Illustration of folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism and transsulfuration pathways. Genetic and environmental effects that increase ASD predisposition are shown in red whereas those that decrease ASD liability are shown in blue. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005385.g001

Scientists have developed a new, highly accurate method that analyzes metabolic biomarkers to assess whether a child is on the autism spectrum Autism spectrum disorder affects about 1.5% of all children, but its exact cause remains unknown, and diagnosis requires a multidisciplinary team of doctors. Previous research has revealed certain differences in metabolic processes between children on the autism spectrum and neurotypical children...

An illustration of a silicon photonic micro-disk modulator operating at cryogenic temperatures. Light traveling down the silicon waveguide couples to the resonance of the micro-disk cavity. An electrical signal applied to the disk shifts the resonance and as a result modulates the light passing through the waveguide. (Rendered by Hanqing Kuang) Credit: Michael Gehl, Sandia National Laboratories

A silicon optical switch newly developed at Sandia National Laboratories is the first to transmit up to 10 Gb/s of data at temperatures just a few degrees above 0K. The device could enable data transmission for next-generation superconducting computers that store and process data at cryogenic temperatures...

This diagram shows the new model at work: By taking into account a number of factors, including water-use patterns and water chemistry, engineers can predict where lead particles will dislodge and end up in the drinking water supply during a partial lead service line (LSL) replacement. Courtesy: Biswas Lab

While lead pipes were banned decades ago, they still supply millions of American households daily with drinking water amid risks of corrosion and leaching that can cause developmental and neurological effects in young children. One common abatement: Dig up old lead lines and replace a portion of them with another metal, such as copper. However, this technique can dislodge lead particulates and release them into the water supply...

Schematic representation of rotating disc galaxies in the early Universe (right) and the present day (left). Observations with ESO’s Very Large Telescope suggest that such massive star-forming disc galaxies in the early Universe were less influenced by dark matter (shown in red), as it was less concentrated. As a result the outer parts of distant galaxies rotate more slowly than comparable regions of galaxies in the local Universe. Credit: ESO/L. Calçada

Observations of distant galaxies suggest they were dominated by normal matter. The presence of dark matter can explain why the outer parts of nearby spiral galaxies rotate more quickly than would be expected if only the normal matter that we can see directly were present...