Chemists discover the structure of a key coronavirus protein

Chemists have determined the molecular structure of a protein found in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This protein forms a cation-selective channel and plays a key role in the virus's ability to replicate itself. If researchers could devise ways to block this channel, they may be able to reduce the pathogenicity of the virus and interfere with viral replication.

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Time for a new state of matter in high-temperature superconductors

Scientists have pointed out how to create a 'time crystal' in an intriguing class of materials, the high-temperature superconductors. They propose to drive these superconducting materials into a time crystalline state by inducing Higgs excitations via light.

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Connection between household chemicals and gut microbiome

A team of researchers for the first time has found a correlation between the levels of bacteria and fungi in the gastrointestinal tract of children and the amount of common chemicals found in their home environment. The work could lead to better understanding of how these semi-volatile organic compounds may affect human health.

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Attosecond boost for electron microscopy

A team of physicists have achieved attosecond time resolution in a transmission electron microscope by combining it with a continuous-wave laser -- new insights into light-matter interactions.

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'Smart Wrap' implant may help people better control their bladders

An implantable smart wrap that fits safely and securely around the bladder may one day help people who have under-active bladders, a condition that hinders patients from urinating regularly and comfortably, according to an international team of researchers.

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Cloth face masks that can be disinfected by the sun

Researchers have developed a special type of cotton face mask that kills up to 99.9999 percent of bacteria and viruses within 60 minutes of daylight exposure.

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Folding proteins feel the heat, and cold

A new study shows proteins that presumably evolved to avoid water as they fold may actually behave in ways scientists did not anticipate.

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Thermodynamics of off-equilibrium systems

Arguably, almost all truly intriguing systems are ones that are far away from equilibrium -- such as stars, planetary atmospheres, and even digital circuits. But, until now, systems far from thermal equilibrium couldn't be analyzed with conventional thermodynamics and statistical physics.

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Making a case for organic Rankine cycles in waste heat recovery

Researchers say that cascaded organic Rankine cycle systems could improve the way in which environmentally-friendly power is generated from waste heat.

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Silicone surface mimics topology, wettability of a real human tongue

The tongue helps people taste food, but structures on its surface also help them sense textures -- something that's also very important when savoring a meal. Now, researchers have made a 3D silicone surface that, for the first time, closely mimics the surface features of the human tongue. The material could help food scientists study mechanical interactions of foods, liquids and medicines with the organ.

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Connecting two classes of unconventional superconductors

The understanding of unconventional superconductivity is one of the most challenging and fascinating tasks of solid-state physics. Different classes of unconventional superconductors share that superconductivity emerges near a magnetic phase despite the underlying physics is different.

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Machine learning models to predict critical illness and mortality in COVID-19 patients

Researchers have developed machine learning models that predict the likelihood of critical events and mortality in COVID-19 patients within clinically relevant time windows.

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Weighing space dust with radar

It is thought that over 1,000 kilograms of so-called interplanetary dust falls to Earth every day. This dust is essentially an untold number of small faint meteors, discarded remnants of asteroids and comets that pass by the Earth. Two ways to study faint meteors are radar and optical observations, each with advantages and limitations. Astronomers have combined specific observations with both methods, and can now use radar to make the kinds of observations that previously only optical telescopes could make.

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New findings for viral research on bicycle crashes at railroad crossings

A new path design for bicycles at a railway crossings cuts bike crashes. A jughandle design realigns the bicycle approach to about 60 degrees, virtually eliminating the risk of a rider's tire being caught in the gap between the rail and the pavement, a cause of serious crashes. This significant finding varies from previous design recommendations of a 90-degree approach.

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Large-area flexible organic photodiodes can compete with silicon devices

The performance of flexible large-area organic photodiodes has advanced to the point that they can now offer advantages over conventional silicon photodiode technology, particularly for applications such as biomedical imaging and biometric monitoring that require detecting low levels of light across large areas.

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New research on imposter stars may improve astronomical data

Quick flashes of light reflecting from satellites and debris in Earth's orbit are extremely common, according to new findings that may improve the accuracy of astronomical data. For the first time, astronomers report the flashes, which are often mistaken for stars, occur more than 1,000 times an hour across the sky.

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Scientists work to shed light on Standard Model of particle physics

Scientists mapped the magnetic field inside a vacuum with unprecedented accuracy. Results will be used in an experiment to shed light on the Standard Model of particle physics.

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New technique extends next-generation lithium metal batteries

Engineering researchers have found that alkali metal additives, such as potassium ions, can prevent lithium microstructure proliferation during battery use. They used a combination of microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and computational modeling to discover that adding small amounts of potassium salt to a conventional lithium battery electrolyte produces unique chemistry at the lithium/electrolyte interface, and modulates degradation during battery operation, preventing the growth of microstructures and leading to safer, longer lasting batteries.

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Smart tablecloth can find fruit and help with watering the plants

This interactive fabric can identify items and find lost valuables. When an object or an object's status is determined, the fabric can trigger a desired action or prompt.

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Comparing sensitivity of all genes to chemical exposure

An environmental health scientist has used an unprecedented objective approach to identify which molecular mechanisms in mammals are the most sensitive to chemical exposures.

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