Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
Toggle light / dark theme

Blog

Category: nanotechnology – Page 10

Shocked quartz at the Younger Dryas onset (12.8 ka) supports cosmic airbursts/impacts contributing to North American megafaunal extinctions and collapse of the Clovis technocomplex

Shocked quartz grains are an accepted indicator of crater-forming cosmic impact events, which also typically produce amorphous silica along the fractures. Furthermore, previous research has shown that shocked quartz can form when nuclear detonations, asteroids, and comets produce near-surface or “touch-down” airbursts. When cosmic airbursts detonate with enough energy and at sufficiently low altitude, the resultant relatively small, high-velocity fragments may strike Earth’s surface with high enough pressures to generate thermal and mechanical shock that can fracture quartz grains and introduce molten silica into the fractures. Here, we report the discovery of shocked quartz grains in a layer dating to the Younger Dryas (YD) onset (12.8 ka) in three classic archaeological sequences in the Southwestern United States: Murray Springs, Arizona; Blackwater Draw, New Mexico; and Arlington Canyon, California. These sites were foundational in demonstrating that the extinction or observed population bottlenecks of many megafaunal species and the coeval collapse/reorganization of the Clovis technocomplex in North America co-occurred at or near the YD onset. Using a comprehensive suite of 10 analytical techniques, including electron microscopy (TEM, SEM, CL, and EBSD), we have identified grains with glass-filled fractures similar to shocked grains associated with nuclear explosions and 27 accepted impact craters of different ages (e.g., Meteor Crater, 50 ka; Chesapeake Bay, 35 Ma; Chicxulub, 66 Ma; Manicouagan, 214 Ma) and produced in 11 laboratory shock experiments. In addition, we used hydrocode modeling to explore the temperatures, pressures, and shockwave velocities associated with the airburst of a 100-m fragment of a comet and conclude that they are sufficient to produce shocked quartz. These shocked grains co-occur with previously reported peak concentrations in platinum, meltglass, soot, and nanodiamonds, along with microspherules, similar to those found in ~28 microspherule layers that are accepted as evidence for cosmic impact events, even in the absence of a known crater. The discovery of apparently thermally-altered shocked quartz grains at these three key archaeological sites supports a cosmic impact as a major contributing factor in the megafaunal extinctions and the collapse of the Clovis technocomplex at the YD onset.

Citation: Kennett JP, LeCompte MA, Moore CR, Kletetschka G, Johnson JR, Wolbach WS, et al. (2025)PLoS One 20: e0319840. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.

Editor: Talaat Abdel Hamid, National Research Centre, EGYPT

World-first discovery harnesses mRNA in the search for an HIV cure

Australian researchers have made a major breakthrough in HIV research by repurposing the same mRNA delivery system used in COVID-19 vaccines, not to prevent infection, but as a potential strategy to find a cure.

Nearly 40 million people live with HIV worldwide. While antiretroviral therapy can suppress the virus to undetectable levels, it cannot eliminate it. HIV has a unique ability to hide in a type of white blood cells, resting CD4+ T cells, ready to re-emerge if treatment is stopped. This HIV “reservoir” has long been one of the greatest challenges in the search for a cure.

Using the same technology behind mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, researchers, led by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute), have discovered a new way to deliver mRNA to the elusive HIV reservoir and coax HIV out of hiding. In a laboratory-based study published in Nature Communications, the team packaged mRNA inside an entirely novel microscopic fat-like bubbles, known as lipid nanoparticles, and successfully transported it into HIV-infected cells, where it prompted the cells to expose the dormant virus.

Researchers from Professor Sharon Lewin’s laboratory at the Doherty Institute have made a major breakthrough in HIV research by repurposing the same mRNA delivery system used in COVID-19 vaccines, not to prevent infection, but as a potential strategy to find a cure.

Nanobiotechnology Unveils the Power of Probiotics: A Comprehensive Review on the Synergistic Role of Probiotics and Advanced Nanotechnology in Enhancing Geriatric Health

The geriatric population, comprising ages 65 and above, encounters distinct health obstacles because of physiological changes and heightened vulnerability to diseases. New technologies are being investigated to tackle the intricate health requirements of this population. Recent advancements in probiotics and nanotechnology offer promising strategies to enhance geriatric health by improving nutrient absorption, modulating gut microbiota, and delivering targeted therapeutic agents. Probiotics play a crucial role in maintaining gut homeostasis, reducing inflammation, and supporting metabolic functions. However, challenges such as limited viability and efficacy in harsh gastrointestinal conditions hinder their therapeutic potential. Advanced nanotechnology can overcome these constraints by enhancing the efficacy of probiotics through nano-encapsulation, controlled delivery, and improvement of bioavailability. This review explores the synergistic potential of probiotics and advanced nanotechnology in addressing age-related health concerns. It highlights key developments in probiotic formulations, nano-based delivery systems, and their combined impact on gut health, immunity, and neuroprotection. The convergence of probiotics and nanotechnology represents a novel and transformative approach to promoting healthy aging, paving the way for innovative therapeutic interventions.

Advanced Membrane Science and Technology for Water and Wastewater Treatment

The pressing need for clean and affordable drinking water is intensifying as global populations rise and pollutants increasingly compromise available water sources. Traditional methods of water purification, while effective, are often insufficient to address the complex array of contaminants now present in water, including microorganisms, organic compounds, and heavy metals. Over the past four decades, significant breakthroughs in water and wastewater treatment have been achieved through the application of nanotechnology, particularly in the development of nanomaterials and nanomembranes. These science and technology advancements have revolutionized membrane-based water and wastewater treatment, offering new levels of efficiency and precision in removing a wide range of pollutants.

