[Optics] An all-optical electron gun
Short bunches of electrons are used extensively to yield information about the structure of materials and the dynamics of phase transitions. Traditionally associated, perhaps, with – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - January 5, 2017 Category: Science Authors: Ian S. Osborne Tags: Optics Source Type: research
[Development] Crumbs2 gets mesoderm moving
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the process by which cells move out of a structured, epithelial tissue and become motile. EMT is implicated in cancer metastasis and – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - January 5, 2017 Category: Science Authors: Sarah Harrison Tags: Development Source Type: research
[Immunology] B cells safeguard against premature labor
Around one-third of cases of premature labor are caused by infection and inflammatory responses. B cells are specialized immune cells that should protect from pathogens, but their role – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - January 5, 2017 Category: Science Authors: Priscilla Kelly Tags: Immunology Source Type: research
[Synthetic Biology] Expanding the genetic code in vertebrates
Unnatural amino acids can be incorporated into target proteins by using a transfer RNA (tRNA)—aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pair that adds an unnatural amino acid at an amber stop codon. T – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - January 5, 2017 Category: Science Authors: Valda Vinson Tags: Synthetic Biology Source Type: research
[Molecular Evolution] Beetle ornaments mediated epigenetically
Many male beetles exhibit enlarged ornaments and weapons, which are believed to function in sexual selection. However, the size and degree to which these structures can develop in an – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - January 5, 2017 Category: Science Authors: Laura M. Zahn Tags: Molecular Evolution Source Type: research
[Marine Nitrogen Cycle] The absence of loss
Anaerobic microbial processes in oxygen minimum zones cause a disproportionately large fraction of the loss of fixed nitrogen in the open ocean. Interestingly, though, there has been – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - January 4, 2017 Category: Science Authors: H. Jesse Smith Tags: Marine Nitrogen Cycle Source Type: research
[Immunology] A view to a kill, preventing collateral damage
Natural killer (NK) cells are immune cells that kill virally infected target cells. To do this, NK cells dock with their sickened targets and unleash on them the destructive contents – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - December 22, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Stella M. Hurtley Tags: Immunology Source Type: research
[Animal Behavior] Love the one you're with
For species living near the poles, the breeding season is short and accelerated, leaving little time to be choosy about finding a mate. Such challenges are increased in species with – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - December 22, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Sacha Vignieri Tags: Animal Behavior Source Type: research
[Electrochemistry] Tracing the trends in oxygen reduction
Fuel cells currently rely too heavily on expensive platinum catalysts to reduce oxygen. Cheaper metals still have not matched the efficiency of platinum. Pegis et al. studied – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - December 22, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Jake Yeston Tags: Electrochemistry Source Type: research
[Materials Chemistry] Reacting into new frameworks
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are formed through moderately strong bonds between multidentate centers and organic linkers. One difficulty in using very strong linkages to create – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - December 22, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Phil Szuromi Tags: Materials Chemistry Source Type: research
[Neurodevelopment] Blood and brain intertwined during development
During brain development, blood vasculature grows rapidly to keep up with growing brain tissue. Studying the mouse hindbrain, Tata et al. show how these events are coordinated. – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - December 22, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Pamela J. Hines Tags: Neurodevelopment Source Type: research
[Neuroscience] Tracking extracellular space in the brain
Extracellular space takes up a large percentage of the brain. Its size changes with the sleep-wake cycle but also during brain development and normal aging, as well as under pathological – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - December 22, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Peter Stern Tags: Neuroscience Source Type: research
[Ice Shelves] Ice Shelves Unwelcome rifts
Ice sheets have ice shelves, which continually break apart to form icebergs when the shelves grow too large for their environment. This is normal and typically occurs independently – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - December 21, 2016 Category: Science Authors: H. Jesse Smith Tags: Ice Shelves Source Type: research
[Quantum Simulation] An ultrafast peek into the ultracold
Gases of Rydberg atoms—exotic atoms in which one of the electrons is orbiting the nucleus at a large distance—can simulate the effects of long-range interactions in many-body systems. Com – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - December 15, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Jelena Stajic Tags: Quantum Simulation Source Type: research
[Education] Expanding access to gifted education
Universal screening using a nonverbal test of cognitive ability increased representation of minorities and economically disadvantaged students in school programs for gifted and talented – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - December 15, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Brad Wible Tags: Education Source Type: research
