AIScienceTechnology

Scientists Engineer Novel Compounds to Reprogram Cellular Signaling Pathways

Breakthrough research reveals how designed molecules can selectively steer G protein-coupled receptor signaling toward specific pathways. The findings could lead to more precise drugs with fewer side effects by controlling which cellular responses are activated.

Revolutionary Approach to Cellular Signaling

Scientists have reportedly developed a new class of compounds that can reprogram how cells respond to signals, according to research published in Nature. These engineered molecules, known as allosteric modulators, demonstrate the ability to change which G protein subtypes are activated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), potentially opening new avenues for drug development with enhanced specificity and reduced side effects.

EnergyScienceTechnology

Battery Boom Propels Graphite from Industrial Workhorse to Critical Mineral

The exponential growth in lithium-ion batteries has transformed graphite from a conventional industrial mineral into a strategically critical material. According to analysis, graphite constitutes approximately 22% of a typical battery’s weight, making it the single largest component by volume.

Graphite’s Critical Role in Clean Energy Transition

The rapid expansion of lithium-ion battery production for electric vehicles, portable electronics, and grid storage has elevated graphite from traditional industrial applications to a cornerstone of the renewable energy economy, according to reports in Nature Reviews Materials. Sources indicate that graphite now accounts for approximately 22% of a typical lithium-ion battery’s weight, making it the most voluminous raw material in battery cells.

InnovationScienceTechnology

Academic Publishing Faces Growing Threat From Fabricated Researcher Identities

A major publisher uncovered 26 fictitious authors who published 55 papers in mathematics journals. Paper mills are creating fake academic personas to manipulate peer review systems and sell publications to researchers seeking to boost their credentials.

The Phantom Mathematician

Beatriz Ychussie appeared to be a promising mathematics researcher at Roskelde University in Denmark, publishing four papers on quantum particles and geometry in 2015-2016 while reviewing manuscripts for reputable journals. According to investigative reports, there was just one problem: Ychussie never existed.