Must mRNA be cloaked in a lipid coat to serve as a vaccine?
The Uchida Laboratory of Innovation Center of NanoMedicine has demonstrated that intradermal administration of mRNA alone (naked mRNA) without protection by nanoparticles induced robust vaccination against SARS CoV-2, a virus causing COVID-19, in mic.....»»
Unlocking the brain: Peptide-guided nanoparticles deliver mRNA to neurons
Penn Engineers have modified lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)—the revolutionary technology behind the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines—to not only cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) but also to target specific types of cells, including neurons. This breakthroug.....»»
ALMA observations investigate disk and jet of a massive protostar
Astronomers from Italy and Spain have used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to observe a massive protostar designated IRAS 20126+4104. The observational campaign, detailed in a paper published Dec. 9 on the arXiv preprint serve.....»»
Newly discovered degradation process for mRNA could lead to clinical treatments
Researchers at the University of Würzburg have discovered a process that breaks down mRNA molecules in the human body particularly efficiently. This could be useful, for example, in the treatment of cancer. The study is published in Molecular Cell......»»
iOS 18.2’s new Mail app is nice, but I disabled one of its main features
With iOS 18.2, Apple introduced an all new Mail app. It introduced mail categorization, a fresh coat of paint, contact photos/business logos for conversations, a new system for grouping emails, and more. All of that sounded nice when it was unveiled.....»»
Eyes on the sun: Naked thallium-205 ion decay reveals history over millions of years
The sun, the essential engine that sustains life on Earth, generates its tremendous energy through the process of nuclear fusion. At the same time, it releases a continuous stream of neutrinos—particles that serve as messengers of its internal dyna.....»»
Update your OpenWrt router! Security issue made supply chain attack possible
A security issue that could have allowed attackers to serve malicious firmware images to users has been fixed by OpenWrt Project, the organization that helms the development of the popular Linux distribution for embedded devices. About OpenWrt OpenWr.....»»
Geneticists have finally solved the mystery of Garfield"s orange coat
Garfield, star of the eponymous comic strip created by Jim Davis in 1978, is, like many of the cats that roam our homes, orange. He is orange in the same way that some people are redheaded, some horses are brown, or some dogs are Irish setters, but t.....»»
iOS 18.2 RC now available to developers and public beta users
Apple has released the iOS 18.2 RC to developer and public beta testers today, two weeks after the release of the fourth beta. Today’s iOS 18.2 RC update will likely serve as the final beta before the update is released to the general public next w.....»»
Scientists reveal structural link for initiation of protein synthesis in bacteria
Within a cell, DNA carries the genetic code for building proteins. To build proteins, the cell makes a copy of DNA, called mRNA. Then, another molecule called a ribosome reads the mRNA, translating it into protein. But this step has been a visual mys.....»»
Study reveals mixed legacy of the 2012 London Olympics on promised urban regeneration
The 2012 London Olympics Games serve as a cautionary tale for local communities in host cities—a new study warns. The study by the University of Portsmouth analyzed 20 years of data, from 2001 to 2022. It looked at the long-term legacy of the 2012.....»»
The new Mail app in iOS 18.2 is nice, but I disabled one of its main features
With iOS 18.2, Apple introduced an all new Mail app. It introduced mail categorization, a fresh coat of paint, contact photos/business logos for conversations, a new system for grouping emails, and more. All of that sounded nice when it was unveiled.....»»
Exploring life at its simplest: Scientists create a "minimal cell membrane" with just two lipids
Lipids, or fats, are essential to life. They form the membranes around cells, protecting them from the outside. In nature, there is an enormous diversity of lipids, with each organism having its own unique combination. But what are the minimum lipid.....»»
Engineers refine lipid nanoparticles for better mRNA therapies
Penn Engineers have cooked up a new way to improve mRNA delivery, developing an optimal "recipe" for ionizable lipids—key ingredients in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the molecules behind the COVID-19 vaccines and other innovative therapies. The meth.....»»
Novel nano-vaccine administered as nasal spray found to be effective against all major COVID-19 variants
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed an effective, inexpensive, and simple COVID-19 vaccine that can be stored at room temperature and administered as a nasal spray.....»»
New structure gives insight into mRNA export and cancers, and how viruses hijack the process to infect their host
The central dogma of biology defines the flow of genetic information: It describes how proteins are made from mRNA templates, which are in turn made from DNA. Exporting the mRNA from inside the nucleus to the site of protein translation in the cytopl.....»»
River microbes near wastewater treatment plants express high levels of antibiotic resistance genes, study shows
Rivers and streams serve as critical connectors across vast geographical landscapes, trickling out of tucked-away headwaters and snaking thousands of miles toward oceans and deep seas. These waterways directly impact human and environmental health, a.....»»
Safeguarding the DNS through registries
The integrity of our online ecosystem heavily relies on domain registries, which serve as the foundation for secure and trusted digital experiences. However, threats like Domain Name System (DNS) abuse– manifesting as phishing, malware, and botnets.....»»
RFK, Jr., Is a Bad Prescription for U.S. Public Health
Prominent vaccine skeptic RFK, Jr., is a proven menace to public health. But with a bird flu outbreak looming, he is poised to take a perch atop the federal public health enterprise.....»»
Apple’s smart home display already sounds like a convenience victory
Apple's first smart home device will integrate a screen that will serve as a HomeKit and FaceTime hub......»»
Improved lipid-polymer nanoparticle could advance inhalable mRNA medications and vaccines
Most people don't enjoy getting shots for treatments or vaccines. So, researchers are working to create more medicines, such as those made from messenger RNA (mRNA), that can be sprayed and inhaled......»»