All Research News

• Investigating heavy quark physics with the LHCb experiment

  New York | Heidelberg, 15 April 2021
  In ten years of operation the LHCb experiment has probed the nature of physics attempting to answer some of the Universe’s most fundamental questions. A new review examines its past achievements and future potential.

  read more

• Tracking the progress of fusion power through 60 years of neutral particle analysis

  New York | Heidelberg, 15 April 2021
  Harnessing the fusion power of the stars requires the control of plasma and a powerful diagnostic tool to analyse it

  read more

• Micro-environmental influences on artificial micromotors

  New York | Heidelberg, 31 March 2021
  New experiments reveal the characteristic ways in which self-propelled ‘Janus particles’ with charged coatings will slide across or move away from charged boundaries in their surrounding environments.

  read more

• Effective Field Theories and the Nature of the Universe

  New York | Heidelberg, 23 March 2021
  Effective Field Theories were introduced to simplify the mathematics involved in unifying interactions into the Standard Model of particle physics. An article in EPJ H presents Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg’s recent lecture on the development of these theories.

  read more

• Modelling speed-ups in nutrient-seeking bacteria

  New York | Heidelberg, 17 March 2021
  By considering how some bacteria will swim faster within higher nutrient concentrations, researchers have created a more accurate model of how these microbes search for nutrients

  read more

• Factoring in gravitomagnetism could do away with dark matter

  New York | Heidelberg, 4 March 2021
  Models of galactic rotation curves built of a general relativistic framework could use gravitomagnetism to explain the effects of dark matter.

  read more

• Investigating dense plasmas with positron waves

  New York | Heidelberg, 26 February 2021
  Astrophysical and lab-created plasmas under the influence of magnetic fields are the source of intense study. New research seeks to understand the dynamics of position waves travelling through these clouds of highly ionised gas.

  read more

• Using neutron scattering to better understand milk composition

  New York | Heidelberg, 26 February 2021
  By using a more complex model for neutron scattering data, researchers can better understand the composition of materials such as milk.

  read more

• Considering disorder and cooperative effects in photon escape rates from atomic gases

  New York | Heidelberg, 26 February 2021
  Investigating more complex models of photon escape rates from cold atomic gases could help researchers learn more about light-matter interactions

  read more

• Slutpage visits may be common among US college students

  Visits to digital groups, websites or email lists that share nude or semi-nude photos of women without their consent, known as slutpages, may be common among US college students, according to a survey conducted at a large university in the USA. The findings, published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, could help inform sexual violence prevention education offered by universities, according to the authors.

  read more

• New data on COVID-19 patients with diabetes show that one in five die within 28 days of hospital admission

  Updated results from the CORONADO study, analysing the outcomes of patients with diabetes admitted to hospital with COVID-19, shows that one in five patients die within 28 days while around half are discharged. The study is published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]), and is by Professor Bertrand Cariou and Professor Samy Hadjadj, diabetologists at l’institut du thorax, University Hospital Nantes, INSERM, CNRS, and University of Nantes, France, and colleagues.

  read more

• Placing cosmological constraints on quantum gravity phenomenology

  New York | Heidelberg, 9 February 2021
  Researchers have used cosmological data to place stringent new limits on a model which emerges in attempts to reconcile gravity with the principles of quantum mechanics.

  read more

• Modelling the brain during pain processing

  New York | Heidelberg, 2 February 2021
  Novel approaches in graph theory have enabled researchers to reveal the characteristic configurations of neurons which arise as our brains process pain

  read more

• A full-scale prototype for muon tomography

  New York | Heidelberg, 1 February 2021
  Building on previous studies of muon tomography techniques, this topical issue demonstrates a full-scale prototype for the technology, capable of determining the position of a small lead block within a large sensing area

  read more

• Paving the way for effective field theories

  New York | Heidelberg, 1 February 2021
  A detailed analysis of theories which approximate the underlying properties of physical systems could lead to new advances in studies of low-energy nuclear processes

  read more

• Absence of supporters during football matches associated with fewer altercations on pitch

  Players, staff and officials engaged in shorter and less extensive emotional behaviour and interactions, such as arguments and discussions in games played during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, when supporters were absent. The findings are presented in a case study of 20 FC Redbull Salzburg championship group games published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

  read more

• GEFS: Searching beyond seismology for earthquake precursors

  New York | Heidelberg, 25 January 2021
  A proposed collaborative initiative involving researchers in a wide range of fields could lead to better predictions of large-scale seismic events.

  read more

• Tracking the evolution Maxwell knots

  New York | Heidelberg, 15 January 2021
  New research investigates the properties of particular solutions of Maxwell equations, tracking their evolution over time and determining a route to combine them with other systems.

  read more

• Drinking water in several Chinese cities contains high levels of persistent chemicals

  Drinking water in several cities and regions in China contains high levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), according to a study published in Environmental Sciences Europe. 

  read more

• Characterising cold fusion in 2D models

  New York | Heidelberg, 15 December 2020
  A new 2D modelling approach has been used to directly calculate how hydrogen nuclei fuse into helium after capturing muons

  read more

• Trapping nanoparticles with optical tweezers

  New York | Heidelberg, 10 December 2020
  By exploiting a particular property of light diffraction at the interface between a glass and a liquid, researchers have demonstrated the first optical tweezers capable of trapping nanoscale particles.

  read more

• Predicting epilepsy from neural network models

  New York | Heidelberg, 7 December 2020
  Improved modelling techniques have enabled a group of researchers to better predict how damaging conditions in the brain can be triggered by complex dynamics in branching networks of neurons.

  read more

• Optimising laser-driven electron acceleration

  New York | Heidelberg, 3 December 2020
  A new paper examines how tuning aspects of a powerful laser beam can affect the acceleration of electrons, attempting to find the recipe for maximum net energy gain.

