Science Highlights

Mpox emerged as a serious global health threat in 2022, spreading rapidly between people in ways not seen before. The virus has developed concerning mutations that may make it more contagious and harder to treat with existing vaccines and drugs.

Lithium-ion batteries power our modern electronics, from smartphones to wireless earbuds, but their lifespan remains a challenge, especially under real-world conditions.

Superconductors typically work only at extremely cold temperature – close to absolute zero. Researchers from Stanford University, SSRL and SIMES have been looking for superconductor materials that can perform at higher temperatures.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues when gluten is consumed. At the heart of this reaction is an enzyme called Transglutaminase 2 (TG2). TG2 helps modify gluten proteins in a way that makes them more likely to trigger this harmful immune response.

Topological flat bands in quantum materials represent a fascinating subject in condensed matter physics, often associated with numerous exotic phenomena, including superconductivity, magnetism, and charge density wave order. Flat bands are commonly found in quantum materials where the Coulomb interactions are comparable or larger than the electron kinetic energy.

Olgotrelvir (STI-1558) is a novel antiviral drug designed to address the challenges posed by the emergence of new, more infectious and virulent SARS-CoV-2 variants. This drug is particularly important for populations at risk who may not benefit from existing treatments like Paxlovid due to potential drug-drug interactions.

High-resolution x-ray imaging can reveal chemical details in a number of fields including detection of metal contaminations in Si wafers; electrode dissolution and precipitation in lithium-ion batteries; and metal poisoning in catalytic materials for petroleum refinery – among others.

In the early days when life was just beginning to dawn on planet earth, the first organisms were faced with a task that all life on earth still faces today: How can I generate energy and grow?

Designing customized proteins that have particular biological functions is of great interest to scientists working to develop disease therapies and diagnostics. While the functionality of proteins often involves physical shapes fitting together, the chemical qualities of the molecular surfaces make engineering these interactions complicated.

The pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus has been complicated by many viral variants. These variants arise from mutations in the virus that bestow new abilities, such as higher infection rates, greater immune system evasion, or increased viral shedding. The omicron variant of the virus suddenly showed up with multiple mutations in its spike protein.