Metabolically engineered bacterium produces lutein
Lutein is classified as a xanthophyll chemical that is abundant in egg yolk, fruits, and vegetables. It protects the eye from oxidative damage from radiation and reduces the risk of eye diseases including macular degeneration and cataracts. Commercia.....»»
Study deciphers intricate 3D structure of DNA aptamer for disease theranostics
In a study published in PNAS, a research team has resolved the first high-resolution structure of the sgc8c DNA aptamer that targets protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7), engineered two optimal sgc8c variants for disease theranostics efficiently, and rev.....»»
The global food system is increasingly monopolized—it"s damaging our health, our communities and the planet
Across the world, over 800 million people spend their days hungry. More than 2 billion have limited access to food. Yet today's global food system produces enough to feed every person on the planet......»»
Microsoft Designer brings AI image generation to iPhone before Apple Intelligence
Microsoft Designer, a generative AI tool that produces images, has left preview and is now available as a free iOS app.Microsoft DesignerPreviously available in preview for close to a year, Microsoft Designer has finally become available to everyone......»»
Modular design: New insights into protein factories in human mitochondria
The "power plants" of living cells, the mitochondria, probably evolved through endosymbiosis: A bacterium migrated into a primordial cell and eventually developed into an organelle that provides the cell with energy, among other things. Mitochondria.....»»
Smart soil can water and feed itself
A newly engineered type of soil can capture water out of thin air to keep plants hydrated and manage controlled release of fertilizer for a constant supply of nutrients......»»
Engineered nanovesicles from activated neutrophils show promise in treating infected wounds
Infectious wounds represent a critical challenge in health care, especially for diabetic patients grappling with ineffective antibiotics and escalating drug resistance. Conventional therapies often inadequately address deep tissue infections, highlig.....»»
SubSnipe: Open-source tool for finding subdomains vulnerable to takeover
SubSnipe is an open-source, multi-threaded tool to help find subdomains vulnerable to takeover. It’s simpler, produces better output, and has more fingerprints than other subdomain takeover tools. “SubSnipe does some additional verificati.....»»
Genetic cloaking of healthy cells opens door to universal blood cancer therapy
Blood stem cells are being engineered to protect them from lethal therapies. Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson) Know your enemy, know yourself. It's a centuries-old strategy. But even in the present-day war against cancer,.....»»
Respiratory bacteria "turn off" immune system to survive, study finds
Researchers from The University of Queensland have identified how a common bacterium is able to manipulate the human immune system during respiratory infections and cause persistent illness. The research was published in PLOS Pathogens......»»
The Mystery of Consciousness Is Deeper Than We Thought
Despite great progress, we lack even the beginning of an explanation of how the brain produces our inner world of colors, sounds, smells and tastes. A thought experiment with “pain-pleasure” zombies illustrates that the mystery is deeper.....»»
Samsung’s abandoned NX cameras can be brought online with a $20 LTE stick
All it took was a reverse-engineered camera firmware and a custom API rewrite. Enlarge / Under-powered Samsung camera, meet over-powered 4G LTE dongle. Now work together to move pictures over the air. (credit: Georg Lukas).....»»
Researchers uncover protein SRSF1"s uncommon ability to bind and unfold RNA G-quadruplexes
RNA transcription is the genomic process in which a cell produces a duplicate of a gene's DNA sequence. In a study published in Nucleic Acids Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Chemistry Professor Jun Zhang, Ph.D., and his te.....»»
Novel method for mass production of recombinant proteins uses mono-sodium glutamate
Mass production of recombinant proteins using yeast cell "factories" needs methanol, a compound that requires safe handling, carries the risk of catching fire, and sometimes produces harmful byproducts. Researchers at the Department of Biochemistry (.....»»
Researchers reveal how acetylation regulates centromere dynamics, chromosome segregation and mitotic progression
Cell division produces new cells, which underpin life proliferation and development. Mitosis is the shortest and the most dynamic phase of the cell cycle. During mitosis, chromosomes are evenly distributed between the two daughter cells, preserving t.....»»
Researchers develop tool for detecting foodborne pathogen that causes severe symptoms in children
The prevalence of pathogenic E. coli has meant the frequent misidentification of a similar bacterium of the Escherichia genus. E. albertii is an emerging zoonotic foodborne pathogen, first isolated in Bangladesh in 1991. Large-scale outbreaks of food.....»»
New discoveries about the nature of light could improve methods for heating fusion plasma
Both literally and figuratively, light pervades the world. It banishes darkness, conveys telecommunications signals between continents and makes visible the invisible, from faraway galaxies to the smallest bacterium. Light can also help heat the plas.....»»
Escaped GMO canola plants persist long-term, but may be losing their engineered resistance to pesticides
Populations of canola plants genetically engineered to be resistant to herbicides can survive outside of farms, but may be gradually losing their engineered genes, reports a new study led by Cynthia Sagers of Arizona State University, US, published M.....»»
New nanostrings can vibrate longer than any previously known solid-state object
Researchers from TU Delft and Brown University have engineered string-like resonators capable of vibrating longer at ambient temperature than any previously known solid-state object—approaching what is currently only achievable near absolute zero t.....»»
Body lice may be bigger plague spreaders than previously thought
A new laboratory study suggests that human body lice are more efficient at transmitting Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague, than previously thought, supporting the possibility that they may have contributed to past pandemics......»»
Black farmers in Brazil changing views on coffee production
Raphael Brandao beams with pride as he describes the high-end Brazilian coffee he produces with beans sourced exclusively from Black farmers in a country where many still associate the product with slavery......»»