  read more

• Characterising complex flows in 2D bubble swarms

  New York | Heidelberg, 3 December 2020
  In 2D simulations, the flows surrounding rising swarms of bubbles display characteristically different behaviours to those observed in 3D models

  read more

• Detecting solar neutrinos with the Borexino experiment

  New York | Heidelberg, 3 December 2020
  Neutrinos produced by the CNO cycle within the core of the Sun are being hunted by the Borexino experiment so that we may learn more about this important nuclear process.

  read more

• Building better diffusion models for active systems

  New York | Heidelberg, 19 November 2020
  Modifications to existing theories have enabled researchers to better understand and model the dynamics of systems which don’t obey conventional laws of diffusion.

  read more

• Surgical face masks may impair facial identification

  People may not be able to correctly verify the identity of individuals in photos if they are wearing surgical face masks, according to a study published in the open access journal Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications.

  read more

• Modelling microswimmers for drug delivery

  New York | Heidelberg, 11 November 2020
  Mathematical models of the motion of cells in viscous liquids that show how this motion is affected by the presence of a surfactant coating have applications in the design of artificial microswimmers for targeted drug delivery, micro-surgery and other applications.

  read more

• Investigating optical activity under an external magnetic field

  New York | Heidelberg, 6 November 2020
  New research reveals that applying a magnetic field to a chiral metamaterial can change the way it polarises light.

  read more

• Outcome of 2016 US election associated with poorer mental health in Clinton voters

  There were 54.6 million more days of poor mental health among adults in states that voted for Hillary Clinton in December 2016, compared to October 2016, according to a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

  read more

• Identifying biomolecule fragments in ionising radiation

  New York | Heidelberg, 28 October 2020
  Research published in EPJ D has revealed how the nature of biomolecule fragmentation varies with the energies of electrons produced when living cells are irradiated with heavy ions.

  read more

• Weak equivalence principle violated in gravitational waves

  New York | Heidelberg, 28 October 2020
  Calculations reveal that a key principle of classical physics is broken by quantum particles as they pass through ripples in spacetime.

  read more

• Slowing light in an optical cavity with mechanical resonators and mirrors

  New York | Heidelberg, 15 October 2020
  Theoretical physicists Kamran Ullah and Hameed Ullah have shown how a position-dependent mass optomechanical system involving a cavity between two mirrors, one attached to a resonator, can enhance induced transparency and reduce the speed of light.

  read more

• Avoiding environmental losses in quantum information systems

  New York | Heidelberg, 28 September 2020
  Through new techniques for generating ‘exceptional points’ in quantum information systems, researchers have minimised the transitions through which they lose information to their surrounding environments.

  read more

• Antiferromagnet lattice arrangements influence phase transitions

  New York | Heidelberg, 24 September 2020
  Calculations involving ‘imaginary’ magnetic fields show how the transitioning behaviours of antiferromagnets are subtly shaped by their lattice arrangements.

  read more

• Impurities enhance polymer LED efficiencies

  New York | Heidelberg, 24 September 2020
  Molecular dynamics simulations have shown that the mysteriously high efficiency of polymer LEDs arises from interactions between triplet excitons in their polymer chains, and unpaired electrons in their molecular impurities.

  read more

• A question of reality

  New York | Heidelberg, 24 September 2020
  John Stewart Bell’s eponymous theorem and inequalities set out, mathematically, the contrast between quantum mechanical theories and local realism. They are used in quantum information, which has evolving applications in security, cryptography and quantum computing.

  read more

• Climate change may harm flight of Monarch butterflies

  Projected increases in global temperature may reduce the flight performance and alter the wing shape of North America’s Monarch butterflies in a way that may impede their ability to migrate, according to an experimental study published in the Journal of Insect Conservation.

  read more

• Understanding electron transport in graphene nanoribbons

  New York | Heidelberg, 10 September 2020
  New understanding of the electrical properties of graphene nanoribbons (GRBs), when bounded with aromatic molecules, could have significant benefits in the development of chemosensors and personalised medicine.

  read more

• Measuring electron emission from irradiated biomolecules

  New York | Heidelberg, 6 August 2020
  OrigiA new experiment has characterised the properties of the electrons emitted when a key constituent of DNA is bombarded with high-velocity ions.

  read more

• Updating Turing’s model of pattern formation

  New York | Heidelberg, 6 August 2020
  Through fresh analysis of a method first proposed by Alan Turing to explain the diversity of natural patterns, a team of researchers offer new explanations of how living systems can order themselves on large scales.

  read more

• People with right-wing authoritarian attitudes less likely to alter existing beliefs

  People with strong right-wing authoritarian attitudes, which are characterised by a desire for order, structure, and preservation of social norms, are less likely to alter their beliefs in response to new information, according to a study published in the journal Psychonomic Bulletin & Review.

  read more

• Music training may not make children smarter after all

  Music training does not have a positive impact on children’s cognitive skills, such as memory, and academic achievement, such as maths, reading or writing, according to a study published in Memory & Cognition. 

  read more

• Study links abnormally high blood sugar with higher risk of death in COVID-19 patients not previously diagnosed with diabetes

  London, 10th July 2020

  New research from Wuhan, China shows that, in patients with COVID-19 but without a previous diagnosis of diabetes, abnormally high blood sugar is associated with more than double the risk of death and also an increased risk of severe complications. The study is by Dr Yang Jin, Union Hospital and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China, and colleagues. The study is published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]).

  read more

• Pet dogs may improve social-emotional development in young children

  London, 6th July 2020

  Young children from dog-owning households have better social and emotional wellbeing than children from households who do not own a dog, suggests research published in the journal Pediatric Research.

  read more

• Polymers can fine-tune attractions between suspended nanocubes

  New York | Heidelberg, 19 June 2020
  Interactions between hollow silica nanocubes suspended in a solution can be adjusted by varying the concentration of polymer molecules added to the mixture.

  read more

• Skyrmion dynamics and traverse mobility

  New York | Heidelberg, 19 June 2020
  Skyrmions could revolutionise computing exhibiting great potential in the electronic storage of information, and the key to such a breakthrough could be understanding their behaviour under applied currents.

