Cells use concentration gradients as a compass
Biophysicists at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munch have developed a new theory, which accounts for the observation that cells can perceive their own shapes, and use this information to direct the distribution of proteins inside the cell......»»
The keys to plant aging are hidden in the leaves
Scientists have known about a particular organelle in plant cells for over a century. However, UC Riverside scientists have only now discovered that organelle's key role in aging......»»
Researchers optimize 3D printing of optically active nanostructures
For about 20 years, it has been possible to modify surfaces via nanoparticles so that they concentrate or manipulate light in a desired way or trigger other reactions. Such optically active nanostructures can be found in solar cells and biological or.....»»
Machine learning reveals sources of heterogeneity among cells in our bodies
A team of South Korean scientists led by Professor Kim Jae Kyoung of the Biomedical Mathematics Group within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS-BIMAG) discovered the secrets of cell variability in our bodies. The findings of this research are expec.....»»
Stem cell study throws our understanding of gene regulation for a loop
The blueprint for human life lies within the DNA in the nucleus of each of our cells. In human cells, around six and a half feet of this genetic material must be condensed to fit inside the nucleus. DNA condensation is not random. To function properl.....»»
Study reveals a reaction at the heart of many renewable energy technologies
A key chemical reaction—in which the movement of protons between the surface of an electrode and an electrolyte drives an electric current—is a critical step in many energy technologies, including fuel cells and the electrolyzers used to produce.....»»
During Pregnancy, the Placenta Hacks the Immune System to Protect the Fetus
Cells in the placenta have an unusual trick for activating gentle immune defenses and keeping them turned on when no infection is present. It involves crafting and deploying a fake virus......»»
Unpicking the Mystery of the Body’s ‘Second Brain’
Sitting alongside the neurons in your enteric nervous system are underappreciated glial cells, which play key roles in digestion and disease that scientists are only just starting to understand......»»
Unraveling the role of supersulfides in regulating mitochondrial function and longevity
Supersulfides are gaining prominence for their occurrence as low-molecular-weight thiols or persulfidated cysteine residues, observed more frequently in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. These compounds, which are characterized by sulfur–sulfu.....»»
Cancer-related mutations appear in stem cell derivatives used in regenerative medicine, shows study
Human pluripotent stem cells are cells that have two very important traits—a seemingly endless proliferative capability and the amazing ability to give rise to any cell in our body. These characteristics make these cells a great tool for research o.....»»
How living materials from algae can best capture carbon
Scientists from TU Delft have found how confined microalgal cells grow optimally in photosynthetic engineered living materials. With the use of light energy, the microalgae convert CO2 from the air into sugars, energy and oxygen for their survival. S.....»»
Study disproves assumption about perovskite solar cells, showing that shallow defects dominate in terms of efficiency
Free charge carriers in perovskite solar cells likely have a special form of protection from recombination, researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich have discovered by means of innovative photoluminescence measurements......»»
Notorious cell subpopulation key to antibiotic failure, say scientists
Antibiotic overuse can lead to antibiotic resistance, but classic antibiotic resistance might not completely explain why antibiotics sometimes fail. Sub-populations of bacteria called persister cells can survive in the presence of lethal doses of ant.....»»
Noninvasive technique reveals how cells" gene expression changes over time
Sequencing all of the RNA in a cell can reveal a great deal of information about that cell's function and what it is doing at a given point in time. However, the sequencing process destroys the cell, making it difficult to study ongoing changes in ge.....»»
How black silicon, a prized material used in solar cells, gets its dark, rough edge
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have developed a new theoretical model explaining one way to make black silicon, an important material used in solar cells, light sensors, antibacterial surface.....»»
Process for the optical analysis of trace gases optimized
Laser-based absorption spectroscopy is an important method for determining the concentration of gas components in a sample. Modern devices are highly specialized for detecting very specific gases, such as trace gases in the atmosphere, in combustion.....»»
Elucidating the process of bile duct formation in the liver
Bile ducts are pathways that carry hepatocyte-produced bile from the liver to the small intestine. In the human fetal liver, bile ducts are formed from bile duct epithelial cells surrounding the portal vein, and hepatocytes form on the outside. Both.....»»
Scientists examine how friction forces propel development in a marine organism
As the potter works the spinning wheel, the friction between their hands and the soft clay helps them shape it into all kinds of forms and creations. In a fascinating parallel, sea squirt oocytes (immature egg cells) harness friction within various c.....»»
Unlocking Earth"s ammonia mysteries: China"s HIRAS/FY-3D satellite reveals first global map
Atmospheric ammonia (NH3) is a trace gas that causes environmental problems and harms human health. Chinese scientists have established a full-physical retrieval algorithm to derive the concentration of the atmospheric ammonia from the Hyperspectral.....»»
A novel strategy for extracting mycelial fibers for mushroom-based materials
Mycelial fibers, the fibrous cells found in fruiting mushroom bodies, have gained momentum as a sustainable material for making leather and packaging owing to their excellent formability. Recently, a team of researchers from Shinshu University, Japan.....»»
Researchers engineer in vivo delivery system for prime editing, partially restoring vision in mice
Prime editing, a versatile form of gene editing that can correct most known disease-causing genetic mutations, now has a new vehicle to deliver its machinery into cells in living animals......»»