ScienceDaily: Matter & Energy News

Physicists know about the huge chasm between quantum physics and the theory of gravity. However, in recent decades, theoretical physics has provided some plausible conjecture to bridge this gap and to describe the behavior of complex quantum many-body systems -- for example, black holes and wormholes in the universe. Now, researchers have proven a mathematical conjecture about the behavior of complexity in such systems, increasing the viability of this bridge.

Drawing inspiration from cephalopod skin, engineers have invented an adaptive fabric that can be used to insulate the contents of coffee cups, to-go boxes and containers of almost any size. In a new paper, the researchers describe the manufacturing process they developed which enables economical mass production of their novel material.

Using new simulations, researchers discovered one part of RNA smoothly invades and displaces another part of the same RNA, enabling the structure to rapidly and dramatically change shape. Called strand displacement, this mechanism appears to switch genetic expression from 'on' to 'off'.

Researchers have developed a technology that could replace conventional biopsies and histology with real-time imaging within the living body. MediSCAPE is a high-speed 3D microscope capable of capturing images of tissue structures that could guide surgeons to navigate tumors and their boundaries without needing to remove tissues and wait for pathology results.

Researchers used mathematical methods to compensate for changes in the natural illumination during the course of long-exposure scan of stained-glass windows. This approach may help digitize other cultural artifacts more accurately.