  read more

• Simulating cooperation in local communities

  New York | Heidelberg, 17 June 2020
  Simulations reveal how the social benefits of supplies to goods and service providers in China could be improved through a payoff transfer system, which rewards individuals who cooperate the most with their local communities.

  read more

• Exploring mass dependence in electron-hole clusters

  New York | Heidelberg, 17 June 2020
  New calculations reveal that the behaviours of electron-hole clusters depend strongly on the masses of their particles.

  read more

• Spacecrafts get a boost in ‘Aerogravity Assisted’ interactions

  New York | Heidelberg, 17 June 2020
  New research examines the effect of rotation and other variables in the applications of ‘aerogravity assisted’ manoeuvres to obtain an energy boost for space craft.

  read more

• Reducing the risk of space debris collision

  New York | Heidelberg, 17 June 2020
  An increase in space launches requires the development of a method to clear space debris which could collide with valuable equipment. One plausible method of achieving this through the use of a tug vehicle requires a successful connection procedure.

  read more

• Protecting Earth from asteroid impact with a tethered diversion

  New York | Heidelberg, 17 June 2020
  The use of a tether assisted system could prevent an asteroid impacting Earth without the risk of fragmentation.

  read more

• First study of COVID-19 patients with diabetes shows that 10% die within seven days of hospital admission and two thirds are men

  London, 28th May 2020

  The first study of COVID-19 to specifically analyse the effect of the disease in hospitalised patients with diabetes has found that one in ten patients dies within 7 days of hospital admission, and one in five is intubated and mechanically ventilated by this point. The research is published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]), by Professor Bertrand Cariou and Professor Samy Hadjadj, diabetologists at l’institut du thorax, University Hospital Nantes, INSERM, CNRS, and University of Nantes, France, and colleagues.

  read more

• ‘Bottom-heavy squirmers’ adopt characteristic group behaviours

  New York | Heidelberg, 27 May 2020
  Simulated particles which mimic the behaviours of self-propelling microorganisms have distinct collective properties which depend on their velocities and bottom-heaviness.

  read more

• Stresses and flows in ultra-cold superfluids

  New York | Heidelberg, 8 May 2020
  Mathematical modelling of superfluids, which exhibit quantum mechanical properties at a macroscopic scale, shows that they become deformed when flowing around impurities.

  read more

• Mathematical curves predict evolution in Covid-19 spread

  New York | Heidelberg, 23 April 2020
  With the right approach, statistics can be used to reliably track the growth and fall in daily new cases of Covid-19 in China, raising hopes that similar approaches could more accurately predict the spread of the virus in other nations.

  read more

• What protects minority languages from extinction?

  New York | Heidelberg, 21 April 2020
  Mathematical modelling of competing languages in a geographical area suggests two scenarios in which one or more minority languages will be more likely to survive.

  read more

• Modelling wrinkling and buckling in materials that form the basis of flexible electronics

  New York | Heidelberg, 20 April 2020
  As the demand for flexible electronics grows, researchers must develop robust models of how the materials that comprise them behave under stress.

  read more

• Questionable stability of dissipative topological models for classical and quantum systems

  New York | Heidelberg, 15 April 2020Physicists Rebekka Koch and Jan Carl Budich make important contributions to understanding dissipative topological systems by studying the spectral instabilities that occur in the mathematical description and their effect on experimental setups in a new paper in EPJ D.

  read more

• Looking for dark matter

  New York | Heidelberg, 8 April 2020
  A new paper in EPJ D, ‘Constraining domain wall dark matter with a network of superconducting gravimeters and LIGO’, suggests two novel methods of searching for dark matter by measuring tiny perturbations in fundamental constants.

  read more

• Models explain changes in cooking meat

  New York | Heidelberg, 1 April 2020
  By treating meat as a network of flexible polymers surrounded by flowing moisture, computer models can accurately predict how much it will shrink when cooked.

  read more

• Factors associated with discontinuation of erectile dysfunction treatment

  London, 31st March 2020

  The factors associated with men ending treatment for erectile dysfunction have been reviewed in a study published in IJIR: Your Sexual Medicine Journal. The most influential factors reported were treatment ineffectiveness, side effects, the quality of one’s intimate relationship and cost of treatment. The review also highlights the importance of men’s beliefs with regards to erectile dysfunction and its treatment and suggests that these beliefs are potentially modifiable.

  read more

• Frozen-planet states in exotic helium atoms

  New York | Heidelberg, 18 March 2020
  In an elegant study published in EPJ D, physicists from Serbia and Russia have mapped the energy levels and estimated the stability of a ‘frozen planet’ configuration of anti-protonic helium.

  read more

• Distortion isn’t a drag on fluid-straddling particles

  New York | Heidelberg, 17 March 2020
  The drag forces experienced by particles which straddle and distort the interfaces between un-mixable fluids are less influenced by the shape of the distortion than previously thought.

  read more

• Separations between earthquakes reveal clear patterns

  New York | Heidelberg, 25 February 2020
  A new analysis of real earthquake data shows that the similarity between inter-earthquake times and distances displays a distinct relationship with their separation from an initial earthquake.

  read more

• Possible effects of maternal migration on young children in rural China

  London, 12th March 2020

  Maternal migration before children reach 30 months of age may be associated with delayed cognitive development and lower nutritional status in children in rural China, according to a study published in the journal Demography.

  read more

• A better starting point for exploring entanglement

  New York | Heidelberg, 25 February 2020
  Updated mathematical techniques which can distinguish between two types of ‘non-Gaussian curve’ could make it easier for researchers to study the nature of quantum entanglement.

  read more

• Stimulating resonance with two very different forces

  New York | Heidelberg, 25 February 2020
  In some specialised oscillators, two driving forces with significantly different frequencies can work together to make the whole system resonate.

  read more

• Deconstructing Schrödinger’s Cat

  New York | Heidelberg, 14 February 2020
  The French theoretical physicist Franck Laloë presents a modification of Schrödinger’s famous equation that ensures that all measured states are unique, helping to solve the problem that is neatly encompassed in the Schördinger’s cat paradox.

