Elie Dolgin

1 week ago | nature.com | Elie Dolgin

They’re small, elusive and crucial to cellular organization. Now, scientists have found a way to jam the inner workings of biomolecular condensates — membrane-free droplets that coordinate key reactions in cells. A synthetic ‘killswitch’ protein, just 17 amino acids long, can be dropped into these liquid-like compartments to selectively disrupt their function and pause the molecular traffic within.

2 weeks ago | spectrum.ieee.org | Elie Dolgin

Masterpieces like The Mona Lisa orThe Coronation of Napoleonare admired by tens of thousands of visitors to the Louvre each day. Yet, deep within the Paris museum’s vaults lie thousands more works of art that—whether due to space limitations, conservation requirements, or scarce restoration resources—never make it onto the walls of the world’s most famous art institution. A new restoration technique that bridges digital innovation and traditional art care aims to change that.

2 weeks ago | nature.com | Elie Dolgin

Sheree had maintained a healthy weight for 15 years, thanks to a surgery that wrapped a silicone ring around the top of her stomach. But when the gastric band repeatedly slipped and had to be removed, the weight came back — fast. She gained nearly 20 kilograms in just 2 months. Frustrated, she turned to the latest generation of anti-obesity medications, hoping to slow the rapid weight gain.

2 weeks ago | sciencenews.org | Elie Dolgin

When it comes to making a splash, technique tops brute force. In the competitive sport of Manu jumping, a flamboyant, cannonball-style splash sport from the Māori and Pasifika communities of New Zealand, the secret to record-setting splashes hinges on a butt-first, V-shaped entry and a well-timed, underwater follow through, researchers report May 16 in Interface Focus. The insights could help athletes vying for glory at the Z Manu World Champs competition or simply liven up a backyard pool party.

3 weeks ago | sciencenews.org | Elie Dolgin

Tornado-generating beaks and whirlpool-stirring feet help flamingos transform shallow waters into shrimp-swirling death zones — corralling agile prey with the flair of a Las Vegas stage act and the efficiency of a Dyson vacuum. That’s the takeaway from a study published May 12 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that combined high-speed video, fluid dynamics experiments and 3-D-printed flamingo parts to reveal the mechanics behind the birds’ underwater feeding frenzies.