EAST Fusion Facility Exceeds Fusion Plasma Density Limit New Plasma Regime: The Chinese fusion reactor EAST has overcome a crucial density limit for fusion plasma, achieving the so-called density-free regime for the first time. This allows the plasma to be compressed to a higher density without dangerous instabilities occurring near the reactor vessel walls. The EAST fusion facility thus paves the way for the extreme conditions necessary for nuclear fusion. The EAST (Experime

Neurons Store Memory Content and Context Separately Neural division of labor: Our brain doesn't store past experiences and their context together, but rather in two separate groups of brain cells, as an experiment reveals. Only the combination of both creates a complete memory. Content neurons, therefore, store only the information itself, such as an object or a person. Context neurons, on the other hand, only remember the circumstances. This division of labor makes our memor

The Oral Bacterium Streptococcus anginosus Also Promotes Stomach Cancer Microbes as Cancer Triggers: It is well known that Helicobacter pylori can cause stomach cancer. But there is another culprit: The bacterium Streptococcus anginosus also promotes the growth of cancerous tumors in the stomach, as a new study has confirmed. According to the study, this microbe is not only found in increased numbers in stomach cancer ulcers, but it also releases methionine, a molecule that f

Special Ink Developed for Camouflage Technologies and Wearable Electronics Printable Metamaterial: A liquid metal-based ink could help develop flexible invisibility cloaks in the future. It can be printed onto various materials, remains soft, and can be stretched to 120 times its original dimensions—while still maintaining its electrical conductivity and stability. Surfaces printed with this ink can redirect electromagnetic waves. This could, for example, make robots invisibl

Combination of Closeness and Cuddle Hormone Can Be Healing Healing through love? Superficial skin injuries heal faster when the cuddle hormone oxytocin is circulating in our bodies. However, this only works if the elevated hormone level is accompanied by physical and emotional closeness, as a study shows. According to the study, loving attention and oxytocin together can promote wound healing, but they do not act as independent remedies. In the test subjects, superficial skin

Zinc Deprivation Inhibits Fungal Infection of Mucous Membranes A Matter of Balance: The yeast Candida albicans colonizes our mucous membranes. Researchers have now discovered why this is highly dangerous under certain conditions, but remains harmless in most cases. According to their findings, the immune system deprives the fungus of the necessary zinc, thereby inhibiting both toxin production and the proliferation of yeast cells. However, if the immune system is weakened, Ca

Endurance training makes natural killer cells more efficient and effective against inflammation Exercise not only trains our muscles and endurance – our immune system also becomes fitter, as a study has now confirmed. According to this study, regular jogging, cycling, and other endurance sports also "train" the natural killer cells of our immune system. In trained people, these white blood cells release more anti-inflammatory messengers, use cellular energy more efficiently,

The Immune System's David vs. Cancer's Goliath What looks here like an amoeba or a slug crawling along is a deadly enemy – a cancer cell. The much smaller, round immune cell seems powerless against it. But a new immunotherapy could help. It combines an antibody and an inhibitor in such a way that it mobilizes the T-cells of the immune system against cancer – and renders them immune to the cancer's counter-measures. An immune cell attacking a much larger cancer cell. © M. Oegg

Type 2 diabetes affects the energy balance and structure of heart muscle cells Deadly double disease: Doctors have discovered that type 2 diabetes also changes the structure of heart tissue and the energy balance of heart cells. In affected patients, the heart can contract less effectively and pump less blood. This limits cardiac performance and can worsen existing heart failure, as the researchers report. Their findings explain why people with diabetes have a higher risk of

Hemoglobin-like protein absorbs carbon monoxide from the blood Promising antidote: Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal – and so far, it can only be treated in hyperbaric chambers. But a newly developed protein could help treat CO poisoning more easily, quickly, and effectively. The new designer protein is based on a bacterial model, resembles our blood hemoglobin, and, unlike previous approaches, has no side effects. The natural protein RcoM served as a template for the de