Silicon Melt in Reverse!

The fact that many materials change state at a given temperature is a basic chemistry concept. However, scientists at MIT has found that silicon can exhibit a strange property of "retrograde melting" under high concentrations of certain metals dissolved in it. Basically, the compound of silicon melts at extremely low temperatures. This implies a lowered cost of manufacturing of some sillicon-based devices, new silicon nanowire structures and etc.

Reference:
Steve Hudelson, Bonna K. Newman, Sarah Bernardis, David P. Fenning, Mariana I. Bertoni, Matthew A. Marcus, Sirine C. Fakra, Barry Lai, Tonio Buonassisi. Retrograde Melting and Internal Liquid Gettering in Silicon. Advanced Materials, 2010; DOI: 10.1002/adma.200904344

Neural Evidence for Sudden Insight

The ability of animals and humans to infer and apply new rules in order to maximize success relies on frontal lobes. Recent study indicates that in neural dynamics, roups of frontal cortex neurons in rat brains switch from encoding a familiar rule to a completely novel rule that could only be deduced from trail and error. The research also focused on the behaviour of the neurons when adapting to the new activity.

Reference: Science Daily

Observing Brain in the Act of Seeing

Neuroscientists have shown that individual neurons carry out significant aspects of sensory processing. The method allows for the first time to observe individual synapses, small differences between nerve contact sites.

Reference: Science Daily

Solar Energy from Plant Protein Structure

Solar energy systems are still inefficient in terms of running in not desert environments. Scientists have proposed a model for developing green energy, using complex peas to form small battery chargers. To generate energy, plants have evolved to give perfect quantum yield called Photosystem I (PSI) complex. Although this will not solve the world's energy problem but it can be assembled in power switches for low-power solar needs.

Reference: Science Daily

Gene Interactions to Cause Disease

A UCLA study indicates how human gene interactions increase disease risk with their surrounding environment, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics. In short, having more than one factor that contribute to the cause of the same disease will exceed the damage of independent factors. The interactions are important when considering genetic research

Reference: Science Daily