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Solar Flares in a Lab? Caltech’s Miniature Marvels Unlock Cosmic Secrets

Lead Image: Plasma flows along closed magnetic field lines in the corona that pull it back toward the solar surface, forming structures that appear to loop. Credit: NASA Caltech researchers simulated solar flares, discovering that their structures resemble intertwined ropes. When these ‘ropes’ overload, they break and emit energy bursts, shedding light on the behavior of real solar flares. Simulating solar flares on a scale the size of a banana, researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have parsed out the process by which these massive explosions blast potentially harmful energetic particles and X-rays into the cosmos. Corona loops…

Walking Wonders: Decoding the Neuronal Pathways of Locomotion in Vertebrates

Lead Image: Paris Brain Institute researchers have explored the complexities of walking, emphasizing the mesencephalic locomotor region’s role in movement. Their findings, based on zebrafish studies, hold potential implications for understanding diseases like Parkinson’s. (Corticospinal neurons in zebrafish.) Credit: Martin Carbo-Tano Walking is a complex mechanism involving both automatic processes and conscious control. Its dysfunction can have multiple, sometimes extremely subtle causes, within the motor cortex, brain stem, spinal cord, or muscles. At Paris Brain Institute, Martin Carbo-Tano, Mathilde Lapoix, and their colleagues in the “Spinal Sensory Signaling” team, led by Claire Wyart (Inserm), have focused on a specific component…

Beyond 5,500 Worlds: A Sextet of New Exoplanets Sends Discovery Milestone Skyward

Lead Image: NASA’s Exoplanet Archive confirmed four new worlds, bringing the total past 5,500. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Scientists have discovered six new exoplanets, taking the total to 5,502. With advancements in technology, the field of exoplanet research has grown exponentially since the first discovery in 1992, and upcoming instruments promise even deeper insights. On August 24, 2023, over three decades after the first confirmation of planets beyond our own solar system, scientists announced the discovery of six new exoplanets, stretching that number to 5,502. From zero exoplanet confirmations to over 5,500 in just a few decades, this new milestone marks another…

Groundbreaking Probiotic Therapy Could Revolutionize Autoimmune Treatment

Researchers have developed a genetically engineered probiotic that targets autoimmunity in the brain, a key factor in diseases like multiple sclerosis. The probiotic bacteria produce lactate to regulate immune responses, reducing brain inflammation in mouse models with fewer side effects than standard therapies. Researchers at Brigham are developing a new approach that uses engineered bacteria to more safely and effectively treat autoimmune conditions in the brain. Brigham researchers are developing a novel method to address autoimmunity in the brain by utilizing engineered bacteria to enhance both the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a…

From Phone Cases to Missiles: Innovative Molecule Makes Materials More Durable

Lead Image: A Sandia National Laboratories team developed a molecule that enhances materials’ durability by modifying their temperature responsiveness. This innovation, with wide-ranging applications from electronics to defense, is being refined for commercial production. Sandia scientists develop a molecule that reduces wear and tear. A research team at Sandia National Laboratories has developed a molecule that helps change the way some materials react to temperature fluctuations, enhancing their durability. This advancement has the potential to be used in everything from plastic phone cases to missiles. Understanding Polymers and Temperature Impact Polymers, which include various forms of plastics, are made up…