New synthetic molecule can kill the flu virus
EPFL scientists have developed a synthetic molecule capable of killing the virus that causes influenza. They hope their discovery will lead to an effective drug treatment......»»
Locked in a glacier: Virus adaptations to extreme weather provide climate change insights
Ancient viruses preserved in glacial ice hold valuable information about changes in Earth's climate, a new study suggests......»»
New genetic sensor for DNA methylation discovered
DNA methylation is a process in which a methyl group is attached to the cytosine base of the DNA molecule, and is a major way that DNA is epigenetically marked. Epigenetic modifications can act as on–off switches to regulate gene expression and hel.....»»
S.Africa plan to "bomb" mice that eat albatrosses alive
Conservationists said Saturday that they plan to bomb a remote South African island with tons of pesticide-laced pellets to kill mice that are eating albatrosses and other seabirds alive......»»
The promise of synthetic cells
For over a decade, scientists have made extraordinary progress on the long-held dream of fabricating an entire cell from nonliving molecules and materials......»»
Researchers identify effective materials for protecting astronauts from harmful cosmic radiation on Mars
Researchers have identified specific materials, including certain plastics, rubber, and synthetic fibers, as well as Martian soil (regolith), which would effectively protect astronauts by blocking harmful space radiation on Mars. These findings could.....»»
Breaking down the indestructible: New technologies target PFAS environmental menace
PFAS are synthetic chemicals widely used in products such as non-stick cookware and waterproof clothing due to their water and grease-resistant properties. However, their persistence in the environment has led to widespread contamination and signific.....»»
Ultra-sensitive photothermal microscopy technique detects single nanoparticles as small as 5 nm
The detection of individual particles and molecules has opened new horizons in analytical chemistry, cellular imaging, nanomaterials, and biomedical diagnostics. Traditional single-molecule detection methods rely heavily on fluorescence techniques, w.....»»
Scientists discover novel receptor recognition mechanism for alphavirus
Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV), an alphavirus, can cause central nervous system infections that can lead to severe encephalitis with a mortality rate of over 30%......»»
Researchers synthesize molecular aggregates for solar energy applications
No molecule stands alone—they need others, at least when it comes to being able to display useful photophysical, electronic, and chemical properties. When individual molecules combine into an aggregate, or a complex of two or more molecules, they b.....»»
New approach for profiling complex dynamics at the single-molecule level
A team of researchers led by Professor Sebastian Deindl at Uppsala University has developed a pioneering method that vastly improves the ability to observe and analyze complex biological processes at the single-molecule level. Their work is published.....»»
Stranded student helps design synthetic polymers to combat fungal infections
Every year, more than 2 million people are affected by invasive fungal infections, which are often caused by Candida species and are associated with high mortality rates. The development of new therapies is progressing very slowly. Demand is increasi.....»»
Engineers design lookalike drug nanocarrier to evade lung"s lines of defense
A drug-carrying molecule designed to cure disease by slipping past the lung's natural defenses offers new hope for people with chronic or deadly respiratory diseases, say its creators, researchers in assistant professor Liheng Cai's Soft Biomatter La.....»»
Physicists observe key minuscule molecular interactions in ultra-fast atomic processes
An international team of scientists is the first to report incredibly small time delays in a molecule's electron activity when the particles are exposed to X-rays......»»
Ancient microbes linked to evolution of human immune proteins
When you become infected with a virus, some of the first weapons your body deploys to fight it are those passed down to us from our microbial ancestors billions of years ago. According to new research from The University of Texas at Austin, two key e.....»»
Honey bees may play key role in spreading viruses to wild bumble bees
Honey bees may play a role in increasing virus levels in wild bumble bees each spring, according to researchers at Penn State who analyzed seasonal trends of parasite and virus transmission in bees......»»
Physicists develop new model that describes how filaments assemble into active foams
Many fundamental processes of life, and their synthetic counterparts in nanotechnology, are based on the autonomous assembly of individual particles into complex patterns. LMU physicist Professor Erwin Frey, Chair of Statistical and Biological Physic.....»»
Twisted molecular wires exhibit high single-molecule conductance
From the high-voltage wires that carry electricity over long distances, to the tungsten filaments in our incandescent lights, we may have become accustomed to thinking that electrical conductors are always made of metal. But for decades, scientists h.....»»
AI accelerates discovery of next-gen polymers
Nylon, Teflon, Kevlar. These are just a few familiar polymers—large-molecule chemical compounds—that have changed the world. From Teflon-coated frying pans to 3D printing, polymers are vital to creating the systems that make the world function be.....»»
Astronomers discover spectacular increase in the deuterium to hydrogen ratio in Venus"s atmosphere
Thanks to observations by the Solar Occultation in the Infrared (SOIR) instrument on the Venus Express space probe of the European Space Agency (ESA), researchers have discovered an unexpected increase in the abundances of two water molecule variants.....»»
Climate Change’s Latest Deadly Threat: Lightning Strikes
In rural India, stormy weather, a lack of knowledge, and scant protections are combining to kill thousands every year, with climate change likely to raise the threat as lightning becomes more common......»»