Researchers at New York University have devised a mathematical approach to predict the structures of crystals—a critical step in developing many medicines and electronic devices—in a matter of hours using only a laptop, a process that previously took a supercomputer weeks or months. Their novel framework is published in the journal Nature Communications.

A team led by researchers at the University of Washington has created a headphone prototype that allows listeners to hear people speaking within a bubble with a programmable radius of 3 to 6 feet. Voices and sounds outside the bubble are quieted an average of 49 decibels, even if they’re louder than those in the bubble.

Scientists at Auburn University have made an important discovery that could improve cancer treatments. Just like a coach places players in the best spots on a football field, researchers found that carefully positioning protein molecules can make them more effective in delivering cancer therapies. By attaching these proteins at specific points on a structure that targets cancer cells, the team was able to increase the proteins' effectiveness by up to four times. This approach could lead to treatments that are stronger, more focused, and better equipped to target cancer cells directly. Auburn’s biophysicists are advancing this research to create better tools in the fight against cancer.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the University of Chicago a prestigious Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI) grant to establish MOSAIC, a groundbreaking research center dedicated to revolutionizing our understanding of chemical reactions at the atomic level. MOSAIC will leverage cutting-edge electron microscopy techniques and advanced liquid cell platforms to observe chemical reactions in real-time, with the goal of driving transformative advancements in fields such as catalysis, energy storage, and materials science. This interdisciplinary center unites leading researchers from the University of Chicago, UIC, and UIUC, fostering collaboration and innovation with the potential for significant societal impact.

An international team of researchers led by scientists from the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University (MSU) uncovered evidence that astrophysics models of massive stars and supernovae are inconsistent with observational gamma-ray astronomy. The discovery came after the team used an innovative new experimental method to investigate uncertain nuclear properties of an unstable isotope.

Few questions have captivated humankind more than the origin of life on Earth. How did the first living cells come to exist? How did these early protocells develop the structural membranes necessary for cells to thrive and assemble into complex organisms? New research from UC San Diego has uncovered a plausible explanation involving the reaction between two simple molecules.

A new study has uncovered important behavior in the flow of electric current through quantum superconductors, potentially advancing the development of future technologies like quantum computing.