A "wise counsel" for synthetic biology
Researchers develop user-friendly software system to optimize biological systems......»»
Method accelerates the development of sustainable biomaterials from years to minutes
A study, published in Advanced Materials on May 6, 2024, led by VTT's researchers, introduces a transformative approach that integrates synthetic biology with advanced machine learning and computational techniques to significantly accelerate the deve.....»»
Is a smart air purifier a wise investment?
If you're worried about seasonal allergies, an air purifier is a good investment. But what about smart air purifiers? Are they a wise upgrade?.....»»
Evolutionary history shapes variation of wood density: Study
Ecology and evolutionary biology suggest that closely related species are more likely to exhibit morphological and functional similarities compared to distantly related species. Each tree species represents a unique genetic reservoir and is a product.....»»
New work extends the thermodynamic theory of computation
Every computing system, biological or synthetic, from cells to brains to laptops, has a cost. This isn't the price, which is easy to discern, but an energy cost connected to the work required to run a program and the heat dissipated in the process......»»
A switch for the internal clock: Exploring quantum biology for novel medical therapies
A research collaboration has explored the effects of nuclear magnetic resonance on the internal clock of cells at different times of day and under oxygen deprivation......»»
Dice snakes found to use a variety of techniques to more effectively fake their own deaths
A pair of biologists at the University of Belgrade, in Serbia, has found that dice snakes use a variety of techniques to fool predators into believing they have died. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Vukašin Bjelica and Ana G.....»»
These Artificial Blood Platelets Could One Day Save Lives
Platelets help blood clot, but they have a short shelf life. With blood in short supply, synthetic platelets could help meet demand......»»
Natural biosurfactants: The future of eco-friendly meat preservation
A recent study has unveiled the potential of biosurfactants—natural compounds produced by microbes—to dramatically improve the preservation of meat products. This innovative approach could replace synthetic chemicals, enhancing food safety and qu.....»»
Team develops efficient host-vector system for a model archaeon by solving CRISPR-based host-plasmid conflict
A research group has constructed versatile genetic tools for Saccharolobus islandicus REY15A, one of the very few archaeal models for archaea biology and CRISPR biology research......»»
Researchers reveal new cellular mechanical transducer
A research team has uncovered a novel regulator governing how cells respond to mechanical cues. Their findings appear in Nature Cell Biology......»»
New phononics materials may lead to smaller, more powerful wireless devices
What if your earbuds could do everything your smartphone can do already, except better? What sounds a bit like science fiction may actually not be so far off. A new class of synthetic materials could herald the next revolution of wireless technologie.....»»
Team develops an epigenome editing toolkit to dissect the mechanisms of gene regulation
Understanding how genes are regulated at the molecular level is a central challenge in modern biology. This complex mechanism is mainly driven by the interaction between proteins called transcription factors, DNA regulatory regions, and epigenetic mo.....»»
Exploring lysosomal biology: Current approaches and methods
Lysosomes are critical for cellular degradation, characterized by their acidic pH and array of hydrolytic enzymes. They degrade materials through endocytosis, phagocytosis, and autophagy, recycling essential components. Lysosomes also participate in.....»»
Sneaking science into Borderlands: Inside the game inside a game
A key to its success? Making a game that didn't look like it involved biology. Enlarge / Line up those colors and close those gaps... for science! In 2020, a new minigame appeared in the video game Borderlands 3, locate.....»»
Chimps shown to learn and improve tool-using skills even as adults
Chimpanzees continue to learn and hone their skills well into adulthood, a capacity that might be essential for the evolution of complex and varied tool use, according to a study published May 7 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Mathieu Malh.....»»
Two facilities team up for structural biology advances with X-ray free-electron lasers and exascale computing
Plans to unite the capabilities of two cutting-edge technological facilities promise to usher in a new era of dynamic structural biology. Through DOE's Integrated Research Infrastructure, or IRI, initiative, the facilities will complement each other'.....»»
Synthetic chemistry approach yields new compounds with potential biomedical applications
Researchers at Rice University have successfully synthesized a group of natural compounds known as fusicoccanes. The molecules found in various living organisms exhibit diverse biological activities, including the ability to modulate protein-protein.....»»
"Everywhere we looked, we found evidence": Microplastics expert on 20 years of pollution research
Thirty years ago, while counting barnacles, limpets and seaweeds along rocky shores, I started noticing a daily tide of litter, mostly plastic. As a marine biology Ph.D. student at Liverpool University, I kept removing it, but the next day, there'd b.....»»
The US Is Cracking Down on Synthetic DNA
Synthetic DNA could be used to spark a pandemic. A move by President Biden aims to create new standards for the safety and security of mail-order genetic material......»»
Male or female? Scientists discover the genetic mechanism that determines sex development in butterflies
Scientists of the Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with University of Liverpool have found the genetic mechanism that determines whether individuals of the butterfly species Bicyclus anynana become male or female......»»