Innovative battery design: More energy and less environmental impact
Lithium metal batteries are among the most promising candidates of the next generation of high-energy batteries. They can store at least twice as much energy per unit of volume as…
Migrating starlings are no copycats
Young, naïve starlings are looking for their wintering grounds independently of experienced conspecifics. Starlings are highly social birds throughout the year, but this does not mean that they copy the…
Engineers find a way to protect microbes from extreme conditions
Microbes that are used for health, agricultural, or other applications need to be able to withstand extreme conditions, and ideally the manufacturing processes used to make tablets for long-term storage.…
Fresh wind blows from historical supernova
A mysterious remnant from a rare type of supernova recorded in 1181 has been explained for the first time. Two white dwarf stars collided, creating a temporary “guest star,” now…
Ionic liquids: ‘Don’t shake it’
Products with sediment, such as soy milk, typically indicate on their packaging that the mixture should be shaken well before drinking. However, there are times when it is preferable not…
Scientists discover new T cells and genes related to immune disorders
Researchers led by Yasuhiro Murakawa at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) and Kyoto University in Japan and IFOM ETS in Italy have discovered several rare types of…
Clever pupils don’t need to attend academically selective schools to thrive, study finds
Findings published in a new peer-reviewed paper in the British Journal of Educational Studies challenges the idea that academically selective schools are necessary for clever pupils to achieve good outcomes.…
Poor health, stress in 20s takes toll in 40s with lower cognition
Higher inflammation in young adulthood linked to lower performance in skills testing in midlife. Young adults who have higher levels of inflammation, which is associated with obesity, physical inactivity, chronic…
Researchers capture never-before-seen view of gene transcription
Every living cell transcribes DNA into RNA. This process begins when an enzyme called RNA polymerase (RNAP) clamps onto DNA. Within a few hundred milliseconds, the DNA double helix unwinds…
High ceilings linked to poorer exam results for university students
Ever wondered why you performed worse than expected in that final university exam that you sat in a cavernous gymnasium or massive hall, despite countless hours, days and weeks of…