Tacking—a maneuver used to sail a boat against the wind, changing direction in a zig-zag fashion—is one of the most difficult but necessary sailing maneuvers. While tacking is common, the movement of the sails and wind forces during the turn are not well understood. A new study by New York University and University of Michigan mathematicians addresses these matters head-on. It offers a detailed characterization of how sails behave during a wide range of tacking motions and with an array of sail types.

Heatwaves are becoming more frequent around the world. And while rising temperatures caused by greenhouse gas emissions are part of the problem, the declining levels of aerosols — the small particles that make up smog and air pollution — may be driving the rise even more, particularly in populated areas.

A team of NYU chemists and physicists are using cutting-edge tools—holographic microscopy and super-resolution imaging—to unlock how cells build and grow tiny, dynamic droplets known as biomolecular condensates.

For the first time, scientists measured the protein content and growth dynamics of individual biomolecular condensates without disturbing them, gaining insights that may shape future drug development and disease modeling.

Scientists at ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute and the University of Delaware have discovered a surprisingly simple explanation for how our bodies stay so well-organized, even as billions of cells are replaced daily. In a new study, they identified just five basic rules—like when and how cells divide and die—that seem to guide how tissues like the colon maintain their structure over time. Using computer simulations, the team showed how these rules work together like choreography to keep tissues healthy and functioning. This breakthrough, which researchers call a potential “tissue code,” could help explain how our bodies heal, how diseases like cancer form, and even support global efforts like the Human Cell Atlas. It’s a powerful example of how math and medicine can come together to reveal the hidden instructions that keep us alive and well.

Active radiant cooling is a promising strategy for outdoor thermal comfort, but there are practicality and safety concerns with the typically opaque and dark structures that are needed. A team of UCLA engineers and researchers has tested a new design that lowered the mean radiant temperatures 10 degrees during field studies. The scalable design, which combines water-cooled aluminum panels and see-through, infrared-reflective thin polymer film, brings an additional level of cooling beyond shade to help people who have to be outdoors on hot days while preserving a sense of safe and open space.