Category archives: Technology

Electron-cyclotron plasma generation and spectrum characterization

Electron-cyclotron plasma generation and spectrum characterization

Physics

By Invited Researcher

Ernest Lawrence was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in November 1939 “for the invention and development of the cyclotron and for results obtained with it, especially with regard to artificial radioactive elements”. His invention was based on generating a spiral accelerated trajectory of protons governed by a simple alternating radio frequency voltage together with […]

Quantum entanglement among quarks

Quantum entanglement among quarks

Computer scienceParticle physicsQuantum physics

By César Tomé

Collisions of high energy particles produce “jets” – quarks, antiquarks, or gluons moving through the quantum vacuum. Due to the confinement property of strong interactions, quarks are never directly detected but instead fragment into many secondary particles. Scientists have long expected that as jets propagate through the confining quantum vacuum, they will modify that vacuum […]

The emergence of perovskite-based photovoltaics

The emergence of perovskite-based photovoltaics

Materials

By BCMaterials

The climate crisis arising from greenhouse gas emissions has led to a greater emphasis on energy security, and affordability, to ensure a smooth energy transition. The decarbonization of the energy sector will promote a reduction in carbon emissions and will minimize catastrophic natural disasters. The deployment of low-carbon technology towards a sustainable and clean energy […]

Ultrasensitive molecular sensing with surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA)

Ultrasensitive molecular sensing with surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA)

Condensed matterMaterialsNanotechnologyQuantum physics

By César Tomé

Sensors are essential tools for detecting and analysing trace molecules in a variety of fields, including environmental monitoring, food safety, and public health. However, developing sensors with high enough sensitivity to detect these tiny amounts of molecules remains a challenge. One promising approach is surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA), which uses plasmonic nanostructures to amplify the […]

Drug combinations to combat antibiotic resistance

Drug combinations to combat antibiotic resistance

BiologyBiomedicineMedicinePharmacy

By Rosa García-Verdugo

One of the biggest health threats in our current society is not related to a virus, not even to diabetes or cardiovascular disease, but to antimicrobial resistance. In fact, over 5 million deaths per year are associated with resistant bacteria, of which nearly 1.3 million deaths per year are directly attributable to antimicrobial resistance. This […]

Counting single proteins with a superconducting nanowire 

Counting single proteins with a superconducting nanowire 

NanotechnologyQuantum physics

By César Tomé

The detection, identification, and analysis of macromolecules is needed in many areas of life sciences, including protein research, diagnostics, and analytics. Mass spectrometry is often used as a detection system for proteins – a method that typically separates charged particles (ions) according to their mass-to-charge-ratio and measures the intensity of the signals generated by a […]

A new approach to covariate shift adaptation

A new approach to covariate shift adaptation

Computer scienceMathematicsRobotics

By BCAM

In probability theory and statistics, a collection of random variables is independent and identically distributed (iid) if each random variable has the same probability distribution as the others and all are mutually independent. Most supervised machine learning methods assume that training and testing or production samples are drawn iid from the same underlying distribution. But […]

First experimental evidence of hopfions in crystals

First experimental evidence of hopfions in crystals

Condensed matterMaterialsPhysics

By César Tomé

Hopfions, magnetic spin structures predicted decades ago, have become a hot and challenging research topic in recent years. The first experimental evidence has just been presented in Nature . A deeper understanding of how different components of materials function is important for the development of innovative materials and future technology. The research field of spintronics […]

Crosslinking pectin for the simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants from water

Crosslinking pectin for the simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants from water

Chemical engineeringChemistryDIPC Polymers

By DIPC

Chemical contamination of water bodies on one hand, and water shortages due to overexploitation on the other, have increased the need for effective and efficient water treatment and decontamination processes. Two important aspects need to be taken into consideration to define what is an “effective and efficient” treatment. First, as current methods of removing pathogens […]