  read more

• Breaking up amino acids with radiation

  New York | Heidelberg, 5 February 2020
  A new study describes how the amino acid, glutamine, is broken up when bombarded with different doses of electrons. This has implications for cancer radiotherapy and understanding the origin of life.

  read more

• Ultracold gases in time-dependent magnetic fields

  New York | Heidelberg, 5 February 2020
  The phase transitions of an ultracold gas under a fluctuating magnetic field show interesting patterns, particularly a loss of symmetry in the energy spectrum that is well observed in the disappearance of the ‘Hofstadter’s butterfly’ effect.

  read more

• Exploring strangeness and the primordial Universe

  New York | Heidelberg, 31 January 2020
  Having studied quark-gluon plasma since the late 1970s, Dr Johann Rafelski summarises the evolution in our understanding of the exotic quark signature of this primordial material which once filled the whole Universe.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  read more

• Spinning quantum dots

  New York | Heidelberg, 15 January 2020
  A theoretical analysis of electron spins in slowly moving quantum dots suggests these can be controlled by electric fields.

  read more

• Buckyballs release electron-positron pairs in forward directions

  New York | Heidelberg, 23 December 2019
  Theoretical calculations reveal that when impacted by positrons of particular energies, spherical nanoparticles release unstable electron-positron pairs, with signals dominating in the same direction as the incoming positrons.

  read more

• Time-to-death of Roman emperors followed distinct pattern

  London, 23rd December 2019

  Roman emperors faced a high risk of violent death in their first year of rule, but the risk slowly declined over the next seven years, according to an article published in the open access journal Palgrave Communications.

  read more

• Laser-based prototype probes cold atom dynamics

  New York | Heidelberg, 16 December 2019
  A new prototype design doubles the frequencies of widely used telecommunications lasers to study the dynamics of cold atoms while in space.

  read more

• Unpacking the mystery of Feynman’s reference amplifier

  New York | Heidelberg, 13 December 2019
  A review of lectures given by Feynman between 1946 and 1971 showcase the strong influence that his involvement in the Manhattan Project held on his research, while revealing an intriguing mystery surrounding one particular amplifier device.

  
  

  
  

  read more

• Colliding molecules and antiparticles

  New York | Heidelberg, 13 December 2019
  A new theoretical study of the interaction between positrons and simple tetrahedral and octahedral molecules agrees with experimental work and could have useful implications for PET scanning techniques.

  read more

• Better studying superconductivity in single-layer graphene

  New York | Heidelberg, 13 December 2019
  An existing technique is better suited to describing superconductivity in pure, single-layer graphene than current methods.

  read more

• Proton-hydrogen collision model could impact fusion research

  New York | Heidelberg, 6 December 2019
  A new theoretical model predicts how protons will collide with hydrogen atoms which have been excited to higher energy levels, over a wide range of impact energies.

  read more

• Preterm birth linked to increased rates of diabetes in children and young adults, with certain effects stronger in females

  London, 5th December 2019

  New research shows that preterm birth is linked to increased rates of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and young adults, with certain effects stronger in females. People who have been born preterm may need more intensive monitoring and prevention efforts to lower their risk of diabetes, concludes the study, published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]).

  read more

• Chronic opioid treatment may increase PTSD risk

  London, 2nd December 2019

  Long-term (chronic) treatment with opioids, such as morphine, prior to trauma enhances fear learning in mice, according to a study published in Neuropsychopharmacology. 

  read more

• Mathematics reveals new insights into Marangoni flows

  New York | Heidelberg, 25 October 2019
  New theoretical analysis describing the movements of impurity-laden, temperature-varying fluids at water-air interfaces better matches previous experimental observations.

  read more

• Advanced cancer drug shrinks and intercalates DNA

  New York | Heidelberg, 25 October 2019
  Experiments and statistical models reveal that the recently developed cancer drug Pixantrone forces itself inside the double helix structure of DNA molecules, then shrinks their backbones.

  read more

• Years of education may impact drinking behaviour and risk of alcohol dependence

  London, 25th October 2019

  Higher educational attainment – spending more years in education – may impact people’s drinking behaviour and reduce their risk of alcohol dependence, according to a study published in Molecular Psychiatry.

  read more

• Science reveals improvements in Roman building techniques

  New York | Heidelberg, 24 October 2019
  A variety of scientific techniques have been combined to highlight improvements in the technologies employed by the Romans in successive modifications to the Atrium Vestae in Rome.

  read more

• Retrieving physical properties from two-colour laser experiments

  New York | Heidelberg, 24 October 2019
  Useful information about ultrafast light-matter interactions is buried deep in the signals produced by two-colour pump-probe experiments, and requires sophisticated techniques to disentangle it.

  read more

• Deflating beach balls and drug delivery

  New York | Heidelberg, 24 October 2019
  The deflation of beach balls, squash balls and other common objects offers a good model for distortion in microscopic hollow spheres. This can help us understand the properties of some cells and, potentially, develop new drug delivery mechanisms.

  read more

• Determining the shapes of atomic clusters

  New York | Heidelberg, 24 October 2019
  By considering the crystal structures of atomic clusters in new ways, researchers may be able to better assess whether the groups have distinctive shapes, or whether they are amorphous.

  read more

• Modelling ion beam therapy

  New York | Heidelberg, 9 October 2019
  Recent analysis shows precisely how beams of charged particles transfer their energy to water, which has important implications for how these beams are targeted in ion beam cancer therapy.

  read more

• Shocking embryonic limbs into shape

  New York | Heidelberg, 18 September 2019
  Electrical stimulation of early chicken embryos has shed light on the process through which the limbs of all vertebrates are formed.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  read more

• Fractal patterns in growing bacterial colonies

  New York | Heidelberg, 18 September 2019
  A new agent-based computer modelling technique has been applied to the growth and sliding movement of colonies of bacteria

  read more

• Global warming may threaten availability of essential brain-building fatty acid

  London, 12th September 2019

  By 2100, 96% of the global population may not have sufficient access to a naturally occurring essential brain-building omega-3 fatty acid, according to a study in the journal Ambio.

