Category archives: DIPC

Optomechanical control of molecular motion

Optomechanical control of molecular motion

Physics

By DIPC

At first glance, molecules seem too small and too chaotic to be controlled with light. Their atoms jiggle ceaselessly, driven by thermal energy, and their vibrations—tiny oscillations of chemical bonds—usually remain hidden in the background. But recent work has shown that we can, in fact, use light not only to measure these vibrations but also […]

Unlocking the secrets of recyclable vitrimers

Unlocking the secrets of recyclable vitrimers

ChemistryDIPC PolymersMaterials

By DIPC

In polymer science, the classic division is between thermoplastics, which soften and flow when heated, and thermosets, which are permanently cross-linked and keep their shape no matter how hot they get—at least until they burn. In the last decade, researchers have discovered a fascinating new class of materials called vitrimers, which sit between these two […]

Unveiling dark matter: How the Dragon Arc’s twinkling stars challenge cosmic theories

Unveiling dark matter: How the Dragon Arc’s twinkling stars challenge cosmic theories

AstronomyAstrophysicsDIPC Astrophysics

By DIPC

The mystery of dark matter remains one of the most profound puzzles in modern astrophysics. We know it outweighs ordinary matter by a factor of five, yet it neither shines nor absorbs light. Its presence is betrayed only by the pull of gravity, shaping galaxies and bending light from more distant objects. For decades, scientists […]

A cooler way to see inside the body: Cryogenic cesium iodide for medical imaging

A cooler way to see inside the body: Cryogenic cesium iodide for medical imaging

DIPC Particle PhysicsMedicineParticle physics

By DIPC

Positron Emission Tomography, or PET, is one of medicine’s most powerful tools for looking inside the human body, revealing not only anatomy but also how tissues are functioning. In a PET scan, a patient receives a tiny dose of a radioactive tracer that emits positrons, the antimatter counterparts of electrons. When a positron encounters an […]

The sweet spot of self-sufficient heterogeneous biocatalysts

The sweet spot of self-sufficient heterogeneous biocatalysts

BiochemistryBiotechnologyCatalysisChemical engineeringChemistry

By Invited Researcher

Authors: Fernando López-Gallego, Principal Investigator, Ikerbasque Professor and group leader at the Heterogeneous Biocatalysis Laboratory at CIC biomaGUNE; Ainhoa Oliden-Sánchez, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Heterogeneous Biocatalysis Laboratory at CIC biomaGUNE; Clara García-Gorro, Science Communication Manager at CIC biomaGUNE. Self-sufficient heterogeneous biocatalysts are emerging as powerful tools for greener, more efficient chemical manufacturing. By cleverly combining […]

X-rays reveal the true identity of nanoparticles in medicine

X-rays reveal the true identity of nanoparticles in medicine

BiochemistryChemistryDIPC BiochemistryMedicineNanotechnology

By DIPC

When you hear the word nanoparticle, it might sound like something futuristic or abstract. In reality, nanoparticles—tiny structures tens of thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair—are already part of modern medicine. Some are used to deliver drugs more effectively, while others help doctors see inside the body by acting as […]