Asymmetric interactions between molecules may serve as a stabilizing factor for biological systems. A new model from researchers of the department Living Matter Physics at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) reveals this regulatory role of non-reciprocity. The scientists aim to understand the physical principles based on which particles and molecules are able to form living beings and, eventually, organisms.

Researchers have developed a light-induced DNA detection method that enables rapid, PCR-free genetic analysis. Their technique offers ultra-sensitive mutation detection in just five minutes, reducing costs and simplifying testing. The method has significant potential in healthcare, environmental conservation, and personal health monitoring.

In a Genomic Press Interview, Dr. Jeremie Poschmann of Université de Nantes discusses his pioneering research into the circulating immune system using multi-omics profiling. His work explores how immune history shapes individual responses to infection and psychiatric disorders.

Dust-on-snow is a major threat to water in the Colorado River, yet no snowmelt forecasts integrate dust-accelerated melt. Using pioneering remote sensing techniques, new research is the first to capture how dust impacts the headwaters of the Colorado River system. The new method could help predict the timing and magnitude of snow darkening and impacts on melt rates on snowpacks, in real time.

Chemists have confirmed a 67-year-old theory about vitamin B1 by stabilizing a reactive molecule in water — a feat long thought impossible. The discovery not only solves a biochemical mystery, but also opens the door to greener, more efficient ways of making pharmaceuticals.