  read more

• Conductivity at the edges of graphene bilayers

  New York | Heidelberg, 11 September 2019
  The conductivity of dual layers of graphene greatly depends on the states of carbon atoms at their edges; a property which could have important implications for information transmissions on quantum scales.

  read more

• Science puts historical claims to the test

  New York | Heidelberg, 6 September 2019
  The latest analytical techniques available to scientists can confirm the validity of historical sources in some cases, and suggest a need for reconsideration in others

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  read more

• Realistic robots get under Galápagos lizards’ skin

  London, 5th September 2019

  Male lava lizards are sensitive to the timing of their opponents’ responses during contest displays, with quicker responses being perceived as more aggressive, a study in Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology suggests.

  read more

• Fragmenting ions and radiation sensitizers

  New York | Heidelberg, 3 September 2019
  A new study using mass spectrometry is helping piece together what happens when DNA that has been sensitized by the oncology drug 5-fluorouracil is subjected to the ionising radiation used in radiotherapy.

  read more

• Enabling longer space missions

  New York | Heidelberg, 15 August 2019
  Hall thrusters, which are already used to propel spacecraft and satellites on long missions, could be used for even longer ones if models for minimising surface erosion were taken into account.

  read more

• Quantum momentum

  New York | Heidelberg, 5 August 2019
  A new quantum-mechanical model has been developed that allows the momentum of quantum particles to be measured using a variant of the classical time-of-flight

  read more

• Entropy explains RNA diffusion rates in cells

  New York | Heidelberg, 5 August 2019
  Mathematical analysis reveals that the exponential patterns in RNA diffusion rates linked to small-scale diffusive behaviours

  read more

• Chemotherapy drugs react differently to radiation while in water

  New York | Heidelberg, 5 August 2019
  A new study looked at the way certain molecules found in chemotherapy drugs react to radiation while in water, which is more similar to in the body, compared to previous research that studied them in gas

  read more

• Spinning towards robust microwave generation on the nano scale

  New York | Heidelberg, 5 August 2019
  New study explains why it is not possible to couple nano-scale microwave generators known as spin-torque oscillators together in series to generate a macroscopic strength signal

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  read more

• New insights into the early stages of creep deformation

  New York | Heidelberg, 30 July 2019
  Computer simulations show that the evolution of material structures during creep deformation can modify material properties

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  read more

• Optimising structures within complex arrangements of bubbles

  New York | Heidelberg, 30 July 2019
  Computer simulations reveal how groups of bubbles with two different areas can be optimised to minimise the lengths of the edges at which they touch, potentially allowing for stronger, cheaper structures which emulate bubbly foams.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  read more

• Laser solitons: theory, topology and potential applications

  New York | Heidelberg, 30 July 2019
  A group of Russian physicists reviews recent developments in the field of laser solitons, which they have made their own and which may have applications in digital information storage.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  read more

• Diabetes increases the risk of heart failure more in women than men

  London, 18 July 2019

  Diabetes confers a greater excess risk of heart failure in women than men, according to new research in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes).

  read more

• Simulations fix the cracks in magnetic mirrors

  New York | Heidelberg, 17 July 2019
  Computer simulations reveal that magnetic mirrors can be tweaked to confine plasma more effectively, by fine-tuning both the arrangements of their electromagnets, and the initial properties of the plasma itself
  

  read more

• Spread-changing orders and deletions affect stock prices

  New York | Heidelberg, 17 July 2019
  A new analysis of the bid-ask spread of stock prices reveals that placements and deletions of trade orders can affect stock prices as much as trades themselves
  

  read more

• Improving the signal-to-noise ratio in quantum chromodynamics simulations

  New York | Heidelberg, 17 July 2019
  A new Monte Carlo based simulation method enables more precise simulation for ensembles of elementary particles
  

  read more

• Improving heat recycling with the thermodiffusion effect

  New York | Heidelberg, 15 July 2019
  Numerical simulations of the thermodiffusion effect within falling film absorbers reveal that thin films composed of liquid mixtures with negative thermodiffusion coefficients enhance the efficiency of heat recycling
  

  read more

• UK study shows obesity in pregnant women associated with a 3.5 times increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the child

  London, 25th June 2019
  

  Obesity during pregnancy is associated with a 3.5-times increased future risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the child, concludes new research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes).
  

  read more

• How to stop diseases and forest fires from spreading

  New York | Heidelberg, 12 June 2019
  A new model, published in EPJ B and exploring how epidemics spread, could help prevent infections and forest fires from getting out of hand
  

  read more

• No assumptions needed to simulate petroleum reservoirs

  New York | Heidelberg, 4 June 2019
  Hydrocarbons trapped within porous media are easier to model with computer simulations than researchers previously assumed – a discovery that opens up new possibilities for thermodynamics research.
  

  read more

• Dowsing for electric fields in liquid crystals

  New York | Heidelberg, 3 June 2019
  The orientation of the ordered molecules that make up nematic liquid crystals can change under electric fields, and can be used to detect subtle electrical effects.
  

  read more

• Inhibitory neurons have two types of impact on brain oscillations

  New York | Heidelberg, 28 May 2019
  A certain type of neuron, called inhibitory neurons, can have two types of overall effect on oscillations in the brain
  

  read more

• Collagen fibres grow like a sunflower

  New York | Heidelberg, 13 May 2019
  A new study suggests the pattern of fibres in tissues is similar to the petals of a flower
  

  read more

• Using a mobile while browsing the shelves may make shoppers buy more

  London, 7th May 2019

  In-store mobile phone use that is unrelated to shopping may be associated with an increase in unplanned purchases, according to a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science.

  read more

• Vaccine shows lasting effects against fentanyl addiction in rats

  London, 2nd May 2019
  

  A vaccine that combines a fentanyl antigen with a tetanus toxoid has been shown to reduce fentanyl choices and increase food choices with effects lasting several months in rats.
  

