Issue #15 — Exceptions

This issue of Basically, Science is all about Exceptions.

Sometimes the most interesting discoveries are the ones that refuse to follow the rules. Meet a superconductor that should not exist, an unexpected signaling pathway in plants, and a familiar bacterium with a surprising new trick.

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PhD student and first author Valeska Zambra holds a sample of uranium ditelluride, also known as UTe2. © ISTA

Superconductivity that Should Not Exist

Even unconventional superconductors follow certain rules, but a newly studied material appears to defy them. Researchers observed superconductivity emerging under conditions where conventional theory says it should not occur, raising fresh questions about how these frictionless states form. The findings, published in Nature Communications, point to behavior that sits outside the standard picture and may require physicists to rethink existing models.

Seedlings growing in the pink room at the Plant Facility. © Nadine Poncioni/ISTA

Plant Stress and Unique cAMP Signaling

Plants react rapidly to stress, from drought to physical damage, yet some of the signals behind these responses remain poorly understood. Researchers have now identified an unusual form of cAMP signaling in plants, revealing communication pathways that differ from those seen in animals and other organisms. The work uncovers a less familiar side of plant biology and expands understanding of how organisms respond to changing environments.

Fluorescently labelled CorM filaments inside Anabaena. These represent a newly discovered cytoskeleton in multicellular cyanobacteria. © Loose group

Anabaena Learns a New Trick

Anabaena, a filamentous cyanobacterium known for its cooperative lifestyle, has revealed an unexpected ability. Researchers discovered that the organism can adapt its behavior in ways not previously observed, adding a surprising layer of flexibility to one of biology’s oldest life forms. The findings suggest even well-studied microbes may still harbor unfamiliar behaviors, waiting to emerge under the right conditions.

As part of the prestigious program that supports early-career researchers, PhD student 

David Vijatovic plans to tackle the build-up of plastic pollutants in the brain. © David Vijatovic

David Vijatovic: ISTA’s First Schmidt Science Fellow

PhD student David Vijatovic has become ISTA’s first Schmidt Science Fellow, joining a global program for early-career researchers taking on complex challenges across fields. His next step is a scientific pivot: developing biological strategies to clear plastic particles from the brain. The fellowship begins in fall 2026, supporting a move into new territory where environmental pollution, biology, and neuroscience meet.

Lavinia Saltarelli investigat the chemical reaction mechanisms in lithium-sulfur batteries, creating the basis for more efficient energy storage.

New ISTA Researcher Wins Austrian Zero Emissions Award

Chemist Lavinia Saltarelli has received a 2026 Zero Emissions Award worth almost €385,000 for research into next-generation battery technology. Joining the Freunberger Group this summer, she investigates the chemical reactions inside lithium-sulfur batteries, a promising exception to the lithium-ion batteries that dominate energy storage today. Her work could help make future batteries cheaper, safer, and more efficient. The award is Austria’s largest privately funded prize for climate-relevant basic research.