Learning from viruses: Molecular fibers can help to introduce genetic material into cells
Pathogenic viruses that enter the human body can dock onto cells with their tentacle-like extensions, whereupon the cell takes up the viruses. This process, which is already known and occurs in diseases such as HIV, can also be used for therapeutic a.....»»
Genes of ancient animal relatives used to grow a mouse: Study reveals hidden history of stem cells
An international team of researchers has achieved an unprecedented milestone: the creation of mouse stem cells capable of generating a fully developed mouse using genetic tools from a unicellular organism, with which we share a common ancestor that p.....»»
Can AI improve plant-based meats? Using mechanical testing and machine learning to mimic the sensory experience
Cutting back on animal protein in our diets can save on resources and greenhouse gas emissions. But convincing meat-loving consumers to switch up their menu is a challenge. Looking at this problem from a mechanical engineering angle, Stanford enginee.....»»
The new ecolinguistics: A vision for the future of language learning
An article published in Frontiers of Digital Education advocates for a transformative approach to language learning by introducing a new ecolinguistics framework that emphasizes the dynamic interplay between language, technology, and embodied engagem.....»»
Study uncovers role of tissue viscoelasticity in cell response
To the casual eye, a memory foam mattress would appear to have no relationship to the behavior of cells and tissues. But an innovative study carried out at the Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) in Madrid shows that viscoelasticity—t.....»»
Evo—an AI-based model for deciphering and designing genetic sequences
Computer scientists, bioengineers and AI specialists from the Arc Institute and Stanford University have developed an AI-based model capable of decoding and designing genetic sequences. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group descr.....»»
Age on the molecular level: Research analyzes quantitative changes in a wide range of proteins
With the worldwide population aging at an unprecedented rate, the prevention of age-related diseases has become a prominent issue. It is important to comprehensively and quantitatively evaluate the changes that aging causes at the molecular level in.....»»
Curly-Tailed Cats Communicate with an ‘Accent’
A genetic mutation makes some cats’ tail curl over their back, giving them something akin to an accent when they communicate with other kitties.....»»
Column: A deep dive into how AI is changing the auto industry
We've all learned a lot about generative artificial intelligence, its predecessors and machine learning in the last year and a half. It continues to pervade the automotive industry......»»
K-12 Maker Lab at MIT Helps Get Maker Projects in Your Classroom
“How is this making to learn and not just making stuff?” Maker projects can engage students and improve learning experiences in K-12 academic classes. Integrating open-ended, hands-on, creative activities with cool tools in an academic classroom.....»»
New route to quantum spin liquid materials discovered
A new route to materials with complex disordered magnetic properties at the quantum level has been produced by scientists for the first time. The material, based on a framework of ruthenium, fulfills the requirements of the Kitaev quantum spin liquid.....»»
ChatGPT’s success could have come sooner, says former Google AI researcher
A co-author of Attention Is All You Need reflects on ChatGPT's surprise and Google's conservatism. In 2017, eight machine-learning researchers at Google released a groundbreaking.....»»
Deep learning streamlines identification of 2D materials
Researchers have developed a deep learning-based approach that significantly streamlines the accurate identification and classification of two-dimensional (2D) materials through Raman spectroscopy. In comparison, traditional Raman analysis methods ar.....»»
Using genetic code expansion to study membrane proteins
Over the years, chemical biology methods have made an important contribution to the study of integral membrane proteins. A key modern approach is genetic code expansion (GCE), which makes it possible to modify proteins directly in living cells to giv.....»»
Q&A: Holobiont biology, a new concept for exploring how microbiome shapes evolution of visible life
Microorganisms—bacteria, viruses and other tiny life forms—may drive biological variation in visible life as much, if not more, than genetic mutations, creating new lineages and even new species of animals and plants, according to Seth Bordenstei.....»»
Experiments show backyard birds learn from their new neighbors when moving house
Scientists have found a trigger for social learning in wild animals. An experiment on great tits has pinpointed a single factor—immigration—that can cause birds to pay close attention to others, leading them to rapidly adopt useful behaviors......»»
Theoretical model explains the anomalous properties of water in extreme conditions
Water, a molecule essential for life, has unusual properties—known as anomalies—that define its behavior. However, there are still many enigmas about the molecular mechanisms that would explain the anomalies that make the water molecule unique. D.....»»
Bone Marrow Donors Can Be Hard to Find. One Company Is Turning to Cadavers
San Francisco–based Ossium Health has carried out three transplants for cancer patients using stem cells from deceased donors’ bone marrow in recent months......»»
Researchers Give Animal Cells the Ability to Photosynthesize for the First Time
A Japanese team has developed a technique to insert chloroplasts isolated from algae into animal cells, a feat that could revolutionize sustainable energy and how artificial meat and organs are created......»»
Squishy microgels in granular biomaterials confine and direct cell behavior
A simple biomaterial-based strategy that can influence the behavior of cells could pave the way for more effective medical treatments such as wound healing, cancer therapy and even organ regeneration, according to a research team at Penn State......»»
Simple model system can break down fibrils to investigate drugs for neurodegenerative diseases
The origin of many diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's can be found at the molecular level in our body, in other words, in proteins. In a healthy system, these proteins are responsible for numerous physiological functions......»»