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Physicists Discover Strange Array of Links and Knots in Quantum Matter

Lead Image: Link diagram of the quantum electronic link in momentum (velocity) space observed in the topological Weyl magnet Co2MnGa, determined from advanced photoemission spectroscopy measurements. Credit: Ilya Belopolski and M . Zahid Hasan, Princeton University Electrons in a Crystal Exhibit Linked and Knotted Quantum Twists As physicists dig deeper into the quantum realm, they are discovering an infinitesimally small world composed of a strange and surprising array of links, knots, and winding. Some quantum materials exhibit magnetic whirls called skyrmions — unique configurations sometimes described as “subatomic hurricanes.” Others host a form of superconductivity that twists into vortices. Now,…

Skydiving Salamanders Parachute and Glide From the Tallest Trees [High Speed Video]

Lead Image: High-speed video of an arboreal salamander in a vertical wind tunnel. Salamanders that live their entire lives in the crowns of the world’s tallest trees, California’s coast redwoods, have evolved a behavior well-adapted to the dangers of falling from great heights: the ability to parachute, glide, and maneuver in mid-air. Flying squirrels, as well as numerous species of gliding frogs, geckos, and ants and other insects, are known to use similar aerial acrobatics when jumping from tree to tree or when falling, so as to remain in the trees and avoid landing on the ground. Similarly, the researchers…

Artificial Intelligence Helps Scale Up Advanced Solar Cell Manufacturing

Lead Image: A type of artificial intelligence called machine learning can help scale up manufacturing of perovskite solar cells. Perovskite materials would be superior to silicon in PV cells, but manufacturing such cells at scale is a huge hurdle. Machine learning can help. Perovskites are a family of materials that are currently the leading contender to replace the silicon-based solar photovoltaics that are in broad use today. They carry the promise of panels that are far lighter and thinner, that could be made in large volumes with ultra-high throughput at room temperature instead of at hundreds of degrees, and that…

A New Way To Stop Cancer: Researchers Combine Radiotherapy With Exosomes

HKUMed develops a novel therapeutic approach against nasopharyngeal carcinoma by using exosomes derived from γδ-T cells synergized with radiotherapy A research team at LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) discovered that exosomes derived from γδ-T cells (γδ-T-Exos) synergised with radiotherapy can control nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by overcoming the radioresistance of NPC cancer stem cells (CSCs) and preserve their tumor-killing and T cell-promoting activities in the immunosuppressive NPC microenvironment. This study provides a proof of concept for a novel and potent strategy by combining γδ-T-Exos with radiotherapy in the control of NPC. The groundbreaking research was published…

New Algorithm Optimally Divvies up Tasks for Human-Robot Teams

A new algorithmic planner developed at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute divides up tasks optimally between humans and robots. As robots increasingly join people working on the factory floor, in warehouses, and elsewhere on the job, determining who will do which tasks increases in complexity and importance. People are better suited for some jobs, robots for others. And in some cases, it is advantageous to spend time teaching a robot to do a task now and reap the rewards later. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute (RI) have developed an algorithmic planner that helps delegate tasks to humans and…