Category archives: Science

Plasmonic resonances in an aluminium magic cluster

Plasmonic resonances in an aluminium magic cluster

Condensed matter

By DIPC

Al13 − is one of the most attractive of the so-called magic clusters. It has a perfect icosahedral symmetry with an aluminum atom at the center, a closed-shell electronic configuration (40 electrons), and a large highest occupied molecular orbital−lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO− LUMO) gap. These features result in an unusual stability and chemical inertness […]

The not so secret life of plants (1): The emergence of plant neurobiology

The not so secret life of plants (1): The emergence of plant neurobiology

NeurobiologyPhilosophy of sciencePlant biology

By Jesús Zamora Bonilla

It is said of philosophers that they are ever less willing to recognise a mistake than the ordinary intellect… sorry, man on the street. Actually, an old joke tells about a university rector saying to other that his favourite department is that of mathematics, for mathematicians only ask for paper, pencils and paper bins; “oh […]

Dirty mice are the next revolution in immunology research

Dirty mice are the next revolution in immunology research

GeneticsHealthMedicineMolecular biology

By Sergio Laínez

Laboratory mice are one of the most valuable tools scientists rely on to understand how pathologies work. In order to find a cure for a disease, we need to have comprehensive knowledge of the physiological processes which are impaired. For instance, we can manipulate mice genetically to assess the effect of either the deletion, overexpression […]

MI weekly selection #184

MI weekly selection #184

Humanities & Social SciencesScienceTechnologyWeekly Selection

By César Tomé

Unusual underwater structures are geological, not ancient city Uniquely shaped structures found underwater near the Greek island of Zakynthos are naturally occurring geological forms and not the ruins of an ancient city lost to the sea. The circular structures reminiscent of columns, floors and courtyards likely formed about 5 million years ago during the Pliocene […]

Quantum disbelievers

Quantum disbelievers

Condensed matterHistoryQuantum physics

By DIPC

The idea that the solution of Schrödinger’s equation is a wave that represents, not a physical wave, but the probability of finding the associated particle in some specific condition of motion has had great success. In fact, every experiment devised so far to test this interpretation has confirmed these results. Yet many scientists still find […]

MI weekly selection #183

MI weekly selection #183

Humanities & Social SciencesScienceTechnologyWeekly Selection

By César Tomé

Ancient Phoenician’s genome sequenced A Phoenician who lived 2,500 years ago near Carthage had European ancestors, according to researchers who sequenced his mitochondrial genome after collecting DNA from his remains. The Phoenician’s ancestry was traced back to the European haplogroup U5b2cl, connected to the North Mediterranean and possibly the Iberian Peninsula. Seeker Protein linked to […]