Category archives: Science

Rafting ants

Rafting ants

Biology

By José Ramón Alonso

Cooperation is the process of groups of individuals working or acting together for common or mutual benefit. Members of social insect societies cooperate in sophisticated modes. The specialization of individual ants in performing particular tasks or roles tend to increase group efficiency that is best exemplified by workers that display a wide array of specific […]

The uncertainty principle, under a new light

The uncertainty principle, under a new light

Quantum physics

By DIPC

In ordinary life it is assumed that any physical property of an object can be measured as accurately as necessary. To reach any desired degree of accuracy would require only a sufficiently precise instrument. Wave mechanics showed, however, that even in thought experiments with ideal instruments there are limits to the accuracy of measurements that […]

SNPs, RNA and Celiac Disease

SNPs, RNA and Celiac Disease

BiochemistryBiomedicineGeneticsHealth

By Invited Researcher

Around 80% of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated to many human diseases map to non-coding regions. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent a large portion of non-coding regions across the genome, however the link between the disease-associated SNPs on lncRNA expression or function, and the implications for disease, remain uncharacterized. Celiac disease is complex immune […]

Chronic wasting disease in Europe

Chronic wasting disease in Europe

HealthMedicineNeurobiology

By José Ramón Alonso

Prion diseases are a group of severe conditions that affect the nervous system of many animals, including humans. Although their causes were highly controversial, there is a widespread agreement nowadays that they are originated and transmitted by prions, infectious agents with a normal and an abnormal structure. The abnormal prion protein infects the host animal […]

How the physical model of atoms was lost

How the physical model of atoms was lost

Condensed matterHistoryQuantum physics

By DIPC

By the mid-1920s it was clear that “things” (electrons, atoms, molecules) long regarded as particles also show wave properties. This fact is the basis for the currently accepted theory of atomic structure. This theory, quantum mechanics, was introduced in 1925. Its foundations were developed very rapidly during the next few years, primarily by Born, Heisenberg […]

Optimising production and stock management for blood platelet concentrates

Optimising production and stock management for blood platelet concentrates

EconomicsMathematicsMedicinePharmacy

By Invited Researcher

Blood from donations is separated into three components: red cells, platelets and plasma, and one component or another is then transfused into patients according to their needs. The conditions for storage differ for each component: red cell concentrates can be kept for up to 42 days at temperatures of 1-6ºC. Platelet concentrates (PC) are stored […]

MI weekly selection #181

MI weekly selection #181

Humanities & Social SciencesScienceTechnologyWeekly Selection

By César Tomé

Earth-sun magnetic field interactions seen by NASA space probes Explosive storms spawned by interactions between the magnetic fields of Earth and the sun can endanger satellites, spacecraft and astronauts in space, as well as power grids on Earth. Now, a fleet of NASA spacecraft has for the first time directly witnessed the mysterious way in […]

Loneliness

Loneliness

HealthPhysiology

By José Ramón Alonso

Humans are naturally social. Yet, the modern way of life in developed countries is greatly reducing the quality and quantity of social relationships despite the use of modern technologies that provide an illusory richness of interpersonal contacts. Many people in industrialized nations live far from their relatives, delay getting married, and more and more people […]