Category archives: Science

The gravitational wave detector revisited: a new approach using atomic clocks

The gravitational wave detector revisited: a new approach using atomic clocks

Physics

By Víctor Marín Felip

In September 2015 a new scientific field was born. Two colossal experiment confirmed the existence of gravitational waves, measuring the ripple of space-time induced by two very distant black holes merging in a cataclysmic display of gravity waves and radiation . Gravitational wave astronomy was born then, much like neutrino astronomy was born with the […]

Fasting against diabetes

Fasting against diabetes

HealthMedicine

By Rosa García-Verdugo

Diabetes is a disease typically associated with old age, especially when speaking of type 2, characterized for insulin resistance, and associated with obesity and therefore, more likely to occur in old age. A recent couple of papers published in Cell and Science Translational Medicine point to the healing potential of a fasting-mimicking diet for resetting […]

How drug discovery works: finding new strategies against Kaposi’s sarcoma

How drug discovery works: finding new strategies against Kaposi’s sarcoma

BiomedicineMedicinePharmacy

By Isabel Perez Castro

15% of human cancers worldwide may be attributed to viruses, 1 with both DNA and RNA viruses being capable of causing the disease. Epstein-Barr virus, human papilloma virus, hepatitis B virus, and human herpes virus-8 are the four DNA viruses capable of causing the development of human cancer, whereas human T lymphotrophic virus type 1 […]

About lefties and righties

About lefties and righties

GeneticsNeuroscience

By Daniel Moreno Andrés

Behind the symmetrical shell of humans and vertebrates lies a profound asymmetry. Our bilaterality breaks down inside our body. Not only our viscera are organized asymmetrically. Also our brain and nervous system, whose general appearance seems symmetrical, present lateralized structure and functioning. Among cognitive systems for example, language, attention, emotional processing, working memory and executive […]

How to measure the viscosity of the liquid inside a living cell using upconverting particles

How to measure the viscosity of the liquid inside a living cell using upconverting particles

Condensed matterNanotechnologyPhysics

By DIPC

How would you measure the dynamic viscosity of cytosol, the liquid inside the cells, without destroying the cell? It seems not an easy task. However, a team of researchers that includes Nuno de Sousa (DIPC & IFIMAC), has just provided a way of achieving this and other similar feats using upconverting particles. An optical trap […]

A membrane with voltage-dependent conductances increases the energy efficiency of fly photoreceptors

A membrane with voltage-dependent conductances increases the energy efficiency of fly photoreceptors

BiologyNeurobiology

By Francisco J Hernández

The neuronal membrane, like membranes surrounding other cells, is mainly formed by a lipid surface impermeable to ions. It is only through ion channels, small protein pores embedded in the membrane, that ions can cross, allowing electrical current to charge or discharge the neuron. The inclusion of ion channels in a membrane, determines its electrical […]

Plasmons galore for myriad applications

Plasmons galore for myriad applications

ChemistryCondensed matterMaterialsNanotechnologyPhysicsQuantum physics

By DIPC

Worldwide research efforts on plasmons and metamaterials have been growing exponentially for the past ten years. Now, Antonio I. Fernández-Domínguez (IFIMAC), Francisco J. García-Vidal (IFIMAC & DIPC), and Luis Martín-Moreno (ICMA) discuss new directions for the future, such as the use of 2D materials and strong coupling phenomena, which are likely to shape the field […]