Science

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.bestiver.se/post/522556

Comments

Scientists at CERN's BASE collaboration achieved the first-ever coherent spectroscopy of a single antiproton spin, keeping an antiproton oscillating between quantum spin states for 50 seconds[^1]. This breakthrough, published in Nature on July 23, 2025, marks the first demonstration of an antimatter quantum bit (qubit)[^2].

The team used electromagnetic Penning traps to isolate and manipulate individual antiprotons, achieving spin inversion probabilities above 80% during the coherent oscillations[^3]. By suppressing decoherence mechanisms that previously limited precision, they performed quantum measurements with transition linewidths 16 times narrower than previous experiments[^4].

"This represents the first antimatter qubit and opens up the prospect of applying the entire set of coherent spectroscopy methods to single matter and antimatter systems in precision experiments," said BASE spokesperson Stefan Ulmer[^5]. While the antimatter qubit won't be used for quantum computing, it enables ultra-precise tests of matter-antimatter symmetry[^6].

The next phase involves BASE-STEP, which will transport antiprotons to calmer magnetic environments. "Once it is fully operational, our new offline precision Penning trap system could allow us to achieve spin coherence times maybe even ten times longer than in current experiments," said lead author Barbara Latacz[^7].

[^1]: Nature (@nature.com) - Nature research paper: Coherent spectroscopy with a single antiproton spin

[^2]: CERN - Breakthrough: First Coherent Spectroscopy with a Single Antiproton Spin

[^3]: Heinrich Heine University - News

[^4]: Nature - Coherent spectroscopy with a single antiproton spin

[^5]: CERN - A quantum leap for antimatter measurements

[^6]: Interesting Engineering - Scientists trap antiproton for 50 seconds in first antimatter qubit

[^7]: Space.com - Scientists just made the 1st antimatter 'qubit.'

"Groundwater drilled by people, used for agriculture or urban supplies and then discarded into drainages now contributes more water to the oceans than melting from each of the world’s largest ice caps."

This cautious approach is necessary to protect sensitive information and prevent foreign influence in research, Universities explained [according to Danish broadcaster DR].

Aarhus University is the one for which the Danish broadcaster managed to get the most information. Here, in 2025 alone, 24 research applications have been rejected for security reasons. According to DR’s story, the university now automatically subjects candidates from China, Russia, and Iran to rigorous background checks.

Whenever Aarhus University receives an application from one of these countries, it triggers a thorough investigation into the candidate’s background. The university examines their previous research collaborators, institutions, and research fields to assess any risk of exposure to foreign pressure or espionage attempts. The goal is to prevent sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

Brian Vinter, pro-dean of the technical faculty at Aarhus University, explained to DR that these rejections are not due to poor qualifications but because the candidates are deemed potential security risks. “They are rejected based on the possibility they could be pressured by their home countries to leak information,” he said.

A very cautious approach, that’s for sure, which may exclude skilled applicants — profiles the country is otherwise extremely interested in — but on the other hand, it seems necessary to protect Denmark’s interests and the university’s employees from foreign coercion.

...

Aarhus University has hired five specialists fluent in Russian, Chinese, and Persian solely to evaluate applicants. According to the DR story, the university plans to expand security measures to include physical protection of facilities, new travel policies, and issuing specially secured devices to staff traveling to risk countries.

...

Recent research has revealed how larvae of the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) metabolize low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic. The larvae maintain lipid reserves similar to those fed their natural honeycomb diet, even when consuming only plastic[^21].

The wax moth larvae break down plastic through enzymes in their saliva called PEases (Demetra and Ceres), which can oxidize and depolymerize polyethylene within hours at room temperature[^9]. This process occurs without requiring gut bacteria, challenging earlier theories about microbial degradation[^11].

Studies show the larvae's fat body plays a key metabolic role - when fed LDPE, they exhibit enhanced fatty acid metabolism while maintaining normal intestinal function[^27]. This suggests the wax moth larvae have evolved specialized mechanisms to process plastic compounds similarly to their natural wax diet.

[^9]: Nature - Wax worm saliva and the enzymes therein are the key to polyethylene degradation by Galleria mellonella

[^11]: PubMed - Role of the intestinal microbiome in low-density polyethylene degradation by caterpillar larvae of the greater wax moth

[^21]: PubMed - A Very Hungry Caterpillar: Polyethylene Metabolism and Lipid Homeostasis in Larvae of the Greater Wax Moth

[^27]: Science Direct - Fat on plastic: Metabolic consequences of an LDPE diet in the fat body of the greater wax moth larvae

Scientists have achieved a breakthrough by performing the Lossen rearrangement - a chemical reaction previously confined to harsh laboratory conditions - inside living E. coli bacteria[^1]. The reaction, catalyzed by phosphate naturally present in cells, converts hydroxamic acids into primary amines under mild biological conditions[^2].

The research team demonstrated this biocompatible chemistry by transforming polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste into para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), an essential nutrient for bacterial growth[^3]. By introducing genes from mushrooms and soil bacteria, they further engineered E. coli to convert PABA into Paracetamol with 92% yield in under 24 hours[^4].

"People don't realise that paracetamol comes from oil currently," said Professor Stephen Wallace from the University of Edinburgh. "What this technology shows is that by merging chemistry and biology in this way for the first time, we can make paracetamol more sustainably and clean up plastic waste from the environment at the same time."[^5]

[^1]: Nature Chemistry - A biocompatible Lossen rearrangement in Escherichia coli

[^2]: Chemistry World - Bacterium engineered to produce paracetamol from plastic bottle waste

[^3]: Sci.News - Common Gut Bacterium Can Turn Everyday Plastic Waste into Paracetamol

[^4]: BioEngineer - Biocompatible Lossen Rearrangement Achieved in E. coli

[^5]: The Guardian - Scientists use bacteria to turn plastic waste into paracetamol