X-ray free-electron lasers produce pulses of light that are exceptionally bright, making them powerful tools for studying ultrafast chemical reactions, biological processes, or probing the structure of materials at atomic scales.

An IBEC-led study has revealed how mesenchymal stem cells respond to the viscosity of their environment, a key aspect in their differentiation process.

Surfaces play a key role in numerous chemical reactions, including catalysis and corrosion. Understanding the atomic structure of the surface of a functional material is essential for both engineers and chemists. Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan used atomic-resolution secondary electron (SE) imaging to capture the atomic structure of the very top layer of materials to better understand the differences from its lower layers. The researchers published their findings in the journal Microscopy.

Few things are as fascinating to look at a flock of starlings performing their aerial bird dance that is commonly seen, for example, above the West Pier in Brighton, UK, or in Rome when exiting the main train station, or a school of fish escaping a predator.

Through the intricate study of lava tubes—caves formed following volcanic eruptions when lava cools down—an international team of researchers has uncovered clues about Earth's ancient environments that could be significant in the search for life on Mars.

Vat photopolymerization, a light-based 3D printing technique, conventionally relies on UV light to rapidly transform liquid resins into intricate solid objects. However, the use of visible light as an alternative approach has gained significant attention, particularly for its promising applications in tissue engineering and soft robotics.

Researchers have elucidated the mechanism of the initial degradation phenomenon that triggers the performance drop of high-temperature solid oxide electrolysis cell systems, using advanced transmission electron microscopy. Unlike previous studies, which analyzed the final stages of degradation at the micrometer scale, this study successfully verified the initial changes in electrolysis cell materials at the nanometer scale.

Hydrogels, which are soft materials made of water-filled, crosslinked polymer networks, have a wide range of uses, from wound dressings to enhancing soil moisture for plant growth. They are formed through a process called gelation, where polymers in a solution are linked together to form a gel.

Recent research by a student-faculty team at Colgate University unlocks new clues that could radically change the world's understanding of the origin of dark matter.

Black holes don't have many identifying features. They come in one color (black) and one shape (spherical). The main difference between black holes is mass: some weigh about as much as a star like our sun, while others weigh around a million times more. Stellar-mass black holes can be found anywhere in a galaxy, but the really big ones (known as supermassive black holes) are found in the cores of galaxies.