This Collection aims to advance our understanding of membrane-based water and wastewater treatment, underlining the challenges and opportunities within this rapidly evolving field, e.g., the limitations of conventional ultrafiltration and microfiltration membrane systems, such as their reduced effectiveness in removing certain trace organic compounds (TrOCs) and the persistent issues of membrane fouling and salinity build-up. The Collection seeks to explore innovative solutions, e.g., high-retention membrane bioreactors (HR-MBRs) and advanced pre-treatment options like advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), which have the potential to significantly improve the effectiveness and sustainability of water and wastewater treatment processes.

Moreover, the Collection emphasizes the importance of developing sustainable materials, such as biopolymers, which can replace traditional synthetic polymers in membrane fabrication. While these materials offer eco-friendly alternatives with unique adsorption properties, their performance can vary based on source and processing methods, presenting challenges in terms of durability and scalability. The Collection also aims to showcase advancements in PVDF-based membranes, which are gaining popularity due to their superior mechanical and chemical properties, and to examine the integration of these materials in innovative membrane technologies, e.g., membrane distillation (MD) and hybrid systems.

From carbon particles to diamonds: a Japanese innovation breaks the rules

A Japanese research team has rewritten the rules of diamond creation, turning carbon molecules into flawless diamond nanoparticles without the furnace-like heat or crushing pressure usually required. Led by the University of Tokyo, this breakthrough uses an electron beam to unlock what was once thought impossible—and it could change how scientists image and analyze matter forever.

Published on September 4 in the journal Science, this pioneering work could revolutionize material science and open new doors in technology. But beyond the technical marvel lies a profound shift in understanding how organic molecules react under electron beams.

China may soon lead the global race to mine minerals from the ocean floor

New layered material successfully confines terahertz light to the nanoscale

A new study has successfully demonstrated the confinement of terahertz (THz) light to nanoscale dimensions using a new type of layered material. This could lead to improvements in optoelectronic devices such as infrared emitters used in remote controls and night vision and terahertz optics desired for physical security and environmental sensing.

The paper, “Ultraconfined terahertz phonon polaritons in hafnium dichalcogenides,” is published in Nature Materials. The research was led by Josh Caldwell, professor of mechanical engineering and Director of the Interdisciplinary Materials Science graduate program at Vanderbilt University, and Alex Paarmann of the Fritz Haber Institute in collaboration with Prof. Lukas M. Eng from the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), Germany.

While THz technology promises high-speed data processing, integrating it into compact devices has been challenging due to its long wavelength. Traditional materials have struggled to confine THz light effectively, limiting the potential for miniaturization.

Ultra-flat optic pushes beyond what was previously thought possible

Cameras are everywhere. For over two centuries, these devices have grown increasingly popular and proven to be so useful, they have become an indispensable part of modern life.

Today, they are included in a vast range of applications—everything from smartphones and laptops to security and to cars, aircraft, and satellites imaging Earth from high above. And as an overarching trend toward miniaturizing mechanical, optical, and electronic products continues, scientists and engineers are looking for ways to create smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient cameras for these technologies.

Ultra-flat optics have been proposed as a solution for this engineering challenge, as they are an alternative to the relatively bulky lenses found in cameras today. Instead of using a curved lens made out of glass or plastic, many ultra-flat optics, such as metalenses, use a thin, flat plane of microscopic nanostructures to manipulate light, which makes them hundreds or even thousands of times smaller and lighter than conventional camera lenses.

Synthetic magnetic fields steer light on a chip for faster communications

Electrons in a magnetic field can display striking behaviors, from the formation of discrete energy levels to the quantum Hall effect. These discoveries have shaped our understanding of quantum materials and topological phases of matter. Light, however, is made of neutral particles and does not naturally respond to magnetic fields in the same way. This has limited the ability of researchers to reproduce such effects in optical systems, particularly at the high frequencies used in modern communications.

To address this challenge, researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Sun Yat-Sen University have developed a method for generating pseudomagnetic fields—synthetic fields that mimic the influence of real magnetic fields—inside nanostructured materials known as photonic crystals.

Unlike previous demonstrations, which focused on specific effects such as photonic Landau levels, the new approach allows arbitrary control of how light flows within the material. Their research is published in Advanced Photonics.

Nanoscale images of protein complex reveal secret to blood clotting chain reaction

If you’ve ever accidentally sliced yourself on broken glass or a piece of paper, you may have noticed that the bleeding can be hard to stop. Scientists have long wondered how the cascade of events that leads to blood clotting is triggered, especially since the process has life and death consequences. Too little clotting and you bleed out, while too much can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Atomic-level engineering enables new alloys that won’t break in extreme cold

Navigating the extreme cold of deep space or handling super-chilled liquid fuels here on Earth requires materials that won’t break. Most metals become brittle and fracture at such low temperatures. However, new research is pioneering an approach to build metal structures atom by atom to create tough and durable alloys that can withstand such harsh environments.

Traditional strengthening approaches are often not good enough for these applications. For example, a common heat treatment technique called precipitation hardening strengthens metals by creating tiny hard particles within their structure. But in , the materials can lose their ductility (the ability to bend, stretch or be pulled into a new shape without breaking) and fracture suddenly.

A study published in the journal Nature describes a new way to design so they stay strong and tough even at super low temperatures. The big idea is to create an alloy with two different types of perfectly arranged atomic structures inside it. These structures are called subnanoscale short-range ordering (SRO), which are tiny islands of organized atoms and nanoscale long-range ordering (NLRO), which are slightly larger.

/* */