Basically, Science

The research newsletter from ISTA

🚀 Issue #1 — Beginnings

Stranger than Friction: A Force Initiating Life

What do a potter at a spinning wheel and underwater sea life have in common? Scientists examine how friction forces propel development in some marine organisms and can now describe how the immature egg cells of sea squirts—our closest invertebrate relative—harness friction to undergo developmental changes.

‌ © Shutterstock

‌From the microscopic scale of life’s first movements to the grand dance of galaxies, the universe is full of beginnings that defy expectations. Let's move from the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of the cosmos.

Baby Quasars Growing Supermassive Black Holes

Cosmic infancy is just as tumultuous and mystifying as any terrestrial beginning. Baby quasars, the youthful and vibrant precursors to supermassive black holes, provide a unique window into the developmental phases of the universe. New insights using the James Webb Space Telescope challenge our understanding of how supermassive black holes come to be.

‌© NASA, ESA, CSA, J. Matthee (ISTA), R. Mackenzie (ETH Zurich), D. Kashino (National Observatory of Japan), S. Lilly (ETH Zurich)

The mystery of self-organization persists. Just as baby quasars mature into supermassive black holes, so too do cells mysteriously orchestrate their own development. Whether we look outward or inward we find the same question: How does anything know what to become?

‌Align or Die: A New Mechanism in Cell Division

How does matter, lifeless by definition, self-organize and make us alive? One of the hallmarks of life, self-organization, is the spontaneous formation and breakdown of biological active matter. But how do they ‘know’ where, when, and how to assemble, and when to stop? Researchers have now found a tantalizing new mechanism.

‌ © Nicola De Mitri

Is Embryonic Self-Assembly a Design for Life?

Imagine a construction site where the building assembles itself from the ground up, without an architect or blueprint. This is the reality for embryos, as they orchestrate their development from single cells into complex organisms. A new model further illuminates the intricacies of this process, but poses profound questions about the autonomy of biological systems.

‌ © Shutterstock

‌Editor's Picks

‌ © Sophie Webster

What Came First, the Snail or the Egg?

From the depths of time, nature has crafted myriad paths for creatures to thrive and propagate, each with its evolutionary tale. In the swirls of the sea, a simple marine snail offers a fascinating glimpse into one such narrative, where the shift from egg-laying to live birth paints a story of survival and adaptation.

‌ © Shutterstock

Protons: The Unsung Heroes of Creation

Life's complexity often begins with the simplest elements. Protons, those subatomic particles, might just be more instrumental in kick-starting life than previously imagined. This exploration unravels how a chain reaction of protons could be the spark that lit the fire of life, offering a fresh perspective on the genesis of biological systems.

‌ © Sophie Webster

What Came First, the Snail or the Egg?

From the depths of time, nature has crafted myriad paths for creatures to thrive and propagate, each with its evolutionary tale. In the swirls of the sea, a simple marine snail offers a fascinating glimpse into one such narrative, where the shift from egg-laying to live birth paints a story of survival and adaptation.

Protons: The Unsung Heroes of Creation

‌Life's complexity often begins with the simplest elements. Protons, those subatomic particles, might just be more instrumental in kick-starting life than previously imagined. This exploration unravels how a chain reaction of protons could be the spark that lit the fire of life, offering a fresh perspective on the genesis of biological systems.

‌In Profile

Meet Two of ISTA's New Trailblazing Astrophysicists

The cosmos is vast, and understanding its mysteries has always required fresh perspectives. At ISTA, two new astrophysicists professors, Ylva Götberg and Jorryt Matthee, are set to expand the frontiers of our cosmic knowledge. While Götberg studies interacting binary stars, Matthee looks at galaxies and how they formed using observations of the very distant universe. Their arrival marks a significant milestone in the Institute's young astronomy research.

‌‌ © ISTA

‌Sparking a Research Flame

‌Ever wondered what it’s really like to pursue a PhD? Meet two PhD students—Christine Fielder and Sofia Backlund—investigating functional nanomaterials and population genetics. As applications for the 2025 intake open in October, now is the perfect time to start planning. Read more about their PhD experience and how you can apply for this fully-funded PhD program near the most livable city on Earth.

ISTA News

‌Nurturing Curiosity from the Start

A new kindergarten to be built by 2025 plus three new buildings for world-class research to be completed by 2028 are announced as part of the Institute's Masterplan 2036.

ISTA Launches VISTA Science Experiences

ISTA scales up on its mission to make science tangible to all. A broad range of VISTA activities is available to children, teachers, and science enthusiasts of all ages. And the best is yet to come: The VISTA Science Experience Center will open in fall 2025.

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‌‌Basically, Science is curated by Will Campbell. For feedback and suggestions reach out at newsletter@ista.ac.at

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