Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Gut bacteria of malnourished children benefit from key elements in therapeutic food      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research has identified key, naturally occurring biochemical components of a novel therapeutic food that is aimed at repairing malnourished children's underdeveloped gut microbiomes. The study also has identified the important bacterial strains that process these biochemical components. The findings may help guide treatment with a current food formulation and enable creation of new, more effective formulations in the future.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Physics: Optics
Published

Researchers create stable hybrid laser by 3D printing micro-optics onto fibers      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

For the first time, researchers have shown that 3D-printed polymer-based micro-optics can withstand the heat and power levels that occur inside a laser. The advance enables inexpensive compact and stable laser sources that would be useful in a variety of applications, including the lidar systems used for autonomous vehicles.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Nanoprobe with a barcode      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Protein-splitting enzymes play an important role in many physiological processes. Such proteases are generally present in an inactive state, only becoming activated under certain conditions. Some are linked to diseases like infections or cancer, making it important to have methods that can selectively detect active proteases. Scientists have introduced a new class of protease-activity sensors: gold nanoparticles equipped with peptide DNA.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry
Published

Towards next-generation nanocatalysts to revolutionize active electron transfer      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Over the years, scientists have proposed many novel molecular systems for photoinduced electron transfer. Researchers have now developed a copolymer-conjugated nanocatalytic system that can drive efficient photoinduced electron transfer. They employed a temperature-responsive ternary random copolymer and coupled it to platinum nanoparticles. By enabling dynamic electron transfer and driving photoinduced hydrogen generation, this innovation can have far-reaching implications for artificial photosynthesis, electrochemical reactions, macromolecular recognition, and bio-inspired soft materials.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Microbiology
Published

Infection with stomach bacteria may increase risk of Alzheimer's disease      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Infection with the stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori could increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease: In people over the age of 50, the risk following a symptomatic infection can be an average of 11 percent higher, and even more about ten years after the infection, at 24 percent greater risk.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Physics: General
Published

Ultra-hard material to rival diamond discovered      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have solved a decades-long puzzle and unveiled a near unbreakable substance that could rival diamond, as the hardest material on earth, a study says. Researchers found that when carbon and nitrogen precursors were subjected to extreme heat and pressure, the resulting materials -- known as carbon nitrides -- were tougher than cubic boron nitride, the second hardest material after diamond.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Mice possess natural gene therapy system      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A previously mysterious small RNA molecule in mice is found to play a crucial role in gene expression, and may be the first identified member of a new class of regulatory RNAs.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

A rare enzyme role change with bacterial defense system assembly      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have revealed a never-before-seen phenomenon in a protein: Alone, the enzyme processes DNA and RNA but, when bound to another protein as part of a defense system, interacts with a completely different type of compound to help bacteria commit suicide.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology
Published

Fat flies live longer on a diet at any age      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Putting even elderly, obese flies on a restricted calorie diet extends their lifespan markedly, suggesting obese humans might get similar benefits from cutting calories, even at advanced age.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Spinning up control: Propeller shape helps direct nanoparticles      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Self-propelled nanoparticles could potentially advance drug delivery and lab-on-a-chip systems -- but they are prone to go rogue with random, directionless movements. Now, an international team of researchers has developed an approach to rein in the synthetic particles.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

A new mechanism by which rotavirus makes you sick      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists report a new mechanism by which rotavirus induces diarrhea by interfering with the normal absorption of nutrients in the intestine.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Scientists 3D print self-heating microfluidic devices      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A fabrication process can produce self-heating microfluidic devices in one step using a multimaterial 3D printer. These devices, which can be made rapidly and cheaply in large numbers, could help clinicians in remote parts of the world detect diseases without expensive lab equipment.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Eco-friendly technologies for plastic production and biodegradation?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new article covering an overview and trends of plastic production and degradation technology using microorganisms has been published. Eco-friendly and sustainable plastic production and degradation technology using microorganisms as a core technology to achieve a plastic circular economy was presented.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry
Published

New conductive, cotton-based fiber developed for smart textiles      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A single strand of newly developed fiber has the flexibility of cotton and the electric conductivity of the polymer, polyaniline. The new material has shown good potential for wearable e-textiles. The researchers tested the fibers with a system that powered an LED light and another that sensed ammonia gas. While intrinsically conductive, polyaniline is brittle and by itself, cannot be made into a fiber for textiles. To solve this, the researchers dissolved cotton cellulose from recycled t-shirts into a solution and the conductive polymer into another separate solution.

Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Ecology: Trees
Published

Nature and animal emojis don't accurately represent natural biodiversity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The current emoji library doesn't accurately represent the 'tree of life' and the breadth of biodiversity seen in nature according to a new analysis. A team of conservation biologists categorized emojis related to nature and animals and mapped them onto the phylogenetic tree of life. They found that animals are well represented by the current emoji catalog, whereas plants, fungi, and microorganisms are poorly represented. Within the animal kingdom, vertebrates were over-represented while arthropods were underrepresented with respect to their actual biodiversity.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Zika's shape-shifting machinery, and a possible vulnerability      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Viruses have limited genetic material -- and few proteins -- so all the pieces must work extra hard. Zika is a great example; the virus only produces 10 proteins. Now researchers have shown how the virus does so much with so little and may have identified a therapeutic vulnerability.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Polyethylene waste could be a thing of the past      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Experts have developed a way of using polyethylene waste (PE) as a feedstock and converted it into valuable chemicals, via light-driven photocatalysis. PE is the most widely used plastic in the world including for daily food packaging, shopping bags and reagent bottles, and the researchers say that while recycling of PE is still in early development, it could be an untapped resource for re-use.