Astronomers find Cosmic Rays driving Galaxy’s Winds

Credit: Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences- IPM & European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Astronomers using the National Science Foundation’s Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) have discovered an important new clue about how galaxies put the brakes on vigorous episodes of star formation. Their new study of the neighboring galaxy M33 indicates that fast-moving cosmicray electrons can drive winds that blow away the gas needed to form new stars.

Such winds are responsible for slowing the rate of star formation as galaxies evolve over time. However, shock waves from supernova explosions and energetic, black hole-powered jets of material coming from galactic cores have been considered the primary drivers of those winds...

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New Enzyme Inhibitor shows Promise for Treating Cancers, Autoimmune diseases

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have found a small molecule capable of manipulating an immune process that plays an important role in cancers and autoimmune diseases.

Their discovery is reported in an Angewandte Chemie paper titled “Discovery of the First Selective Nanomolar Inhibitors of ERAP2 by Kinetic Target-Guided Synthesis.”

They discovered the molecule — and enzyme inhibitor — after first studying how the immune system works and why some diseases can be resistant to treatments.

“Tumors have the ability to present cell-surface markers in the form of non-self peptide antigens, or neoantigens, which renders them exquisitely sensitive to recognition and elimination by T-cells, a form of immune cells that kill tumor cells upon recognition of neoantigens,” ...

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The Next Wonder Semiconductor

scanning ultrafast electron microscope
The scanning ultrafast electron microscope (SUEM) couples a femtosecond pulsed laser with a scanning electron microscope, which enables time-resolved imaging of microscopic energy transport processes with simultaneously high spatial and temporal resolutions
Photo Credit: 
MATT PERKO

With scanning ultrafast electron microscopy, researchers unveil promising hot photocarrier transport properties of cubic boron arsenide. In a study that confirms its promise as the next-generation semiconductor material, UC Santa Barbara researchers have directly visualized the photocarrier transport properties of cubic boron arsenide single crystals.

“We were able to visualize how the charge moves in our sample,” said Bolin Liao, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineeri...

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Ancient Bacteria might Lurk Beneath Mars’ Surface

Researchers believe ‘Conan the Bacterium’ (pictured) could survive for 280 million years on Mars, if buried.

New study finds the chances of uncovering life on Mars are better than previously expected. Scientists found that ancient bacteria could survive close to the surface on Mars much longer than previously assumed. So, if life did, in fact, evolve when the last waters flowed on Mars, it would likely still be there today — billions of years later.

When Mars’ first samples return to Earth, scientists should be on the lookout for ancient sleeping bacteria, a new study has found.

In a first-of-its-kind study, a research team, including Northwestern University’s Brian Hoffman and Ajay Sharma, found that ancient bacteria could survive close to the surface on Mars much longer than pr...

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