Articles
Triharmony/Trilemma of Water Assets in tropical peatland
In tropical peatland, the three key elements Water, Carbon, and Nutrients are interrelated, interconnected, and interact. When these elements are in balance, a Triharmony state arises. Conversely, a Trilemma state occurs when these elements are out of balance. Here, we focus on Water Assets in the context of tropical peatland. To achieve Triharmony, scientists at Sumitomo Forestry Co, Ltd, and […]
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Solving the black hole information paradox
The black hole information paradox poses a dilemma for physicists. When a black hole evaporates, it destroys the information that’s fallen into it. Yet quantum theory says information cannot be destroyed. In his pursuit of innovative connotations of existing physical theories, independent researcher Dr Łukaszyk offers a solution to the black hole information paradox. His study reveals the concept of […]
Vesalius Innovation Awards: Impactful technology and the Research World
The Vesalius Innovation Awards is a yearly event hosted by Karger Publishers which honours young and innovative start-up companies in the fields of health and open science. The award’s name comes from the 16th-century physician Andreas Vesalius, a pioneer in the field of human anatomy, whose work revolutionised medicine for generations to come. This article features interviews with the three […]
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The heart of the matter: Elamipretide in the treatment of Barth syndrome
Barth syndrome (BTHS) is an ultra-rare but debilitating genetic disease affecting cell mitochondria. High infant mortality due to cardiac complications and a weakened immune system significantly decrease life expectancy. Current medications treat symptoms but not the cause, leaving an unmet clinical need to develop effective treatments that target the underlying pathology. Dr Hani N Sabbah, Professor of Medicine at Wayne […]
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Adaptive experiments: Machine learning can help scientific discovery
Machine learning can help scientists design experiments. Scientific discovery relies on experiments that build our understanding of natural phenomena, and traditionally has been based on trial and error. Depending on the goal, different machine learning strategies can be used for adaptive experiments: active learning, maximising information gain, Bayesian optimisation, bandit approaches, and reinforcement learning. Cheng Soon Ong, machine learning scientist […]
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What can Occam’s razor principle tell us about theories of dark matter?
Today, physicists have devised dozens of theories to explain the nature of dark matter. So far, however, not one of them has gained concrete proof through experiments. To narrow these theories down, Professor Eugene Oks at Auburn University, USA, advocates applying an important philosophical concept, which is often used when considering complex problems with many candidate solutions. Using Occam’s razor, […]
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Ketamine: An old medication with newly discovered actions in pain and breathing regulation
Pain that lasts longer than the expected period of healing is tormenting a significant percentage of the population and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Although medications are available to control it, its management often involves trial and error, especially in cases where specific nerve damage cannot be found. Professor Albert Dahan at the Leiden University Medical Center in […]
Exiguobacterium degradation of polystyrene: Enlisting bacteria in the war against plastic
Polystyrene is a chemically stable recalcitrant plastic that pollutes many natural environments. Unfortunately, few mechanisms can break down this man-made polymer into its naturally occurring components. Research into the polystyrene-digesting capabilities of the bacteria genus Exiguobacterium sp RIT 594 by Dr André Hudson and his team at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, USA, has uncovered the specific […]
How electrons and phonons promote heat transfer in material systems
Miniaturisation is one of the key features of current and future technologies for information processing and control. However, the ability to reduce the size of an electronic component is limited by a decrease in electrical conductivity and an increase in thermal energy dissipation as the device approaches the nano-scale regime. By studying the electronic and vibrational characteristics of high-purity iridium […]
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Atmospheric species and their effect on solar radiation and our health
Our atmosphere is a giant chemical reactor that helps keep us safe from the potentially damaging and warming effects of solar radiation. It consists of a hugely complex mixture of atmospheric liquids, gases, and particles with constantly varying compositions. Professor Jianhui Bai at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor Rui Chen at the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology […]
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