News by Subject Chemistry & Physics

New study explains previously mysterious characteristics of ribosomes, the protein production factories of the cell. Researchers mathematically demonstrate that ribosomes are precisely structured to build themselves as quickly as possible to support efficient cell growth.

New research in an animal model suggests a high-fat diet during pregnancy alters the development of the brain and endocrine system of offspring. The new study links an unhealthy diet during pregnancy to mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression in children.

Vodka tastes different from brandy, and connoisseurs can distinguish among different brands of whiskeys. The flavors of spirits result from a complex bouquet of volatile compounds. New colorimetric sensor arrays on disposable test-strips read by hand-held devices allow for their rapid, inexpensive, and sensitive identification by their chemical 'fingerprints'. They are based on novel sensor arrays that detect and differentiate among a diverse range of aldehydes and ketones, as reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

Ion channels in the membrane vesicles that mediate intracellular protein transport play a crucial role in cell physiology. A method developed by an Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich team now allows them to be studied with greater specificity than ever before.

A web that passes through infinite intergalactic spaces, a dense cosmic forest illuminated by very distant lights and a huge enigma to solve. These are the picturesque ingredients of a scientific research -- carried out by an international team composed of researchers from SISSA and the ICTP in Trieste, the Institute of Astronomy of Cambridge and the University of Washington - that adds an important element for understanding one of the fundamental components of our Universe: the dark matter.