In the 1960s, physicists showed how light could interact with itself in intriguing ways thanks to a process known as second-harmonic generation. In the right kind of material, two photons of a certain frequency can interact to produce another photon of twice the frequency, turning red light into green, for example. Since then, physicists have exploited these non-linear optics in techniques ranging from precision measurement to quantum computing. Yet, one persistent challenge has remained. Nonlin ...read more
In January 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) released new guidelines recommending a switch from typical table salt to alternatives containing less sodium, aiming to reduce worldwide sodium intake by 30 percent in the next five years.One of the leading causes of death globally is cardiovascular disease — and often, eating too much salt can contribute to that. The average person consumes significantly more salt than is healthy, resulting in an intake of four grams of sodium per day. It ...read more
Ever had poison ivy? If so, you probably noticed that scratching made the rash much worse. But scratching an itch, especially one as intense as that caused by poison ivy, is nigh irresistible — and feels so satisfying. If you think about it, says Daniel Kaplan, who is a dermatologist and immunologist at the University of Pittsburgh, that’s a little curious. When comparing this action to pain, pain causes you to stop what you’re doing and tend to the wound. But the pain also creates a memo ...read more
With popular genetic testing company 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, what does the future of ancestry DNA look like?A team of researchers from the University of Michigan says it is going to look more like a movie than a portrait, thanks to a new statistical model that can be used to trace ancestry in a new way.Redefining the Family TreeThis new statistical method, developed by Gideon Bradburd and fellow University of Michigan (U-M) researchers Michael Grundler and Jonathan Terhorst, promises to g ...read more
Wheat can be vulnerable to diseases that may increase as the Earth warms. A team of scientists across five continents may have found a way to help wheat fight back, according to two papers published in the journal Science."Climate change is causing diseases to appear in places previously unseen,” Brande Wulff., a researcher at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia and an author of the study, said in a press release. “We need more study of plant immunity t ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine