Jan 07, 2026 A novel CRISPR defense mechanism, unlike known nucleases, specifically destroys transfer ribonucleic acids (tRNA) that are vital for protein production to shut down infected cells. (Nanowerk News) Bacteria contain a wide variety of mechanisms to fend off invaders like viruses. One of these strategies involves cleaving transfer...
Memory particles
Jan 07, 2026 Scientists find new evidence for a particle system that 'remembers' its previous quantum states - a significant step toward the development of a fault-tolerant quantum computer. (Nanowerk News) In the future, quantum computers are anticipated to solve problems once thought unsolvable, from predicting the course of chemical...
Researchers develop new tools to turn grain crops into biosensors
Jan 07, 2026 Plant-based detection systems could be used to monitor chemical exposure in agricultural settings. (Nanowerk News) A collaborative team of researchers from the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the University of Florida, Gainesville and University of Iowa have developed groundbreaking tools that allow grasses—including major grain crops like...
Scientists discover ‘platypus galaxies’ in the early universe
Jan 07, 2026 Astronomers discovered nine unusual objects in space that look like stars but behave like galaxies - challenging what we know about the cosmos. (Nanowerk News) Scientists at the University of Missouri have identified a small group of unusual objects in the early universe. Using NASA’s James Webb...
Solar hydrogen can now be produced efficiently without the scarce metal platinum
Jan 07, 2026 Using sunlight, water and tiny particles of electrically conductive plastic, researchers show how hydrogen can be produced efficiently, sustainably and at low cost. (Nanowerk News) Hydrogen plays a key role in the global pursuit for renewable energy. Although its use produces only water as a by-product, significant...
Metasurface chip turns 3D coordinates into encryption keys for holographic storage
Jan 07, 2026 A chip smaller than one square millimeter stores 160 holographic images at arbitrary 3D coordinates, with each spatial location functioning as an encryption key. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Most storage technologies record information on surfaces. Hard drives encode data as magnetic orientations on spinning platters. Flash memory traps electrons...
Scientists find evidence dark matter and neutrinos may interact, challenging standard model of the universe
Jan 07, 2026 Scientists are a step closer to solving one of the universe's biggest mysteries as new research finds evidence that two of its least understood components may be interacting, offering a rare window into the darkest recesses of the cosmos. (Nanowerk News) The University of Sheffield findings relate...
Engineered RNA sensor detects and fights coronavirus inside living cells
Jan 07, 2026 The technology, called the Viral-Engineered RNA-based Activation System (VERAS), hijacks the virus's own replication machinery to switch on reporter or therapeutic genes precisely in infected cells. (Nanowerk News) Coronaviruses—including strains that cause common colds and COVID-19—replicate rapidly and evolve continuously, underscoring the need for sensitive tools to...
Jupiter’s moon Europa has a seafloor that may be quiet and lifeless
Jan 07, 2026 A new study suggests Europa likely lacks the tectonic activity and hydrothermal vents needed to support life at its seafloor, casting doubt on its habitability. (Nanowerk News) The giant planet Jupiter has nearly 100 known moons, yet none have captured the interest and imagination of astronomers and...
Smart biochar that remembers pollutants offers a new way to clean water and recycle biomass
Jan 07, 2026 Scientists have combined molecular imprinting technology with biochar to create materials that can recognize and capture specific molecules with remarkable precision. (Nanowerk News) Biochar is a porous carbon material made by heating biomass such as crop residues in low-oxygen conditions, and is already valued for its low...