In their search for dark matter, scientists from the XENON Collaboration are using one of the world’s most sensitive dark matter detectors, XENONnT at the Gran Sasso Laboratory of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics INFN in Italy, to detect extremely rare particle interactions. These could provide clues about the nature of dark matter. The problem, however, is that tiny amounts of natural radioactivity generate background events that can mask these weak signals.

The XENONnT experiment has made a breakthrough by significantly reducing one of the most problematic contaminants— radon, a radioactive gas. For the first time, the research team has succeeded in reducing the detector’s radon-induced radioactivity to a level a billion times lower than the very low natural radioactivity of the human body.

The underlying technology, which the XENONnT consortium reports in the current issue of the Physical Review X, was developed by a team led by particle physicist Prof Christian Weinheimer from the University of Münster.

For over three decades, HIV has played an elaborate game of hide-and-seek with researchers, making treating—and possibly even curing—the disease a seemingly insurmountable obstacle to achieve.

But scientists at Case Western Reserve University have made a breakthrough discovery that could fundamentally change strategies for treating HIV.

The team identified for the first time how HIV enters a dormant state in infected cells that allows the virus to “hide” from the immune system and current treatments.

A Chinese research team in East China’s Zhejiang Province unveiled an innovative product called “Bone 02” bone glue on Wednesday. Inspired by oysters, this glue can treat fractures with a single injection and bond shattered bone fragments in just three minutes, according to local media Zhejiang Online.

The team leader, Lin Xianfeng, an associate chief orthopedic surgeon at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital affiliated with the renowned Zhejiang University, said the adhesive can achieve precise fixation within two to three minutes, even in a blood-rich environment. In one trial case, the procedure was completed in less than three minutes — whereas traditional treatment would have required a large incision to implant steel plates and screws, Zhejiang Online said.

Laboratory tests confirmed that ‘Bone-02’ performed strongly in both safety and effectiveness. It demonstrated a maximum bonding force of over 400 pounds, a shear strength of about 0.5 MPa, and a compressive strength of around 10 MPa. These properties suggest it has the potential to replace traditional metal implants, while also reducing the risks of foreign-body reactions and infection, said the report.

Though mirror biology might lead to improved drugs and other innovations, scientists have warned against potentially devastating consequences of this research