Are silver nanoparticles a silver bullet against microbes?
Antimicrobials are used to kill or slow the growth of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. They can be in the form of antibiotics, used to treat bodily infections, or as an additive or coating on commercial products used to keep germs at bay......»»
Nobel chemistry winner flunked first college chemistry exam
Talk about bouncing back. MIT professor Moungi Bawendi is a co-winner of this year's Nobel chemistry prize for helping develop "quantum dots"—nanoparticles that are now found in next generation TV screens and help illuminate tumors within the body......»»
The "plastic paradox": Some clean-up technologies do more harm than good, researchers say
The ever-increasing problem of plastic pollution has prompted widespread efforts to combat it through innovative clean-up technologies. These advancements, however, often seen as the silver bullet to solve our plastic crisis, sometimes do more harm t.....»»
Gut bacteria found in wild wolves may be key to improving domestic dogs" health
Gut microbes found in wild wolves may be the key to alleviating a debilitating gastrointestinal condition common to domestic dogs, according to a study led by researchers at Oregon State University—Cascades......»»
Metal-loving microbes offer a green way to refine rare earth elements
Rare earth elements are essential components of electric cars, wind turbines and smartphones. Retrieving these metals from raw ore requires processing with acids and solvents......»»
Researchers invent a new metallization method of modified tannic acid photoresist patterning
The micro/nano metal pattern formation is a key step in the assembly of various devices. However, ex situ approaches of metal patterning limited their industrial applications due to the poor stability and dispersion of metal nanoparticles. The in sit.....»»
The "Grandmother Hypothesis": Skin behind the ears and between the toes can host a collection of unhealthy microbes
Grandmother was right: Scrubbing behind the ears and between the toes may help keep the skin in those regions healthy, or so says a new study by a team at the George Washington University......»»
Your microbes live on after you die—a microbiologist explains how your necrobiome recycles your body
Each human body contains a complex community of trillions of microorganisms that are important for your health while you're alive. These microbial symbionts help you digest food, produce essential vitamins, protect you from infection and serve many o.....»»
Capturing carbon dioxide with electricity: A microbial enzyme inspires electrochemistry
Humans continuously emits greenhouse gases, worsening global warming. For example, carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulates dramatically over the years and is chemically very stable. Yet, some microbes capture CO2 using highly efficient enzymes. Scientists f.....»»
Mineral nanoparticles could potentially act as nanozyme mimics, assisting fungi in breaking down organic pollutants
A study led by Dr. Guanghui Yu from School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, delved into the role of magnetite nanoparticles as nanozyme mimics......»»
Bacterial biosensors: The future of analyte detection
Scientists can do some nifty things with microbes, including engineering bacterial cells to sense and signal the presence of specific compounds. These microbial whole-cell biosensors have numerous purposes, from detecting toxins in the environment to.....»»
Assessing the safety and suitability of using cat-attracting plants for olfactory enrichment
In a study published in iScience, a research team first examined the effects of silver vine on cats by comparing single exposure and long-term exposure to plant extracts. The cats were given access to the extract for four hours. At first, they showed.....»»
Researchers challenge long-standing theory guiding nanoparticle treatment of tumors
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a new theory to explain how nanoparticles enter and exit the tumors they are meant to treat, potentially rewriting an understanding of cancer nanomedicine that has guided research for nearly fou.....»»
Nanoparticle vaccine candidate shows promise against emerging tick-borne virus in early studies
Cleveland Clinic researchers have used nanoparticles to develop a potential vaccine candidate against Dabie Bandavirus, formerly known as Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (SFTSV), a tick-borne virus that currently has no prevention,.....»»
The silver lining to storm surge: How some baby fish ride out hurricanes to success
Humans loathe the deadly impact of storm surge, and for good reason. But new research shows how juvenile tarpon and snook can actually benefit from it. In turn, scientists are learning how to design more eco-friendly developments that help the fish s.....»»
New study on the genetic magnetization of living bacteria shows great potential for biomedicine
Magnetic bacteria possess extraordinary capabilities due to the magnetic nanoparticles, the magnetosomes, which are concatenated inside their cells. A research team at the University of Bayreuth has now transferred all of the approximately 30 genes r.....»»
Nanoparticles made from plant viruses could be farmers" new ally in pest control
A new form of agricultural pest control could one day take root—one that treats crop infestations deep under the ground in a targeted manner with less pesticide......»»
Dolphins, seals and whales managed by the US are highly vulnerable to climate change, study finds
According to a study published in PLOS ONE, 72% of cetacean and pinniped stocks managed under U.S. jurisdiction are highly or very highly vulnerable to climate change. The research was led by Matthew D. Lettrich at NOAA Fisheries, in Silver Spring, M.....»»
Fast-track strain engineering for speedy biomanufacturing
Using engineered microbes as microscopic factories has given the world steady sources of life-saving drugs, revolutionized the food industry, and allowed us to make sustainable versions of valuable chemicals previously made from petroleum......»»
Study finds iron oxide nanoparticles are useful for medicinal plant sustainability under toxic metal conditions
Metal(loid) toxicity severely inhibits plant growth and development, thereby affecting yield and quality. It is crucial to seek favorable measures to improve plant survival under toxic metal(loid) conditions......»»
Precisely arranging nanoparticles to develop plasmonic molecules
In the incredibly small world of molecules, the elementary building blocks—the atoms—join together in a very regular pattern. In contrast, in the macroscopic world with its larger particles, there is much greater disorder when particles connect......»»