Challenging Our Understanding of the Universe: Astronomers Discover an Enigmatic Cosmic Explosion
Gamma-ray bursts are the most intense explosions in the universe and are typically caused by the collapse of stars or the collision of compact stellar…
Radboud University News
Physicists Stunned by Nature in the Wrong Direction: Magnetic Spins That “Freeze” When Heated
Physicists observed a very strange new type of behavior in a magnetic material when it’s heated up. When the temperature rises, the magnetic spins ‘freeze’…
Bacteria Generate Electricity From Methane: Generating Power While Purifying the Environment of Greenhouse Gases
Generating power while purifying the environment of greenhouse gases should be achievable using bacteria. In a new publication, microbiologists from Radboud University have demonstrated that…
COVID Kidney Damage: Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Infects the Kidneys and Contributes to Tissue Scarring
The Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infects the kidneys and contributes to tissue scarring, as shown by researchers from the RWTH Uniklinik Aachen, Germany, and Radboudumc, The Netherlands….
Astronomers Have Discovered the Reason Behind the Mysterious Lack of Massive Black Holes in Telescope Data
Our telescopes have never detected a black hole more massive than twenty times the mass of the Sun. Nevertheless, we now know of their existence…
Gigantic Jet in Dark Heart of the Nearest Radio Galaxy Imaged in Unprecedented Detail
An international team anchored by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration, which is known for capturing the first image of a black hole in the…
Island Gigantism and Dwarfism: Evolutionary “Island Rule” Confirmed
It is an old-standing theory in evolutionary ecology: animal species on islands have the tendency to become either giants or dwarfs in comparison to mainland…
Habitats of Freshwater Fish Species Threatened by Global Warming
The habitats of freshwater fish species are threatened by global warming, mainly due to rising water temperatures. A 3.2-degree Celsius increase in global mean temperature…
The First Steps Toward a Quantum Brain: An Intelligent Material That Learns by Physically Changing Itself
An intelligent material that learns by physically changing itself, similar to how the human brain works, could be the foundation of a completely new generation…
New Mosquito Invading African Cities Is Highly Susceptible to Local Malaria Strains
Larvae of a new malaria mosquito species are abundantly present in water containers in cities in Ethiopia. The mosquito, Anopheles stephensi, is the main malaria…
Generic BCG Vaccine Could Be Effective Against COVID-19
BCG vaccine is safe and does not lead to an increased risk of COVID-19 symptoms. More studies need to confirm whether this generic vaccine could…
C60 Soccer Ball With Extra Proton Probably Most Abundant Form of Carbon in Space
It is one of the most common forms of carbon in space: C60, a soccer ball-shaped carbon molecule, but one that has an extra proton…
Accidental Discovery of an Unbreakable “Molecular Pinball Machine”
An organic material that can repeatedly change shape without breaking would have many useful applications, such as artificial muscles, pumps, or switches. Physicists at Radboud…
Gaia Spacecraft Observes Almost 500 Explosions in Galaxy Cores
Apart from a billion Milky Way stars, ESA’s Gaia spacecraft also observes extragalactic objects. Its automated alert system notifies astronomers whenever Gaia spots a transient…