  read more

• How red blood cells behave in crowded vessels

  New York | Heidelberg, 26 April 2019
  A new model of red blood flowing through narrow capillaries shows that the cells change shape and alignment, allowing plasma to flow down the sides
  

  read more

• Study reveals elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in young women who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy

  New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for Study of Diabetes [EASD]) shows that, in women who develop gestational diabetes (GDM) during pregnancy, the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the years following childbirth is doubled compared to women who do not develop GDM.
  

  read more

• Infinite number of quantum particles gives clues to big-picture behaviour at large scale

  New York | Heidelberg, 9 April 2019
  Scientists gain a deeper understanding of phenomena at macroscopic scale by simulating the consequences of having an infinite number of physical phenomena at quantum scale
  

  read more

• Inner electrons behave differently in aromatic hydrocarbons

  New York | Heidelberg, 9 April 2019
  A new study explores how the characteristics of aromaticity affect the process of Auger decay
  

  read more

• Liquid jets break up more readily on a substrate

  New York | Heidelberg, 3 April 2019
  Using computational models to investigate how liquid drops behave on surfaces
  

  read more

• Magnetic nanoparticles can 'burn' cancer cells

  New York | Heidelberg, 3 April 2019
  Magnetic hyperthermia is still a highly experimental cancer treatment, but new research shows that the therapy is tunable
  

  read more

• Turbulences theory closer high-energy physics than previously thought

  New York | Heidelberg, 2 April 2019
  A new research paper finds the high-energy physics concept of 'un-naturalness' may be applicable to the study of turbulence or that of strongly correlated systems of elementary particles
  

  read more

• Understanding stock market returns: which models fits best?

  New York | Heidelberg, 2 April 2019
  A comparison of two models for stock market prediction shows clear differences in their accuracy, depending on the length of the forecasting period
  

  read more

• Intelligent metamaterials behave like electrostatic chameleons

  New York | Heidelberg, 2 April 2019
  Metashells can adapt their wave-bending behaviour based on the characteristics of the material they contain
  

  read more

• Optimising proton beam therapy with mathematical models

  New York | Heidelberg, 2 April 2019
  New model improves our understanding of energy transfer in radiotherapy treatment plans by replacing 50-year-old parameters with more complex ones
  

  read more

• Traveling-wave tubes: The unsung heroes of space exploration

  New York | Heidelberg, 27 March 2019
  An invention from the 1950s is still being used today
  

  read more

• Two studies describe disruptive and abusive behavior among clinicians in operating rooms

  Assessments of the number of disruptive and abusive behaviors occurring in operating rooms in the USA, Canada and elsewhere is reported in two studies in the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, which is published by Springer.

  read more

• Gastric bypass surgery causes type 2 diabetes to go into remission in most patients

  A new study published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) has found that three quarters of individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who were treated with obesity surgery known as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) experienced diabetes remission within one year of treatment.
  

  read more

• Empty homes tax may be more effective than new builds at making housing more affordable

  London, 13th February 2019
  

  Empty homes tax has the potential to generate income for local governments, reduce demand from foreign investors and increase housing affordability, a study suggests.
  

  read more

• Sand fiddler crabs have home advantage in competition for breeding burrows

  London, 7 February 2019
  

  Sand fiddler crabs that reside in a burrow usually prevail if challenged by another, intruding crab, provided their claw pinching strength is similar to that of the competing crab, a study suggests.
  

  read more

• Electron-gun simulations explain the mechanisms of high-energy cosmic rays

  New York | Heidelberg, 6 February 2019
  Model explains the mechanisms of scraping negative ions from moving surfaces under a strong electric field
  

  read more

• NBA players who shine early stay skilled for longer

  Speed at which National Basketball Association (NBA) players’ performance declines with age after peak depends on early career development, study suggests.

  read more

• New university ranking system includes the cultural perspective

  New York | Heidelberg, 25 January 2019
  A new study proposes a new way of ranking universities, using a more balanced cultural view and based on 24 international editions of Wikipedia
  

  read more

• Better safeguards for sensitive information

  New York | Heidelberg, 25 January 2019
  Study improves the lower boundary and secret key capacity of an encryption channel
  

  read more

• How ion adsorption affects biological membranes’ functions

  New York | Heidelberg, 25 January 2019
  A new study presents new models describing how the adsorption of calcium, barium and strontium ions onto biological membranes may affect the functions of cells
  

  read more

• Quantifying how much quantum information can be eavesdropped

  New York | Heidelberg, 25 January 2019
  New study yields more precise characterisation of monogamous and polygamous entanglement of quantum information units
  

  read more

• 3D virtual slicing of an antique violin reveals ancient varnishing methods

  New York | Heidelberg, 25 January 2019
  Physicists and chemists use 3D scanning to unlock the forgotten secrets of the multi-layered coating methods that give violins their exceptional tone and look
  

  read more

• Violence in PG-13 rated movies not linked to violence in US society

  London, 18th January 2019
  

  New research suggests that policy makers should remain focused on issues that have been demonstrated to impact criminal behaviour, such as family environment, mental health, poverty and education.
  

  read more

• Risk factors for obesity may differ for Hispanic and non-Hispanic white babies

  Heidelberg | New York, 10 January 2019

  New research suggests that a targeted and personalized approach would help tackle obesity in at-risk populations  
  

  read more

• Drinking water guidelines in the US vary widely from state to state

  Heidelberg | New York, 8 January 2019

  Analysis of existing state and federal guidelines shows discrepancies in recommended safe levels of toxic contaminants PFOA and PFOS in drinking water
  

  read more

• Changing communities may affect the success of Iceland’s evacuation guidelines

  Heidelberg | New York, 20 December 2018   

  Researchers survey communities in Iceland to find out how and why they did or did not evacuate their homes during the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull
  

  read more

• The coming of age of plasma physics

  New York | Heidelberg, 11 July 2018
  The story of the generation of physicists involved in the development of a sustainable energy source, controlled fusion, using a method called magnetic confinement
  

  read more

• Holey graphene as Holy Grail alternative to silicon chips

  New York | Heidelberg, 19 December 2018
  Novel spintronics applications could stem from introducing holes into graphene to form triangular antidot lattices, granting the material new magnetic properties
  

  read more

• Preventing concrete bridges from falling apart

  New York | Heidelberg, 19 December 2018
  Concrete degradation from sulfuric acid can be avoided by finding ways of preventing its gas precursor from adsorbing into concrete
  

  read more

• Sac with spiral surface patterns facilitate substance delivery through biological membranes

