A new antimicrobial cotton textile with Cu ions in nanofibers
Cotton textiles are ubiquitous in daily life, and they are also one of the primary mediums for transmitting viruses and bacteria. Conventional approaches to fabricating antiviral and antibacterial textiles generally load the functional additives onto.....»»
New tool to investigate more effective cancer treatment
Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have discovered a new tool that will help to investigate more effective forms of cancer treatment. Using high-powered lasers, the experts have been able to generate a 'pure beam' of carbon ions with unique pr.....»»
Under arrest: Using nanofibers to stop brain tumor cells from spreading
Researchers have used high-density nanofibers that mimic the microenvironment of the brain to capture tumor cells, opening doors to novel therapeutic solutions for aggressive brain cancer......»»
New PCR assays offer hope in the fight against the environmental spread of antimicrobial resistance
Researchers have successfully trialed two new qPCR assays to help detect the presence of transmissible AMR using water and wastewater samples. The scientists present a DNA-based testing method that provides a surrogate for monitoring AMR, which will.....»»
Tackling antimicrobial resistance
Researchers from Newcastle University, and colleagues from Spain, Canada and Egypt, have successfully trialed two new qPCR assays to help detect the presence of transmissible AMR using water and wastewater samples. Publishing their results in the jou.....»»
Fusarium wilt of cotton more aggressive and diverse than previously understood
Cotton is an important crop worldwide and grown in large amounts in the United States, which provided 38 percent of cotton exports in 2017. One of the greatest threats to cotton production is Fusarium wilt, a fungal disease caused by the soil-borne p.....»»
Using recycled cathodes makes better lithium batteries, study finds
The materials create a more porous structure for the ions to negotiate. Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) The problem of what to do with old batteries comes up in many discussions about the pros and cons of electr.....»»
Myth, busted: Spider silk might not have antibiotic properties after all
Scientists extracted dragline silk from some spiders using a mechanical LEGO apparatus Enlarge / A new study found that ethyl acetate and other solvents typically used to study the antimicrobial properties of spider silk can inhibit ba.....»»
Acer Launches Bacteria-Resistant PCs
During its next@Acer event today, the company announced three new PCs -- a laptop, a two-in-one, and a tablet -- that will be joining its antimicrobial lineup. Ars Technica reports: Something is considered antimicrobial if it's capable of "destroying.....»»
Acer launches bacteria-resistant PCs
Acer expands its "antimicrobial" portfolio. Enlarge / Acer's Enduro Urban N3 (above) also comes in blue. (credit: Acer) Acer's “antimicrobial” laptops have been around for a few years, but they became particularly releva.....»»
India: Low labor cost doesn"t necessarily mean low operating cost
India's per capita income is far lower than China's. Raw materials such as steel, coal and cotton are produced in India and shipped to China with processed products sold back to India. China's mobile phones, TVs and various commodities are sweeping t.....»»
A new way to remove troublesome ions from water
Converting seawater into fresh water is important in water-scarce countries. For that process, certain charged particles—known as ions—have to be removed from the water. However, some ions are difficult to remove from water due to their chemical.....»»
Liquid metal coating creates effective antiviral, antimicrobial fabric
An international team of researchers has used liquid gallium to create an antiviral and antimicrobial coating and tested it on a range of fabrics, including facemasks. The coating adhered more strongly to fabric than some conventional metal coatings,.....»»
Study shows N95 respirators could offer robust protection from wildfire smoke
N95 respirators offer the best protection against wildfire smoke and other types of air pollution, performing better than synthetic, cotton and surgical masks......»»
Cartilage resurfacing implant reduces pain, restores hip joint function in dogs
A textile-based implant containing cartilage derived from stem cells reduced pain and restored hip joint function to baseline levels in a study of dogs with symptoms of moderate osteoarthritis. The study, led by researchers at North Carolina State Un.....»»
Creating cotton that is fireproof and comfortable
State-of-the-art flame retardant cotton textiles suffer from release of formaldehyde and are uncomfortable to wear. Empa scientists managed to circumvent this problem by creating a physically and chemically independent network of flame retardants ins.....»»
By confining the transport of electrons and ions, scientists show they can alter material properties
Like ripples in a pond, electrons travel like waves through materials, and when they collide and interact, they can give rise to new and interesting patterns......»»
Hidden Particle Interactions Exposed by Peeling Layers of Graphene
Ions flowing through atom-thin stacks of carbon confirm classic theories but also yield new surprises -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
Verbatim and Microban are working on antimicrobial USB drives
USB drives is a common method to transfer data from one device to another because it's simple, affordable and effective. It's also portable, which comes with some potential hygiene issues as they go from hand to hand, transporting microbial if not di.....»»
Developing better nanopore technology
At the simplest of levels, nanopores are (nanometre-sized) holes in an insulating membrane. The hole allows ions to pass through the membrane when a voltage is applied, resulting in a measurable current. When a molecule passes through a nanopore it c.....»»
Through the looking glass: Unravelling how ions move in phosphate glass
Phosphate glass is a versatile compound that has generated interest for its use in fuel cells and as biomaterials for supplying therapeutic ions. P2O5—the compound that forms the structural network of phosphate glass—is made up of phosphorus, an.....»»