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About Alba
"Alba" is the Spanish word for dawn, but she has always been fond of dusk and the starry nights. As a matter of fate, Alba pursued a degree in astrophysics and is currently doing her PhD at the Cosmic Dawn group in the Observatory of Geneva. She studies very distant galaxies and is trying to understand how the first galaxies formed at the beginning of the universe. With a strong passion for education and science communication, she loves bringing science to the general public.
Alba is the editor of 7 Breaks:
New, smaller-than-ever devices to help us understand how our brain works from the inside
We developed a new neural probe which can be inserted into the deep vasculature of the brain to achieve high-precision measurement of its activity. This technological advancement can be of great importance for the understanding of our brain and for the detection and treatment of neurological disorders
Nov 8, 2024 | 4 min readAwakening the thymus to cure SARS-CoV-2 infection: a matter of genes
Establishing an appropriate immune response is essential to recover from viral diseases such as COVID-19.The thymus, an organ of the immune system, plays a vital role in producing new T-lymphocytes that help eliminate the virus that causes COVID-19. We recently discovered that a genetic trait determines the effectiveness of thymic activity in fighting this virus, and thus the clinical outcome.
Jul 27, 2024 | 3.5 min readAn Emerging Era: Wearable Breast Ultrasonography at Home
Ultrasound is key for detecting breast cancer. However, current bulky, planar imaging devices do not fit the unique breast shape well. We have developed a new conformable Ultrasound Breast Patch (cUSBr-Patch), which overcomes this with a flexible transducer array, nature-inspired honeycomb patch, and accurate signal processing. This breakthrough allows breast ultrasound to become wearable, operator-independent, and more accessible.
May 10, 2024 | 3.5 min readChemotherapy and heart failure
Patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer or lymphoma who received chemotherapy treatment might be at risk of long-term side effects. We evaluated the association between a type of chemotherapy, called anthracyclines, and the risk of developing heart failure in patients with cancer. In this study, patients treated with anthracycline were more likely to have heart failure compared to controls.
Mar 25, 2024 | 2.5 min readEarth’s large lakes are shrinking
Lakes play a crucial role in providing freshwater and support many essential ecosystem services. In a new study, we found significant water losses in 53% of large lakes on Earth in the past 28 years. These losses are attributed to human consumption, warming climate, and sedimentation. Two billion people reside in areas where lakes are drying, underscoring the urgent need for management solutions.
Dec 27, 2023 | 3 min readHeading underground with cold atoms
Sensors deployed down boreholes offer a glimpse into Earth's subsurface properties. This article presents the first step towards a new generation of borehole deployable quantum gravity sensors based on cold atoms. Sensors, which once developed, have the potential to reveal Earth's hidden depths with unparalleled precision.
Dec 1, 2023 | 3 min read