  New York | Heidelberg, 19 December 2018
  Faceted microfilms made up of liquid crystals arranged in spiral patterns can help squeeze through membranes and deliver helpful molecules
  

  read more

• Ophthalmologists call for more robust regulations for the sale of laser pointers

  Heidelberg | New York, 17 December 2018   

  New study shows that children with learning or behavioral difficulties may be susceptible to self-inflicted eye damage from laser pointers
  

  read more

• How bullying affects the brain

  Heidelberg | New York, 12 December 2018   

  New research identifies a possible mechanism that shows how bullying may influence the structure of the adolescent brain
  

  read more

• A correlation between obesity and income has only developed in the past 30 years

  Heidelberg | New York, 11 December 2018  

  Researchers analyze the negative correlation between obesity and diabetes and median household income in the US
  

  read more

• On the trail of the Higgs Boson

  New York | Heidelberg, 5 December 2018
  The elusive particle won't share all the secrets of its creation mechanism at once
  

  read more

• The physics of extracting gas from shale formations

  New York | Heidelberg, 30 November 2018
  A new study outlines the key parameters affecting the production of gas from shale reservoirs, by simulating what is happening at the microscopic scale.
  

  read more

• Fullerene compounds made simulation-ready

  New York | Heidelberg, 14 November 2018
  New model helps understand compound nanomolecules made of football-shaped fullerenes
  

  read more

• Who joined the Islamic State from France between 2014 and 2016?

  Heidelberg | New York, 14 November 2018  

  Researchers identify key factors that may have played a role in the radicalization of young French Muslims
  

  read more

• Doubly-excited electrons reach new energy states

  New York | Heidelberg, 13 November 2018
  New energy states reached by electrons entering resonance in three-particle systems may open the door to using similar calculations in atomic and nuclear physics
  

  read more

• Freshwater turtles navigate using the sun

  Heidelberg | New York, 9 November 2018  

  Study shows that simulating a clock shift of six hours causes hatchling Blanding’s turtles to shift their course, demonstrating that the sun is central to their navigational compass
  

  read more

• Pore size alone does not matter when biological nanopores act as sugar chain biosensors

  New York | Heidelberg, 7 November 2018
  The effectiveness of nanopore biosensors capable of identifying sugar chains from biological molecules involved in key biological processes also depends on the nanopore's electrical charge and inner pore design
  

  read more

• Factors affecting turbulence scaling

  New York | Heidelberg, 7 November 2018
  Study focuses on hydrodynamic effects of external disturbances on fluids at critical points, including inconsistent turbulence in all directions, or anisotropy, and varying degrees of compressibility
  

  read more

• Prejudice against women in power is greater than we think

  Heidelberg | New York, 5 November 2018  

  Researchers show that results from conventional self-reporting surveys on gender prejudices should be regarded with a measure of scepticism
  

  read more

• Could bariatric surgery make men more virile?

  Heidelberg | New York, 31 October 2018  

  Researchers find that weight loss surgery may boost levels of testosterone in men, but has no positive effect on sperm quality
  

  read more

• Can tiny doses of magic mushrooms unlock creativity?

  Heidelberg | New York, 25 October 2018  

  Preliminary study suggests that “microdoses” of psychedelics may enhance a person’s creative problem solving abilities
  

  read more

• Concussion and college football: how many hits to the head is too much?

  Heidelberg | New York, 23 October 2018  

  New analysis supports evidence that concussions in some American football athletes could occur following repetitive head impact exposure rather than after a single severe hit to the head
  

  read more

• Asian elephants could be the maths kings of the jungle

  Heidelberg | New York, 22 October 2018  

  Experimental evidence shows that Asian elephants possess numerical skills similar to those in humans
  

  read more

• New consensus guidelines on managing hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes launched

  Heidelberg | New York, 22 October 2018

  The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) have produced an updated consensus statement on how to manage hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) in patients with type 2 diabetes
  

  read more

• Polluted city neighborhoods are bad news for asthmatic children

  Heidelberg | New York, 18 October 2018  

  Study shows that children with asthma react differently to changes in air pollution depending on the environment they grow up in
  

  read more

• Going to bed with your ex might not be as bad as you think

  Heidelberg | New York, 17 October 2018  

  New research shows that pursuing sex with an ex-partner does not always hinder breakup recovery
  

  read more

• Diets rich in fish oil could slow the spread and growth of breast cancer cells

  Heidelberg | New York, 16 October 2018  

  A new study on mice provides further evidence that a diet high in omega-3 fats may delay the development and spread of breast cancer
  

  read more

• Bacteria-inspired motility could power a new generation of mini-robots

  New York | Heidelberg, 16 October 2018
  Physicists develop a model to explain how deforming a helix could generate additional locomotion for some microorganisms and mini-robots
  

  read more

• People donate more when they sense they are being watched

  Heidelberg | New York, 15 October 2018  

  Study suggests that eyes serve as cues to monitor and elicit charitable behavior
  

  read more

• Babies of overweight mothers may risk developing self-regulation problems

  Heidelberg | New York, 10 October 2018  

  New study shows that being overweight or obese during pregnancy could increase the chance that babies cry excessively, have problems feeding or have difficulties falling asleep
  

  read more

• Urban Inuit communities suffer from poor health and limited access to healthcare

  Heidelberg | New York, 9 October 2018  

  A study shows that Inuit communities in cities have significantly more health problems than the general Canadian population
  

  read more

• Statistical method recreates the history of a long-abandoned village

  New York | Heidelberg, 8 October 2018
  History revealed by integrating multiple layers of clues from medieval village remnants
  

  read more

• Freeloaders beware: incentives to foster cooperation are just around the corner

