This month’s featured image shows ball python urates at two magnifications—a photo on the left and a scanning electron micrograph on the right—revealing that snakes excrete nitrogen as solid, micron-sized spheres of uric acid. Higher-resolution imaging uncovered a surprising nanocrystal architecture inside these spheres, offering new insight into how reptiles naturally manage and transport this low-solubility waste material. Read more >>
Credit: Alyssa Thornton
Read more: HERE
Uric Acid Microspheres: Unexpected Architecture in Reptile Waste Reveals New Soft Matter Insights
December 10th, 2025
A newly published study led by ISM member Prof. Jennifer Swift and collaborators, “Uric Acid Monohydrate Nanocrystals: An Adaptable Platform for Nitrogen and Salt Management in Reptiles,” explores the surprising nanostructure of uric acid waste produced by ball pythons.…
Professor Blair elected APS Fellow
October 27th, 2025
Professor Dan Blair, Director of Graduate Studies, has been named Fellow of the American Physical Society, for the Division of Soft Matter Physics. Read more in the College story here.…
Inside ISM’s Shared Soft Matter Facility at Georgetown University
October 8th, 2025
The Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology (ISMSM) at Georgetown University is home to two state-of-the-art shared facilities designed to advance discovery in soft matter research. By opening these labs to academic collaborators, industry partners, and Georgetown scientists, ISMSM provides the tools, expertise, and collaborative environment needed to tackle challenges in materials science, physics, chemistry, and beyond.…
Ascorbic Acid Improves the Mechanical Properties of Collagen-Based Matrix
October 3rd, 2025
A new study led by Micaila Curtis in collaboration with Dr. Xinran Zhang and the Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology (ISMSM) amongst others, titled “Ascorbic Acid Improves the Mechanical Properties of Collagen-Based Matrix” and published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, reveals how Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) enhances the structure and mechanical integrity of collagen matrices—even in the absence of cells.…
ISM Day 2025 Brings Together Researchers Across Disciplines
September 26th, 2025
The Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology (ISM) hosted ISM Day 2025 last week on Georgetown University’s Main Campus, bringing together scientists from across disciplines to share their work and spark new collaborations.…
Leah Chen: From Physics to Public Health, Bridging Science and Global Health at Georgetown
September 9th, 2025
When Leah Chen (C’25) first arrived at Georgetown, she wasted no time jumping into research. “First or second week of freshman year, I was emailing the head of the physics department about research opportunities, and then immediately got involved in the Van Keuren lab,” she recalled.…
Toretsky Named Inaugural Hyundai Hope on Wheels Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology
September 8th, 2025
(September 7, 2025) — In honor of his dedication to pediatric cancer research, Jeffrey A. Toretsky, MD, professor of oncology at Georgetown University School of Medicine, was formally named the…
Celebrating Excellence: 2025 ISM Ambassador Award Recipients
August 22nd, 2025
The Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology (ISMSM) at Georgetown University is proud to recognize four outstanding members of our community: Leah Chen, Isabel Early, Eleni Hughes, and Charles Ochonma…
