The ScienceBreaker

Scientists have discovered a new way to simulate complex systems using analog computers. These physical neural networks use simple operations to solve complex tasks and can be more efficient and faster than digital computers.

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Making nature compute for us Artificial intelligence is all the hype lately. Behind many of the mind-blowing breakthroughs of the past decade is a single workhorse: More compute. As engineers work hard to supply the necessary electronics, researchers are turning to less conventional ideas in hopes of finding the next big thing....

Immune cells are constantly on the move, arriving at any spot in our body where damage or infection arises. But how do they navigate through dense tissue? New research investigating cell invasion inside fruit fly embryos has shed light on this mystery.

Scientists discovered that macrophages, a type of immune cell, wait for a cell at the tissue edge to divide before they invade. Once the cell rounds up and starts to divide, macrophages can squeeze beside it into the tissue. This division appears to be essential, as when scientists blocked divisions completely, no macrophages invaded.

This study provides a new perspective on how we can try to combat diseases of the immune system and even cancer. Anti-division drugs that inhibit tumor growth might also act against metastases by decreasing the division of tissues so that tumor cells cannot move into them.

Want to learn more about this fascinating research?

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How do immune cells enter tissues to protect the body? Immune cells can move within our body, even between firmly attached cells. How do they overcome these impediments? Studying fruit fly embryos, we have discovered that immune cells take advantage of dividing cells. Because intercellular attachments disassemble during division, it creates a weak spot....

An eye-opening molecular explosion

Have you ever wondered how plants make use of sunlight to do photosynthesis? What happens inside your eye such that your brain can perceive your smartphone screen or your coffee cup? It turns out this is eventually triggered by tiny rearrangements of individual atoms.


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An eye-opening molecular explosion Have you ever wondered how plants make use of sunlight to do photosynthesis? What happens inside your eye such that your brain can perceive your smartphone screen or your coffee cup? It turns out this is eventually triggered by tiny rearrangements of individual atoms. Our aim is to develop an imagin...

Mitochondria as microlenses in the eye – the evolution of an improved camera sensor

The neurons of the eye that detect light must be very sensitive. They also need a lot of energy, so they contain many mitochondria - however, mitochondria scatter light. In a recent study, scientists show how evolution may have found a way to have the best of both worlds: Why not build mitochondria into a lens that helps, rather than hurts, visual sensitivity?


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Mitochondria as microlenses in the eye – the evolution of an improved camera sensor The neurons of the eye that detect light must be very sensitive. They also need a lot of energy, so they contain many mitochondria - however, mitochondria scatter light. In our recent study, we show how evolution may have found a way to have the best of both worlds: Why not build mitochondria into a...

The Mystery of the Lizard Tail

Quick breakage of lizard tails to escape predation has remained a mystery for centuries. This study explains the balance between firm attachment and the quick release of the tail and highlights the lizard's way of achieving the “just right” connection for its best chance of survival.

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The Mystery of the Lizard Tail Quick breakage of lizard tails to escape predation has remained a mystery for centuries. Our study explains the balance between firm attachment and the quick release of the tail and highlights the lizard's way of achieving the “just right” connection for its best chance of survival. - submission...

Floppy proteins and the hidden sequences they use to communicate

Our cells are filled with proteins. These proteins usually have a specific structure which help them to make the specific interactions we need to live. But how do short, floppy regions of proteins make such tight and specific interactions despite lacking any structure?

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Floppy proteins and the hidden sequences they use to communicate Our cells are filled with proteins. These proteins usually have a specific structure which help them to make the specific interactions we need to live. But how do short, floppy regions of proteins make such tight and specific interactions despite lacking any structure? - submission by Theresa Hwang,...

The Dark Side of Nudges

Among other methods, governments use highway message signs to encourage responsible driving. Study finds that displaying year-to-day roadside fatality counts leads to an immediate increase in traffic crashes. Researchers argue that the statistics distract drivers at precisely the moments when they should focus on the road.

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The Dark Side of Nudges Among other methods, governments use highway message signs to encourage responsible driving. We find that displaying year-to-day roadside fatality counts leads to an immediate increase in traffic crashes. We argue that the statistics distract drivers at precisely the moments when they should focus o...

The mechanisms behind synchronized hunts in spiders

Spiders are known for their aggressive behavior, but some species are social. This is the case for Anelosimus eximius, a social species that forms colonies with hundreds of spiders living in a common web. When hunting, these spiders synchronize their movements: they start and stop quickly, all at the same time. Analyses explain how this impressive ballet could emerge from simple behavioral rules.

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The mechanisms behind synchronized hunts in spiders Spiders are known for their aggressive behavior, but some species are social. This is the case for Anelosimus eximius, a social species that forms colonies with hundreds of spiders living in a common web. When hunting, these spiders synchronize their movements: they start and stop quickly, all at th...

Using ants to sniff out cancer?

Has it ever crossed your mind that ants could detect cancer? A French team of scientists may have discovered a new non-invasive method for cancer screening using the ants’ sense of smell. Their ants could represent an alternative to other expensive and invasive detection methods like mammograms or MRIs in this major challenge for public health.


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Using ants to sniff out cancer? Has it ever crossed your mind that ants could detect cancer? A French team of scientists may have discovered a new non-invasive method for cancer screening using the ants’ sense of smell. Their ants could represent an alternative to other expensive and invasive detection methods like mammograms or...

Network resuscitation – pumping life into a failed complex system

When a complex social, biological or ecological network collapses, we seek to steer it back towards functionality. This recent work maps unique conditions - the recoverable phase - when this can be achieved by controlling just one component. With applications from neuronal networks to our gut-microbiome, scientists have show how a single intervention point can reignite the entire system’s functionality.

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Network resuscitation – pumping life into a failed complex system When a complex social, biological or ecological network collapses, we seek to steer it back towards functionality. Our recent work maps unique conditions - the recoverable phase - when this can be achieved by controlling just one component. With applications from neuronal networks to our gut-microbi...

When One Disaster Follows Another

Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires are increasing in frequency, and many locations are experiencing repeated disasters. Each disaster can create legacy conditions that affect the outcome of the disasters that follow. New research is helping to understand and predict these important legacies.


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When One Disaster Follows Another Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires are increasing in frequency, and many locations are experiencing repeated disasters. Each disaster can create legacy conditions that affect the outcome of the disasters that follow. New research is helping to understand and predict these important....

Mathematical paradoxes unearth the boundaries of AI

Instability is AI's Achilles’ heel. Scientists show the following paradox: there are cases where stable and accurate AI exists, but it can never be trained by any algorithm. They initiate a foundations theory for when AI can be trained - such a programme will shape political and legal decision-making in the coming decades, and have a significant impact on markets for AI technologies.

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