Sponges, not just their microbes, make biologically potent compounds
Soft and immobile, sea sponges may appear inert, but these simple animals are rich with chemistry. From them, scientists have uncovered plenty of biologically active compounds, some of which have gone on to become medications. All of these small mole.....»»
Scientists investigate fast reaction dynamics in synthetic molecules immobilized in porous protein cages
Immobilizing small synthetic molecules inside protein crystals proves to be a promising avenue for studying intermediate compounds formed during chemical reactions, report scientists from Tokyo Tech. By integrating this method with time-resolved seri.....»»
Engineers find a way to protect microbes from extreme conditions
Microbes that are used for health, agricultural, or other applications need to be able to withstand extreme conditions, and ideally the manufacturing processes used to make tablets for long-term storage. MIT researchers have now developed a new way t.....»»
Strawberries under the high-tech magnifying glass
Sweet flavors and healthy ingredients make strawberries one of the world's most popular berries. The complex biochemical compounds that determine the flavor and nutritional value of a strawberry—known as biomarkers—can only be determined in detai.....»»
The influence of peptoid sequence on the mechanisms and kinetics of 2D assembly
Two-dimensional (2D) materials have unique physical and chemical properties and potential for a wide variety of applications. Peptoids, a type of molecule, compose a class of sequence-defined polymers that mimic biological compounds and can self-asse.....»»
Aging Might Not Be Inevitable
There are biological underpinnings to aging—and so researchers are investigating cell manipulations, transfusions of young blood, and chemical compounds that can mimic low-calorie diets......»»
3 million iOS and macOS apps were exposed to potent supply-chain attacks
Apps that used code libraries hosted on CocoaPods were vulnerable for about 10 years. Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson) Vulnerabilities that went undetected for a decade left thousands of macOS and iOS apps susceptible to.....»»
Nitrogen-using bacteria can cut farms’ greenhouse gas emissions
Nitrogen fertilizers get converted to nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Enlarge (credit: Timothy Hearsum) Fritz Haber: good guy or bad guy? He won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1918 for his part in developing the.....»»
Q&A: How to make sustainable products faster with artificial intelligence and automation
By modifying the genomes of plants and microorganisms, synthetic biologists can design biological systems that meet a specification, such as producing valuable chemical compounds, making bacteria sensitive to light, or programming bacterial cells to.....»»
Novel virus identified in zebrafish from the pet trade causes disease in laboratory fish
Zebrafish in the pet trade are asymptomatic carriers of previously undescribed microbes, including a novel virus that causes hemorrhaging in infected laboratory fish, Marlen Rice from the University of Utah, US, and colleagues report in the open-acce.....»»
Novel design approach achieves nonlinear photochromism using easy-to-synthesize rhodamine spirolactam derivatives
Photochromic compounds, which change their color when exposed to light, have been widely used as photo switches to control different properties of materials. Nonlinear photochromic compounds, characterized by a nonlinear response to the intensity of.....»»
Hyundai and others see hydrogen coupled with autonomy on trucking horizon
Hydrogen power and robot drivers might be a potent long-distance tandem that fuels the future of trucking. One such prototype was shown off by Hyundai and Plus at ACT Expo last week......»»
New findings on fertility: Sperm can adapt to sexually transmitted microbes
Researchers from Dresden University of Technology (TUD) and the University of Sheffield have discovered that male fertility can adapt to microbes. These findings shed new light on the importance of sperm ecology and might have significant implication.....»»
Unlocking complex sulfur molecules: A novel approach for synthesis of functionalized benzenethiol equivalents
Organosulfur compounds, organic compounds containing sulfur, are vital in biological processes and research fields like pharmaceuticals, biomedical imaging, agriculture, and electronics. Compounds like phenothiazine, thianthrene and thienothiophene,.....»»
Sony’s new Android phone just leaked, and it sounds mighty interesting
The Sony Xperia Pro C is set to be a potent flagship phone with some interesting camera capabilities. Here's some of what you can expect......»»
A merger of microbes: Study shows low-nutrient conditions alter viral infection
This much we know: When viruses infect bacteria—a common occurrence in oceans, soils, even human guts—the interaction results in the creation of entirely new organisms called "virocells." But scientists are still learning about how this merger of.....»»
BLM ends future coal mining on Powder River Basin federal lands
The move compounds pressure on coal communities to diversify their economies. Enlarge / A 133-car coal train moves slowly as it's loaded at the Buckskin Coal Mine in 2006 in Gillette, Wyoming. (credit: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty.....»»
Method for producing sulfur compounds in cells shows promise for tissue repair
Sulfur-based compounds produced in our bodies help fight inflammation and create new blood vessels, among other responsibilities, but the compounds are delicate and break down easily, making them difficult to study......»»
Study shows regenerating worms have genetic control over their algal partners
Many organisms are far more complex than just a single species. Humans, for example, are full of a variety of microbes. Some creatures have even more special connections, though......»»
Researchers discover new family of bacteria with high pharmaceutical potential
Most antibiotics used in human medicine originate from natural products derived from bacteria and other microbes. Novel microorganisms are therefore a promising source of new active compounds, also for the treatment of diseases such as cancer or vira.....»»
Temperature, time and blueberry wine: Researchers examine fermentation"s effects on health-promoting compounds
Nutrient-rich blueberries—a common breakfast smoothie ingredient—can also create wine. But does the heat and time required to ferment this mighty berry strip out any of those potential health-promoting compounds? Researchers in ACS Food Science &.....»»