Researchers have found a promising new method for gene therapy. They successfully restarted inactive genes by bringing them closer to genetic switches on the DNA called enhancers. The intermediate piece of DNA was cut out using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. This strategy opens up new possibilities for treating genetic diseases. The team specifically shows the technology’s potential for the treatment of sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, two genetic blood diseases. In these conditions, a faulty gene could potentially be compensated by reactivating a helpful but normally inactive one. This ‘delete-to-recruit’ method works by simply changing the spacing—without adding new genes or foreign elements. The discovery, made by researchers from the Hubrecht Institute (De Laat group), Erasmus MC and Sanquin, was published in the journal Blood.

QUT robotics researchers have developed a new robot navigation system that mimics neural processes of the human brain and uses less than 10 per cent of the energy required by traditional systems.

Excitons--bound pairs of electrons and holes created by light--are key to the optoelectronic behavior of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). However, because excitons are confined to extremely small regions and exist for only fleeting moments, it has been extremely challenging to directly observe their behavior using conventional measurement techniques.

In this study, we overcame that challenge by using an ultrafast infrared near-field optical microscope that focuses femtosecond infrared laser pulses down to the nanoscale. This advanced approach allowed us to visualize where excitons are generated and decay inside CNTs in real space and real time.

Our observations revealed that nanoscale variations in the local environment--such as subtle lattice distortions within individual CNTs or interactions with neighboring CNTs--can significantly affect exciton generation and relaxation dynamics.

These insights into local exciton dynamics pave the way for precise control of light-matter interactions at the nanoscale, offering new opportunities for the development of advanced optoelectronic devices and quantum technologies based on carbon nanotube platforms.

Low social support and a tendency to compare yourself to others may be associated with problematic social media use, per study of 403 Italian adolescents

Aston University researchers have developed a new class of optical microresonators, the miniature optical devices that strongly confine and enhance light in microscopic dimensions. They are essential components in a wide range of systems, including ultra-precise optical sensors and information processors.  The University researchers discovered that unique optical microresonators can be introduced at the intersection of two optical fibres. These devices have potential applications within communication, computing, sensing and more.

Researchers generated a strong immune response to HIV with just one vaccine dose, by adding two powerful adjuvants to the vaccine. This strategy could lead to vaccines that only need to be given once, for infectious diseases including HIV or SARS-CoV-2.