A Real-Time Window Into the Hidden World of the Colon of a Living Animal
Combining a skin-level glass window with a gut-stabilizing magnet, researchers get a view into the colon of a live animal. Biomedical engineers at Duke University…
Biotechnology
Innovative New Scale Armor Design Inspired by Chiton Mollusk
The motivations for using biology as inspiration to engineering vary based on the project, but for Ling Li, assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the…
“DNA of Things” – Storing Extensive Data in Everyday Objects
Living beings contain their own assembly and operating instructions in the form of DNA. That’s not the case with inanimate objects: anyone wishing to 3D…
Artificial Cells Engineered to Act More Like the Real Thing
Protocells — artificial cells — that are active and mimic living cells by moving independently and that are biocompatible and enzymatically active are now possible…
New Tool for Rapidly Analyzing CRISPR Edits Reveals Frequent Unintended DNA Changes
New method unmasks all DNA changes caused by CRISPR in two days vs. two months; Most errant edits may be harmless, but insights essential to…
Video Shows Single-Cell Organism Making Complex Decisions – Resolves Century-Old Scientific Debate
Modern technology and old-fashioned legwork solve science mystery: Video shows single-cell organism making complex decisions. A life of avoidance, detachment, and relocation might not be…
Effective New Treatment for Brain Tumors Uses Electrospun Fiber to Avoid Chemotherapy Side-Effects
Researchers with the University of Cincinnati used coaxial electrospinning to create a treatment for glioblastoma multiforme. A novel engineering process can deliver a safe and…
New Technique Identifies T Cells Primed for Certain Allergies or Infections
Researchers develop a method to isolate and sequence the RNA of T cells that react to a specific target. When your immune system is exposed…
Illuminating Genetic Dark Matter – Uncovering Human “DNA Repeats”
First direct analysis of pathogenic sequence repeats in the human genome. Expansions of DNA repeats are very hard to analyze. A method developed by researchers…
3D-Printing Living Skin With Blood Vessels Included [Video]
Development is significant step toward skin grafts that can be integrated into patient’s skin. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a way to 3D…
Spray Painting Fiber Bandages Onto Wounds With Biomedical Electrospinning Device
A new device can deposit drug-delivering fibers directly onto biological material. With newly developed technology, medical personnel can manufacture a bandage with drug-delivery capabilities directly…
Converting Fat and Sewage Into Natural Gas More Efficiently
North Carolina State University researchers have developed what is, to date, the most efficient means of converting sewage sludge and restaurant grease into methane. After…
Artificial Magnetic Skin Ensures the Force Is With You [Video]
A magnetic skin that is safe and comfortable to wear could open the door to a wide range of wireless, remotely controlled applications. Who has…
Elusive Photosynthesis Details Unlocked With Rapid X-Ray Pulses
The ability to transform sunlight into energy is one of nature’s more remarkable feats. Scientists understand the basic process of photosynthesis, but many crucial details…
New Stretchable Light-Emitting Devices Can Be Applied to Human Skin
Imagine a runner who doesn’t need to carry a stopwatch or cell phone to check her time: She could just gaze at the glowing stopwatch…
New Adhesive Binds Wet Surfaces in Seconds – Could Replace Surgical Sutures
New double-sided tape for tissues binds wet surfaces within seconds and could be used to heal wounds or implant medical devices. Inspired by a sticky…
Dangerous Toxin Genetically Engineered Into a High-Resolution Biosensor
Some bacteria release a toxin that forms pores on other cells. EPFL scientists have studied the pore-forming toxin aerolysin and genetically engineered it to be…
Fast-Acting Elastic Energy Robots Inspired by Chameleon’s Tongue Strike [Video]
Chameleons, salamanders and many toads use stored elastic energy to launch their sticky tongues at unsuspecting insects located up to one-and-a-half body lengths away, catching…