity seem to be not reducible to any kind of algorithmic definition that might tell in an objective way how much ‘similar’ is one thing to another, for these judgments […]
The future of medicine may very well lie in the personalization of health care—knowing exactly what an individual needs and then delivering just the right mix of nutrients, metabolites, and medications, if necessary, to stabilize and improve their condition. To make this possible, physicians first need a way to continuously measure and monitor certain biomarkers […]
Authors: Joëlle Vanhamme, Professor of Marketing, EDHEC Business School, and Valerie Swaen, Professor of Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility, Université catholique de Louvain Is renting clothes instead of buying them truly better for the planet? As the textile industry faces growing scrutiny for its environmental impact, clothing rental services promise consumers the opportunity to refresh […]
Widespread decline in genetic diversity Genetic diversity is declining among a wide range of species, including some not considered threatened, due to factors such as climate change and habitat loss. Genetic diversity declines were found in two-thirds of 628 species of birds, mammals, bony fish and flowering plants studied, threatening the species’ resilience and ability […]
In a recent study, a team of researchers explores the intriguing electronic behaviours that emerge when two distinct forms of carbon-based materials—nanoporous graphene (NPG) and graphene—are layered together with a twist between them. Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice, renowned for its exceptional electrical conductivity, mechanical strength […]
Scientists have long puzzled over how pterosaurs became the first vertebrates to master flight. Some pterosaur species, such as the Quetzalcoatlus were the largest known animals to ever take to the skies, with wingspans of over ten meters (on par with military aircraft like the Spitfire). My team’s new study may help solve the evolutionary […]
Proteins, the pillars of cellular function, often assemble into “complexes” to fulfil their functions. A new study reveals why this assembly often begins during the very process of protein synthesis or “birth.” These early interactions involve proteins whose stability depends on their association. They can be compared to a couple in which each partner supports […]
Two-dimensional (2D) materials have become a centrepiece of modern materials science, captivating researchers with their electronic, mechanical, and optical properties. Since Geim and Novoselov discovered the exfoliation technique in 2004, thousands of 2D materials have been discovered, synthesised, or predicted. In particular, anisotropic 2D materials display direction-dependent characteristics, promising cutting-edge applications in flexible electronics and […]
Universe’s rapid expansion challenges existing physics Scientists have confirmed that the universe is expanding at a rate faster than current physics models can explain, based on precise measurements of the Coma galaxy cluster. This discrepancy, known as the Hubble tension, presents a significant challenge in cosmology as different methods yield conflicting expansion rates. ScienceAlert Coral […]