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News Archive - Mario Aguilera

New Technology Designed to Genetically Control Disease-spreading Mosquitoes

September 10, 2021

Scientists have created the precision-guided sterile insect technique, a new CRISPR-based technology to control Aedes aegypti, the mosquito species responsible for spreading wide-ranging diseases including dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika.

Physicists Simulate Artificial Brain Networks with New Quantum Materials

September 3, 2021

As bandwidth demands on today’s computers reach their limit, scientists are developing systems with new materials that can match the speed and precision of animal nervous systems. UC San Diego physicists have now simulated the foundation of new types of computing devices that mimic brain functions.

Growth-promoting, Anti-aging Retinal at the Root of Plant Growth Too

August 26, 2021

Publishing in the journal Science, a research team led by new UC San Diego biologist Alexandra Dickinson has identified a compound that plays a key role in triggering the development of plants’ lateral roots. Retinoids, known for medical uses, were found to be vital in plant growth.

Researchers Discover Hidden SARS-CoV-2 ‘Gate’ That Opens to Allow COVID Infection

August 19, 2021

New visualizations of SARS-CoV-2 have allowed researchers to discover how the virus enters and infects healthy human cells. They found that glycan sugar molecules act as infection “gates” to our cell’s receptors.

UC San Diego Researchers Discover Key Mechanisms behind Synapse Degeneration in Alzheimer’s Brain

August 18, 2021

Neurobiologists have uncovered the mechanisms behind the maintenance and decline of key synapses implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. The findings suggest an alternative approach to addressing such brain disorders.

‘Feel Good’ Brain Messenger Can Be Willfully Controlled, New Study Reveals

July 23, 2021

UC San Diego researchers and their colleagues have discovered that spontaneous impulses of dopamine, the neurological messenger known as the brain’s “feel good” chemical, occur in the brain of mice. The study found that mice can willfully manipulate these random dopamine pulses for reward.

Mayer Hall Recognized for Historical Contributions to Physics

July 2, 2021

The American Physical Society has designated UC San Diego’s Mayer Hall as a historic site in recognition of the groundbreaking accomplishments of UC San Diego physicists Walter Kohn and Lu Sham and their development of the “Kohn-Sham equation.”

Diamonds Are a Physicist’s Best Friend

June 17, 2021

Physics condensed matter experimentalist Chunhui Rita Du leverages imperfections in diamonds to investigate materials needed for a new era of computing and storage. New quantum materials are exotic substances that are allowing scientists to create novel technologies at previously unseen scales.

Trained Viruses Prove More Effective at Fighting Antibiotic Resistance

June 7, 2021

Research reveals that phage viruses that undergo special evolutionary training increase their capacity to subdue bacteria. The results provide hope for the antibiotic resistance crisis, a rising threat as deadly bacteria continue to evolve to render many modern drugs ineffective.
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