© 2019 New Atlas

Princeton University

  • In an iron-rich medium, E. coli bacteria colonies without the Fes enzyme have limited growth (the small red colonies), while those with the artificial enzyme Syn-F4 appear large, white and healthy, because they're able to access the iron
    Biology
    Functional synthetic enzyme could be catalyst for artificial life
    Scientists may eventually be able to biologically engineer unique artificial lifeforms from scratch. A new study from Princeton has brought that future a step closer, by confirming that an artificial protein the team developed functions as an enzyme in living bacteria.
  • An artist's rendition of the star WASP-12 devouring one of its planets, WASP-12b – but that's nothing compared to Kronos, a star that has reportedly swallowed up 15 Earths-worth of rocky planets
    Space
    The story of the insatiable star that swallowed 15 Earths
    There are stories in the stars, so they say, and the story of Kronos is a doozy. Astronomers from Princeton noticed some marked chemical differences between the star and its binary partner, Krios, and determined the most likely cause: Kronos has devoured the equivalent of 15 Earths.
  • A new smart window system from Princeton harvests energy from UV light, to lighten or darken the window to block out light or heat as needed
    Around The Home
    Self-tinting smart windows powered by the sun
    Future windows could change their tint or opacity on demand to keep out unwanted heat, light or nosy neighbors. A team from Princeton has now developed a self-powered “smart window” system that uses a transparent solar cell to harvest UV energy from sunlight.
  • A new water purification technique relies on an injection of CO2 gas into a water stream rather than filters or membranes to separate particles from water
    Science
    "SodaStream" technique delivers low-cost, filter-free water purification
    A new water purification technology developed by researchers at Princeton University doesn't require filters, instead relying on the injection of CO2 gas to change the water's​ chemistry and separate waste particles based on their electrical charge.
  • Researchers at Princeton have solved the mystery of how "fairy circles" are formed in the Namib Desert
    Biology
    Termites vs. plants: Mystery of desert "fairy circles" solved
    ​The grasslands of the Namib Desert in Africa are pock-marked with patches dubbed “fairy circles.” These strange structures have sparked debate for years about how they form, and now scientists at Princeton have put forward a new explanation: it’s actually both plants and termites working in unison.
  • Though fairly subtle, the tool is able to make selfies look at lot more like the real thing
    Digital Cameras
    Princeton is building a better selfie
    ​​Millions of selfies are snapped every day, but they often fail to accurately portray reality, featuring unflattering distortions. A new tool could change that, allowing selfies to be adjusted, giving the impression that they’re taken from a little farther away, or from a slightly different angle.​
  • Scientists lead by Princeton professor M. Zahid Hasan have discovered the Weyl fermion, a particle theorized more than 85 years ago that may open up whole new areas of high-speed electronics and quantum computing
    Physics
    Massless particle discovery could radically accelerate electronics
    An exotic particle dubbed the "Weyl fermion", has been discovered 85 years after its existence was first mooted. Able to create completely massless electrons, the use of this particle may result in super-fast electronics and significant inroads into new areas of quantum computing.
  • The collected papers of Albert Einstein's early life are now able to be viewed online
    Remarkable People
    Release of collected papers of Albert Einstein give insight into a genius
    Albert Einstein will be forever remembered for his famous E=mc2 formula, but there was much more to the man than this. To show this, Princeton University has now released an online archive of his documents spanning the years 1897 - 1923 that provides much insight into the man and his life.