研究チームが、ピレア・ペペロミオイデス（パンケーキプランツ）の葉に「ボロノイ図」として知られる自然の幾何学パターンを確認した。この発見により、植物が都市計画やネットワーク設計において一般的な原理を用いて、気孔や葉脈を配置していることが明らかになった。
コールド・スプリング・ハーバー研究所の研究チームは、ピレア・ペペロミオイデスの葉にある微細な気孔と環状の葉脈をマッピングした。その結果、これらの構造が数学やコンピュータ科学におけるボロノイ図と同様の仕組みで、中心点の周囲の空間を自然に分割していることが分かった。この研究は、准教授のサケット・ナブラカ氏が、元大学院生のシシ・チェン氏および共同研究者のプシェミスワフ・プルシンキェヴィッチ氏と共に主導した。
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Scientists at EPFL report that a transient shape change in mitochondria—known as “pearling,” in which the organelle briefly forms bead-like constrictions—can redistribute clusters of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) into more evenly spaced nucleoids. The work, published April 2, 2026 in Science, suggests the process is triggered by calcium influx into mitochondria and may help explain how cells maintain robust mtDNA organization, a feature implicated in a range of mitochondrial-related disorders.
Researchers have created a molecule with a novel topology resembling a half-Möbius strip, requiring four loops to return to the starting point. The structure, made from 13 carbon atoms and two chlorine atoms, was assembled on a gold surface at low temperatures. This discovery highlights potential advances in molecular engineering and quantum simulations.
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Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed ultra-small pores in silicon nitride membranes that approach the scale of natural ion channels. These structures enable repeatable opening and closing through voltage-controlled chemical reactions. The advance could aid DNA sequencing and neuromorphic computing.
Researchers at Stellenbosch University say they have found the first evidence of rare phenolic compounds known as flavoalkaloids in cannabis leaves, after profiling dozens of plant chemicals across three commercially grown strains.
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Scientists at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have discovered previously unseen Floquet states inside extremely small magnetic vortices using minimal energy from magnetic waves. This finding, which challenges prior assumptions, could link electronics, spintronics, and quantum technologies. The results appear in Science.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have uncovered a hidden map of smell receptors in mice noses, revealing neat stripes instead of random distribution. This structure aligns with brain mapping, challenging prior assumptions about olfaction. The findings, published April 28 in Cell, could aid treatments for smell loss.
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An international team including researchers from Cornell University, the Boyce Thompson Institute, the University of Edinburgh, and others has uncovered how hornwort plants use a modified protein, RbcS-STAR, to cluster the key photosynthetic enzyme Rubisco into pyrenoid-like compartments. This mechanism boosts carbon capture and could enhance crop yields by up to 60 percent while reducing needs for water and fertilizers.