Engineers muffle invading pathogens with a "molecular mask"
Vaccines remain the gold standard of protection against dangerous pathogens, but take considerable time and vast resources to develop. Rapidly mutating viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 can blunt their effectiveness and even render them obsolete......»»
Something to sniff at: Lab-engineered receptors illuminate odor detection
A team of researchers led by Duke University, the University of California San Francisco, and the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope have engineered odorant receptors to reveal the molecular basis of odor discrimination......»»
Biochemists create protocells to explore how lipids may have led to first cell membranes
A team of biochemists at the University of California, San Diego, working with a group of biochemical engineers from the University of California, Los Angeles, has found that the development of short lipids might have led to the development of the fi.....»»
New digital light manufacturing approach resolves common problems associated with 3D printing
A team of materials scientists, medical researchers and engineers affiliated with a large number of institutions across Australia has developed a new way to conduct digital light manufacturing that overcomes problems with current methods. In their pa.....»»
Specific mask mandates go into effect in 6 Bay Area counties
Specific mask mandates go into effect in 6 Bay Area counties.....»»
Chiral molecular self-assemblies that absorb light boost singlet fission process, research demonstrates
In organic molecules, an exciton is a particle bound pair of an electron (negative charge) and its hole (positive charge). They are held together by Coulombic attraction and can move within molecular assemblies. Singlet fission (SF) is a process wher.....»»
Imaging advance creates clearer picture of organic solar cells" molecular structure
Research on organic solar cells has been conducted for a long time. Recent advancements in understanding their molecular structures are now paving the way for the development of highly efficient solar cells......»»
Experiments demonstrate precise delivery of nanoparticles to lung via caveolae pumping system
In recent years, bio-medical engineers have been developing promising techniques that could help diagnose diseases or precisely target specific regions inside the human body. Among these promising therapeutic strategies are methods that rely on the u.....»»
Astrophysics study explores turbulence in molecular clouds
On an airplane, motions of the air on both small and large scales contribute to turbulence, which may result in a bumpy flight. Turbulence on a much larger scale is important to how stars form in giant molecular clouds that permeate the Milky Way......»»
We now know the secret to why Roman concrete lasts thousands of years
Ancient Rome was full of master builders and engineers. The fruits of their labors can still be seen in the aqueducts they built—which still function … The post We now know the secret to why Roman concrete lasts thousands of years appeared fi.....»»
Nanofibrils study successfully measures strength of spider web "super fibers"
How small is "small?" Spider silk nanofibrils are just a few molecular layers thick, equivalent to approximately one ten-thousandth the diameter of a human hair. They're invisible to the naked eye and cannot be seen under an ordinary microscope......»»
Scientists describe how mycobacteria evade the effects of antibiotics
One of the main challenges of contemporary medicine is posed by the resistance of pathogens to antibiotics. An important step in countering it has now been made by researchers from IOCB Prague, in collaboration with colleagues from the Institute of M.....»»
Precise layering in catalysts offers an improved way for building sustainable chemicals
Motivated to turn greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into high value chemicals like methanol, EPFL chemical engineers have developed a new method to make catalysts. Catalysts are major tools in the chemical industry and are largely made to make pet.....»»
Antithrombin study proposes new mechanism of action for the plasma protein"s functional role
Antithrombin, a plasma protein, has been reported to control thrombin activity by directly binding to thrombin, as well as to have an anti-inflammatory effect. However, the actual molecular mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of antithrombin wa.....»»
Scientists uncover key mechanism in pathogen defense, paving way for new antimicrobial strategies
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how certain pathogens defend themselves against the host's immune system......»»
Scientists create a molecular switch that can control cell division on demand outside of a living system
A living cell is a bustling metropolis, with countless molecules and proteins navigating crowded spaces in every direction. Cell division is a grand event which completely transforms the landscape. The cell starts behaving like the host of an interna.....»»
Research team achieves first-ever acceleration of positive muons to 100 keV
A team of engineers and physicists affiliated with a host of institutions across Japan, working at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, has demonstrated acceleration of positive muons from thermal energy to 100 keV—the first time muons ha.....»»
COVID lessons learned? UN summit mulls plan for healthy planet, and humans
The COVID-19 and Ebola outbreaks brought into stark relief the harms that can come to humans if we interfere too much with nature, placing ourselves in contact with animals carrying unknown pathogens......»»
Study: DNA corroborates “Well-man” tale from Norse saga
The "Well-man" likely had blue eyes, blond or light-brown hair, and hailed from southern Norway. A 12th-century Norse saga tells of an invading army from the south razing a castl.....»»
Novel light source enables better temporal resolution of UV-induced molecular dynamics
The Attosecond Science group at the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science has developed a novel light source capable of producing extremely short pulses for the investigation of UV-induced molecular dynamics with unprecedented temporal resolution. S.....»»
Molecular study of newly discovered tardigrade species helps explain ability to withstand high doses of radiation
A team of biologists affiliated with several institutions in China has learned more about the means by which tardigrades are able to withstand high doses of radiation. In their study, published in the journal Science, the group focused on a newly fou.....»»