SciCon Nexus

Gold isn't naturally suited for forming long, thin threads, but researchers at Linköping University in Sweden have successfully created gold nanowires and developed soft electrodes that can connect to the nervous system. These electrodes are as soft as nerves, stretchable, and electrically conductive, with the potential to remain functional in the body for extended periods. While the saying " heart of gold " is well-known, " nerves of gold " could become a reality in the future. This precious metal might be used in soft interfaces to connect electronics with the nervous system for medical applications. Such technology could help treat conditions like epilepsy , Parkinson's disease , paralysis , or chronic pain . However, integrating electronics with the brain or other parts of the nervous system presents unique challenges. " Traditional conductors used in electronics are metals, which are very hard and rigid. The nervous system, on the other hand, re...

The report highlights the release of millions of pounds of chemicals, greenhouse gas emissions, and violations of environmental regulations. Many of these chemicals, including carcinogens like ethylene oxide and formaldehyde , pose potential health risks to nearby communities. The greenhouse gas emissions contribute to localized pollution issues, such as increased ozone and particulate matter, as well as to broader climate change. The report analyzed data on 272 chemicals and 350 facilities from the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory for the years 2018-2022. This database compiles self-reported chemical releases from industrial sources, including spills, leaks, and emissions. Among the 350 facilities analyzed, three — ExxonMobil , Chevron Phillips Chemical , and LyondellBasell — were responsible for over 19 million pounds of chemical releases, accounting for about 60% of all pollution releases in Harris County during this period. Air Alliance identified the region’s top 12 industri...

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) , the private company Tokamak Energy , and Kyushu University in Japan have proposed a design for a compact, spherical fusion pilot plant that heats plasma using only microwaves. Typically, spherical tokamaks use a massive copper coil called a solenoid , located near the center of the vessel, to heat the plasma. Neutral beam injection , which involves applying beams of uncharged particles to the plasma, is also commonly used. However, similar to how a smaller kitchen is easier to design with fewer appliances, a compact tokamak would be simpler and more economical with fewer heating systems. This new approach eliminates ohmic heating , which is the same type of heating used in toasters and is standard in tokamaks. “A compact, spherical tokamak plasma resembles a cored apple with a relatively small core, so there isn’t space for an ohmic heating coil,” said Masayuki Ono , a principal research ph...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Bird flu has re-emerged in the Midwest sooner than expected after several months of inactivity. The highly pathogenic disease has been detected in two commercial turkey flocks in western Minnesota and a hobby flock in Indiana, officials announced on Wednesday. The disease was identified after a farm in Meeker County reported increased mortality last weekend, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health . The affected flock was euthanized to prevent further spread. A second flock in the county tested positive on Tuesday evening. These are the first cases of avian influenza in Minnesota since May 31, when a backyard flock in Becker County was affected. Indiana’s case is its first since a backyard flock tested positive on June 8, which was the last detection in the Midwest until this week. There have also been several detections in western states in July and August, including California, where over 425,000 chickens and turkeys have been culled from half a dozen com...

In a promising development for the demand for safer and more effective antibiotics, researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have utilized artificial intelligence to create a new drug that is already showing positive results in animal trials. Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering , the scientists detail how they used a large language model—an AI tool similar to the one behind ChatGPT—to redesign a previously toxic bacteria-killing drug to make it safe for human use. The outlook for patients with severe bacterial infections has worsened in recent years due to the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains and the stagnation in developing new treatments. However, UT researchers believe AI tools are transformative. “ We have found that large language models represent a significant advancement for machine learning applications in protein and peptide engineering ,” said Claus Wilke , professor of integrative biology and statistics and data sciences, and co-senior author of the new...

  Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed a groundbreaking technique for synthesizing commonly used polymers , such as polystyrene , through radical polymerization . This method employs a remote spark discharge from a Tesla coil, a high-voltage, high-frequency generator, which allows the reaction to occur without traditional catalysts or polymerization initiators. The study, published in the journal Next Materials , marks a significant advancement in synthetic polymer chemistry. Polymers like polystyrene and  acrylic resins are widely used in various plastic products, including food containers, packaging materials, and thermal cases. Traditionally, metal catalysts and radical polymerization initiators are required for their synthesis. The research team, known for developing several techniques for polymerizing conductive polymers, has introduced a novel approach in their latest study. This method involves generating monomer radicals via remote spark discharge...