  New York | Heidelberg, 8 October 2018
  Numerical simulations show that it is possible to coerce people to collaborate for the common good
  

  read more

• Precise electron spin control yields faster memory storage

  New York | Heidelberg, 8 October 2018
  New ultra-fast laser method aims to improve control over the electron’s degree of freedom, called spins, could enhance memory storage devices
  

  read more

• Teachers’ views on LGBQ students are changing

  Heidelberg | New York, 4 October 2018  

  Study shows that the political opinions held by teachers strongly influence their attitudes towards LGBQ students
  

  read more

• Attosecond pulse leads to highest molecular level probe resolution

  New York | Heidelberg, 1 October 2018
  A team of Chinese physicists has published a study explaining how to turn low-intensity infra-red beams into high-intensity X-ray beams, opening the door to ultra-fast pulsed energy sources for ultra-high time resolution probes
  

  read more

• Postnatal depression could be linked to fewer daylight hours during late pregnancy

  Heidelberg | New York, 27 September 2018  

  Researchers find that shortening days during the third trimester of pregnancy may add to the risk of postpartum depression
  

  read more

• Is student debt keeping Americans away from marriage?

  Heidelberg | New York, 26 September 2018  

  Research shows that modern couples are choosing to cohabit and pay off debts before marriage
  

  read more

• Screening using Body Mass Index alone may miss every second preschooler with excess stomach fat

  Heidelberg | New York, 25 September 2018  

  New research indicates that using waist-to-height ratio is a more accurate way of screening young children for excess stomach fat and potential cardiometabolic risk factors
  

  read more

• How lactoferrin clamps down on free roaming iron ions to stop nefarious effects on cells

  New York | Heidelberg, 20 September 2018
  New study elucidates structure of the protein lactoferrin as it undergoes transition from an open to a closed structure to decrease the level of free iron ions in the body
  

  read more

• Fish-rich diets may boost babies’ brain development

  Heidelberg | New York, 20 September 2018  

  Research suggests that slightly adjusting the diet of healthy pregnant women could be beneficial to their babies
  

  read more

• Premature brains develop differently in boys and girls

  Heidelberg | New York, 19 September 2018  

  New research shows effects of prematurity to be more severe for male brains than female brains
  

  read more

• Better chemo drug adsorption onto targeted delivery capsules

  New York | Heidelberg, 18 September 2018
  New study demonstrates adsorption of chemotherapy drugs onto active carbon delivery capsule can be enhanced with aluminium atom inclusions
  

  read more

• Amount of weight gained in pregnancy could influence health of child later on

  Heidelberg | New York, 17 September 2018

  New research shows that if a woman gains either too much or too little weight during pregnancy, there are adverse effects in children aged seven years
  

  read more

• Heat-related deaths likely to increase significantly as global temperatures rise, warn researchers

  Heidelberg | New York, 13 September 2018  

  Models show that the implementation of the Paris Agreement is critical to avoid a large increase in temperature-related deaths
  

  read more

• A reliable cryptocurrency needs good governance, say researchers

  Heidelberg | New York, 12 September 2018  

  Clear guidelines that advise stakeholders when software updates are beneficial could help stabilize cryptocurrencies
  

  read more

• Newborns with congenital heart disease have enlarged kidneys

  Heidelberg | New York, 11 September 2018  

  Research counters the expectation that organs of babies with congenital heart disease are smaller than average
  

  read more

• Why leaf-eating Asian monkeys do not have a sweet tooth

  Heidelberg | New York, 6 September 2018  

  Genetic study shows that Javan lutung monkeys have a poor sense of taste
  

  read more

• Did death rate affect the 2016 US presidential elections?

  Heidelberg | New York, 5 September 2018  

  New analysis shows that relatively modest incremental reductions in age-adjusted, county-level death rates could have had an influence on voting in swing states
  

  read more

• Prostate problems also associated with sleep disorders and depression

  Heidelberg | New York, 31 August 2018

  Urologists should identify patients at risk of non-urologic diseases and refer them to relevant specialists, say researchers
  

  read more

• Men still upstage women on screen – but things are getting better

  Heidelberg | New York, 14 August 2018  

  Analysis shows that the representation of women in films has improved since 2002, but still does not reflect real-world demographics 
  

  read more

• Researchers call for comprehensive transformation of food systems

  Heidelberg | New York, 9 August 2018  

  In order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate, researchers propose a four-pillar strategy 
  

  read more

• Top 43 reasons why men remain single – according to Reddit

  Heidelberg | New York, 8 August 2018  

  Analysis of comments on popular news aggregation site shows that some single men may not have developed the necessary social skills demanded to find a partner in the modern Western world
  

  read more

• Families with college kids more likely to lose their home during recessions

  Heidelberg | New York, 7 August 2018  

  New research shows that the cost of supporting a child through college exacerbated the foreclosure crisis of the 2000s
  

  read more

• Pediatric telemedicine services can work well under the right conditions

  Heidelberg | New York, 6 August 2018 

  Interviews with pediatricians show that providing remote medical consultations is highly stressful and challenging, but this can be managed with extra skills and training
  

  read more

• Hate speech from women is judged harsher than that from men

  Heidelberg | New York, 31 July 2018  

  New research shows that online moderators should be sensitive to how gender stereotypes influence online discussions
  

  read more

• Clearer vision of the biochemical reaction that allows us to see

  New York | Heidelberg, 31 July 2018
  Physicists develop improved algorithms for simulating how complex molecules respond to excitation by photons, and explaining what happens when photons hit our eyes
  

  read more

• Madagascar’s lemurs use millipedes for their tummy troubles

  Heidelberg | New York,  30 July 2018  

  Researchers observe that red-fronted lemurs may chew on millipedes to rid themselves of intestinal parasites 
  

  read more

• Lynchings of the past affect health today

  Heidelberg | New York, 26 July 2018  

  Analysis shows that US counties with a history of lynching events have higher contemporary mortality rates for whites and Blacks
  

  read more