Simulating Evolution to Understand a Hidden Genetic Switch
Some organisms evolve an internal switch that can remain hidden for generations until stress flicks it on. Computer simulations of cells evolving over tens of…
Biotechnology
New COVID-19 Vaccine: Nanoparticle Immunization Technology Could Protect Against Many Strains of Coronaviruses
Method presents the immune system with several different coronaviruses at once. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the COVID-19 pandemic is just one of many…
Cure for Blindness in Sight: Retinal Stem Cell Transplant Clears Experimental Hurdle
Retinal cells derived from adult human eye stem cells survived when transplanted into the eyes of monkeys, an important early step in the validation of…
Giving Computers a Keen Sense of Smell – Researchers Create a Biohybrid Olfactory Sensor
A keen sense of smell is a powerful ability shared by many organisms. However, it has proven difficult to replicate by artificial means. Researchers combined…
Peeking Inside Human “Mini-Brains” to Understand the Brain, Study Disease and Test New Medicines
Revealing details of the internal structure of ‘mini-brains’ could help accelerate drug studies and may offer alternatives to some animal testing. ‘Mini-brains’ are pin-head sized…
Detecting COVID-19 Antibodies in 10–12 Seconds With a 3D Printed Test Chip
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University report findings on an advanced nanomaterial-based biosensing platform that detects, within seconds, antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for…
New Electron Microscopy Technique Offers First Real-Time Look at Previously Hidden Processes
Researchers can now fill in missing information about nanoscale polymerization and “smart” materials for medicine and the environment. Northwestern researchers have developed a new microscopy…
Researchers Zero In on Natural Products That Disrupt Lethal Viruses, Including the COVID-19 Coronavirus
Review of the life histories of RNA viruses, their genetics, and the compounds that could disrupt them offers hope for curtailment of future pandemics. Researchers…
Breakthrough for Healthcare, Agriculture, Energy: Artificial Intelligence Reveals Recipe for Building Artificial Proteins
Proteins are essential to cells, carrying out complex tasks and catalyzing chemical reactions. Scientists and engineers have long sought to harness this power by designing…
Scientists Replicate Self-Cleaning Anti-reflective Nanocoating of Insects’ Eyes
Scientists from Russia and Switzerland have probed into nanostructures covering the corneas of the eyes of small fruit flies. Investigating them the team learned how…
Scientists Develop High Performance Mitochondria Transfer Device
Method will help researchers better understand mitochondrial DNA diseases. Scientists from the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer have developed a simple, high-throughput method for transferring isolated…
New Forensic DNA Technology to Combat Terrorism – Dust on Boots, Baggage Can Track Down Suspects
Forensic science experts at Flinders University are refining an innovative counter-terrorism technique that checks for environmental DNA in the dust on clothing, baggage, shoes, or…
New Technology Peers at the Electrical Signals Inside Cells – May Inspire New Fields of Research
University of Chicago scientists pioneer new method of measuring electricity in cells. Electricity is a key ingredient in living bodies. We know that voltage differences…
Mini Antibodies Produced by a Llama and Isolated by Neuroscientists Could Prevent COVID-19 Infection
Preliminary results suggest anti-COVID19 nanobodies may be effective at preventing and diagnosing infections. National Institutes of Health researchers have isolated a set of promising, tiny…
Scientists Discover How to Use Antibodies to Control Chemical Reactions
Researchers developed a strategy to synthesize functional molecules with specific diagnostic antibodies. Antibodies are remarkable biomarkers: they are the cues that provide us with indications…
Genetically Engineered Organisms: Path Set for Field Trials of Gene Drive Organisms
As genetically engineered organisms ramp up, a multidisciplinary coalition offers a framework for ethical, socially engaged and transparent field practices. The modern rise of gene…
“Electronic Amoeba” Analog Computer Finds Swift Solution to the Traveling Salesman Problem
Researchers at Hokkaido University and Amoeba Energy in Japan have, inspired by the efficient foraging behavior of a single-celled amoeba, developed an analog computer for…
Battling COVID-19: Researchers Discover Materials – Activated With UV Light – That Can Kill Coronavirus and Other Viruses
As the deadly COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc around the world with no end in sight, new ways in which to stop the spread…