Optimality in self-organized molecular sorting
The eukaryotic cell is the basic unit of animals and plants. Through the microscope, it looks highly structured and subdivided in many membrane-bound compartments. Each compartment has a specific function, and its membrane is populated by specific mo.....»»
Sugars affect brain "plasticity," helping with learning, memory, recovery
Can you recognize someone you haven't seen in years, but forget what you had for breakfast yesterday? Our brains constantly rearrange their circuitry to remember familiar faces or learn new skills, but the molecular basis of this process isn't well u.....»»
Decoding how molecules "talk" to each other to develop new nanotechnologies
Two molecular languages at the origin of life have been successfully recreated and mathematically validated, thanks to pioneering work by Canadian scientists at Université de Montréal......»»
Uncovering the local atomic structure of zeolite using optimum bright-field scanning transmission electron microscopy
Zeolites have unique porous atomic structures and are useful as catalysts, ion exchangers and molecular sieves. It is difficult to directly observe the local atomic structures of the material via electron microscopy due to low electron irradiation re.....»»
Study identifies characteristics specific to human brains
Researchers led by a team at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified cellular and molecular features of the brain that set modern humans apart from their closest primate relatives and ancient human ancestors. The findings, published in Nature,.....»»
Bringing ultrafast physics to structural biology reveals the dance of molecular "coherence" in unprecedented clarity
How molecules change when they react to stimuli such as light is fundamental in biology, for example during photosynthesis. Scientists have been working to unravel the workings of these changes in several fields, and by combining two of these, resear.....»»
Experiments identify important new role of chemical compounds in plant development
Researchers who manipulate lignin, a molecular fiber that allows plants to grow tall and transport water, unexpectedly discovered its synthesis has more far-reaching effects on plant development than previously suspected......»»
Discovering nanomachines within living organisms: Cytochromes P450 unleashed as living soft robots
A new study reveals an important discovery in the realm of nanomachines within living systems. Prof. Sason Shaik from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Dr. Kshatresh Dutta Dubey from Shiv Nadar University, conducted molecular-dynamics simulation.....»»
Chemists need to consider the effects of chemistry beyond the lab to combat environmental crises, say researchers
In a comment in Nature Reviews Chemistry, Ph.D. student Hannah Flerlage and associate professor Chris Slootweg of the University of Amsterdam's Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences argue that modern day chemists need to broaden their horizons.....»»
Dealmaster: Back-to-school savings on tech, supplies, dorm essentials, and more
Back-to-school deals on physical and digital storage to keep your life organized. Enlarge Whether you need storage boxes for your office or dorm room, or you want digital storage to archive files and photos, today's Dea.....»»
Biological origami at molecular level: Cytosolic interactome protects against protein unfolding
Human cells are protecting their proteins from unfolding and aggregating. That's what biophysicist Alireza Mashaghi and his team discovered after seven years of in-depth research into the folding mechanisms of proteins. With an unprecedented approach.....»»
Scientists conduct molecular analyses of ticks from southern China
Tick-borne pathogens have become emerging global health threats in humans and animals. The objective of a new study published in Zoonoses was to investigate Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Babesia, and Borrelia in ticks in southern China......»»
Researchers use quantum computer to identify molecular candidate for development of more efficient solar cells
Using the full capabilities of the Quantinuum H1-1 quantum computer, researchers from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory not only demonstrated best practices for scientific computing on current quantum systems but also produced.....»»
Unveiling the 3D structure and molecular mechanism of platelet drug transporter ABCC4
A research team led by Prof. Chen Yuxing and Prof. Zhou Cong from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) recently utilized single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to decipher.....»»
New "protein nano-switch" method promises rapid and reliable development of diagnostic tests
QUT researchers have developed a new approach for designing molecular ON-OFF switches based on proteins which can be used in a multitude of biotechnological, biomedical and bioengineering applications......»»
New DNA identification approach could improve monitoring for chronic diseases
Investigators led by Shana Kelley, Ph.D., the Neena B. Schwartz Professor of Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, and of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, have developed a novel approach for identifying sequences of artificial DNA with differing lev.....»»
How molecular entanglements determine the structure of polymers
The structure of semicrystalline polymers largely depends on how strongly their molecular chains are entangled. This has been shown in a new study by researchers from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), which was published in the journal.....»»
Predicting molecular rotational temperature for enhanced plasma recombination
Humans may never be able to tame the sun, but hydrogen plasma—making up most of the sun's interior—can be confined in a magnetic field as part of fusion power generation: with a caveat......»»
Fungi that break down hardwood trees can do the same with plastic, study shows
A team of plant and molecular biologists from the University of Kelaniya and the University of Peradeniya, both in Sri Lanka, reports that many types of fungi that break down hardwood trees can also break down polyethylene, a common kind of plastic......»»
Bio-reactivity of refractory humic-like dissolved organic matter found to increase in energy-limiting deep-sea sediments
Humic-like dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a major component of DOM in marine sediment pore waters. It is usually regarded as refractory for their complex molecular structures and long residence time in natural environments. However, its bio-reacti.....»»
High-resolution scattering imaging reveals vibrational-state-specific mechanisms in paradigmatic ion-molecule reaction
Charged atomic and molecular species are ubiquitous in environments such as planetary atmospheres, interstellar medium and plasma. The collisions between charged ions and neutral molecules play vital roles in determining the chemical evolution and en.....»»