Key 2023 findings in natural sciences are related to quantum phenomena, new drugs, diagnostic methods and the human genome, while Slovenian archaeologists unveil the secrets of the Maya.
A groundbreaking quantum mechanics discovery was published in the October issue of the prestigious Nature journal by a collaborative team of researchers from Italy, Germany, and Slovenia's Jožef Stefan Institute. The study unveiled unusual quantum phenomena within tantalum disulfide, holding great promise for practical applications, particularly in the development of specialised sensors.
In the realm of life sciences, a significant step was made by the joint efforts of Ljubljana's Biotechnical Faculty, Denmark's Aarhus University, and China's BGI research institute. The project, concluded earlier this summer, delved into the extraordinary characteristics of the large olm (proteus) genome. The findings provided crucial insights into various aspects of the human genome.
Meanwhile, a team comprising Slovenian, German, and Dutch scientists explored a protein modification linked to the early onset of dementia. Their research culminated in the development of an antibody with potential applications in diagnosing dementia, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. Urban Košak, leading a team at The Faculty of Pharmacy in Ljubljana, earned international recognition for creating a drug to alleviate dementia symptoms in dogs, with promising prospects for human treatment.
In early summer Slovenian archaeologist Ivan Šprajc of Slovenia located the remains of a Mayan city hidden within the Mexican rainforest. In 2013 Šprajc, described by The Guardian as “the real-life Indiana Jones”, led an international team which discovered the expansive Mayan city of Chactun. Earlier this year, he presented groundbreaking research on the Mayan calendar, suggesting its origins may predate 1000 BC.
Andrej Gorišek, an experimental physicist from Ljubljana's Institute Jožef Štefan, has been selected as one of the two new Run Coordinators for CERN's ambitious Atlas project. This project is considered to be one of the largest collaborative efforts ever attempted in science.
