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Gravity’s subtle effect on light could improve groundwater, volcano and carbon storage monitoring

A study by University of Wollongong (UOW) physicist Dr. Enbang Li has demonstrated that gravity can subtly influence the behavior of light, a breakthrough that could underpin future technologies for monitoring groundwater, tracking glacier melt, locating mineral deposits and detecting underground changes linked to volcanic activity and carbon storage.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, shows early experimental evidence that photons—particles of light—interact with Earth’s gravitational field in measurable ways, laying the groundwork for a new generation of ultra-sensitive gravity sensors.

Dr. Li said the work could lead to more precise and compact next-generation sensing technologies for environmental monitoring, navigation and underground mapping.

Chemists stabilize rare three‑atom metal ring, revealing new form of aromaticity

In a world first, the team, led by Professor Stephen Liddle, discovered a new type of aromatic molecule made entirely of metal atoms, the heaviest of its kind ever confirmed. The team stabilized an extremely rare three‑atom ring of bismuth, held between two large metal atoms (uranium or thorium) in a structure known as an “inverse‑sandwich” complex.

This breakthrough provides fresh insight into one of chemistry’s most familiar concepts—aromaticity—and shows it can occur not only in carbon‑based rings like benzene, but also in unusual clusters of heavy metals. The paper is published in the journal Nature Chemistry.

Deep secretome analysis reveals the effects of LiCl on fibroangiogenic remodeling in coculture and mouse models of peritoneal dialysis

In a new paper, researchers dive into the protein secretome and decrypt how peritoneal dialysis can trigger fibrosis and damage blood vessels, providing a resource that could inform efforts to limit toxicity from this lifesaving therapy.

Learn more in Science Signaling.

Secretomics uncovers cell-cell signaling networks in tissue remodeling induced by peritoneal dialysis.

What is quantum gravity? Scientists think it could explain the beginning of our universe

“General relativity works extraordinarily well in many settings, but when we run it back to the Big Bang, and apply it to the inside of black holes, it predicts a singularity: a moment where density, curvature and temperature formally become infinite. That is usually a sign that the theory is being pushed beyond where it can be trusted,” Afshordi told Space.com. “In other words, general relativity is likely incomplete for describing the very first moments of the universe, when quantum effects should also matter.”

Afshordi explained that in the standard picture of the Big Bang, scientists usually start with Einstein’s theory of gravity, then add extra ingredients to explain the earliest moments of the universe, most notably a hypothetical “inflation field” to account for the initial rapid expansion of the cosmos.”

NAD-dependent redox control enables endothelial quiescence and vascular stabilization during angiogenesis

Zhao et al. reveal a critical metabolic event in the transition of endothelial cells from proliferation into quiescence. This process requires robust NAMPT-mediated NAD metabolism to suppress H2O2 emanated from reprogramming mitochondria. Failure of this metabolic checkpoint impairs vascular stabilization during angiogenesis, offering novel opportunities for the treatment of hypervascular diseases.

‘Poor man’s Majoranas’ can be used as quantum spin probes

A Majorana fermion is a particle that would be identical to its antiparticle. Such an object has not yet been found. However, certain solid materials exhibit analogous behavior as if Majorana fermions were present through collective excitations of the system called quasiparticles.

In addition to generating interest in basic science as key components for understanding the material world, Majorana fermions have primarily been studied due to their potential technological applications in areas such as fault-tolerant quantum computing.

The main theoretical model used in this study is the Kitaev wire. It is a one-dimensional superconducting chain formed by electrons or collective excitations. Under certain conditions, it generates an isolated Majorana fermion at each end without altering the total energy of the system.

Study investigates how the brain maintains consciousness during physiological failure

Near-death experiences continue to challenge the scientific understanding of consciousness: how can vivid and structured reports be explained at moments of extreme physiological failure? This is the central question addressed by neuroscientist Charlotte Martial, who will take part in the 15th “Behind and Beyond the Brain” Symposium, organised by the Bial Foundation.

A researcher at the University of Liège, Belgium, Charlotte Martial studies states of consciousness under conditions of unresponsiveness, such as cardiac arrest or general anesthesia. In her presentation, she will introduce the most recent neuroscientific models that seek to explain these experiences, integrating neurobiological data with subjective descriptions.

Her research suggests that near-death experiences may correspond to natural mental states, potentially serving an adaptive function in extreme situations, contributing to how the brain copes with threat or collapse.

Woman With 3 Autoimmune Diseases Enters Remission After Immune ‘Reset’

A patient with three different autoimmune diseases has entered complete remission after undergoing an experimental treatment that effectively reset her immune system.

The 47-year-old woman in Germany previously required daily blood transfusions to manage her conditions, two of which affected her blood cells.

She was given Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR-) T cell therapy, which involves extracting a sample of immune cells, ‘supercharging’ them against a specific target, and returning them to the body.

A drug discovery bottleneck? How cheaper reagents could speed branched molecule synthesis

When chemists design drug candidates, shape matters enormously. Many active pharmaceutical ingredients contain branched carbon structures—points where the molecular chain forks in a specific direction—that are critical to whether a molecule will bind to its biological target and whether it will be safe. The challenge is that the branched building blocks used to create these structures are not very abundant or commercially available. Now, scientists at Scripps Research have devised a new approach to building these branched molecular structures found in many medicines and materials: one that could make the early stages of drug discovery faster and more efficient.

The method, published in Science, overcomes a stubborn technical obstacle that has limited chemists’ ability to assemble complex molecules from simple, inexpensive starting materials.

“This work solves a selectivity problem that challenged us for years,” says Ryan Shenvi, professor at Scripps Research and senior author of the study. “We’ve now laid the groundwork to access iteratively branching materials that occur in metabolites, fragrances and drugs.”

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