Antiseptic-tolerant germs spread through the air in hospitals, early study hints - Live Science

In Japan, a 72-day randomized study involving 568 people linked an experimental hand antiseptic to a lower cumulative incidence of upper respiratory symptoms than a commercial ethanol-based product. News-Medical reports on the findings published in the journal Scientific Reports. Trial resultsThe double-blind cluster-randomized study ran from December 20, 2023, to February 29, 2024. Each household was considered a separate cluster. The final analysis included data from 568 participants aged 20 to 65 from 417 households: 285 people were assigned to the experimental formula group and another 283 to the ethanol product group. Participants were required to use one of the two antiseptics five to ten times a day and record daily data on product use and their health status. The experimental formula contained 62% ethanol, 0.05% benzalkonium chloride, and lactic acid. The commercial comparison product contained 79.7% ethanol. Upper respiratory symptoms were recorded in 35 people in the new formula group and 58 in the ethanol antiseptic group. The cumulative incidence was 12.3% versus 20.5%, respectively, meaning it was approximately 40% lower in the first group.

Experience sub-500 nm O-PTIR featuring integrated fluorescence and simultaneous Raman spectroscopy with the mIRage-LS, a global first in microscopy systems. Fluorescence microscopy and O-PTIR spectroscopy with submicron resolution positioned together

The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS, President Dr. Ho Seong Lee) has re-measured a key transition frequency of the strontium (Sr) atom for the first time in 88 years since 1938, using a photonic grating chip, and has established a new absolute frequency value with a measurement uncertainty reduced by more than 50 times. By securing an accurate reference value needed for next-generation quantum technologies ahead of time, this achievement is expected to greatly contribute to the precise control and miniaturization of quantum devices, including atomic clocks and neutral-atom quantum computers. Strontium is an atom widely used in precision quantum technologies such as optical lattice clocks and quantum sensors. To use strontium in these technologies, fast-moving atoms must be slowed down and trapped with precisely tuned lasers, and for this, it is essential to know exactly the resonant frequency of the laser light for the atomic transition.

Some galaxies glow with sweeping spiral arms, while others are shaped by violent collisions, powerful black holes, and explosive bursts of star formation. A newly released collection of 16 images from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes reveals the extraordinary diversity of these cosmic structures. Like precious gemstones, galaxies come in many shapes and sizes, each with characteristics that tell a story about its history. Astronomers generally classify them into three major groups. Spiral galaxies, including our Milky Way, have winding arms extending from their centers. Elliptical galaxies typically contain older stars and are often thought to form through galactic mergers. Irregular galaxies have less orderly structures and can display a wide variety of cosmic activity.