Steve Murphy

This illustration shows how an electronic tug-of-war between the layers of a new quantum material has warped its atomic lattice into a dramatic herringbone-like pattern. Scientists at SLAC and Stanford who created the material are just starting to explore how this ‘huge’ distortion affects the material’s properties. Credit:Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Formed by an … Read more

The human-infecting malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum (green), is depicted erupting from human red blood cells (red). Eight sexually mature parasites (green) emerge from the human cell (red), with their replicating DNA shown in blue. Credit: This image is courtesy of Dr. Sabrina Yahiya and Professor Jake Baum Malaria is a devastating illness, with a staggering … Read more

This illustration represents a dark matter particle. Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory attempted to observe these elusive particles using their neutrino detectors in Neutrino Alley. Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory attempted to observe dark matter in a brightly-lit hallway in the basement using the sensitivity of their neutrino detectors. Neutrino Alley, where the … Read more

Highly charged ions hit tiny gold nuggets on an insulating surface. Credit: ucyborg.com/studio Tiny structures made of gold can be specifically manipulated by ion bombardment at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) – surprisingly, the decisive factor is not the force of the impact. Researchers at TU Wien have found a way to control … Read more

Heavy alcohol consumption alters brain signaling pathways, impacting cognitive functions and promoting further drinking. Research in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity reveals that alcohol-dependent mice had increased levels of the immune signaling molecule IL-1β, which led to inflammation and altered neurotransmitter release. This finding could pave the way for improved treatments for alcohol use … Read more

A larger version of the smart bandage rests on the back of a gloved hand. Credit: Caltech In general, the body’s natural healing process can effectively handle cuts, scrapes, burns, and other types of wounds. However, for individuals with diabetes, this may not always be the case. The condition can impair the healing process and … Read more

(Left) Scanning electron microscopy image of numerous Trichomonas vaginalis organisms attached to epithelial cells grown in the laboratory. (Right) An enlargement of the microscopy photo showing two organisms grown in the laboratory. Credit: Washington State University A new, affordable finger-prick diagnostic test developed by Washington State University researcher John Alderete could help combat the prevalent … Read more