Life beneath Antarctic ice.
Pioneering research at the University of Bristol has shown the erosion of ancient sediments found deep beneath Antarctic ice is a vital source of the nutrients and energy needed to sustain for subglacial microbial life. Their lab-based experiments replicated the conditions in Lake Whillans, 800m underneath Antarctica, where crushed sediments could release methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen in substantial concentrations.
Learn about their insight in Communications Earth & Environment: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00202-x?proof=t
#sciencenews #environment
Pioneering research at the University of Bristol has shown the erosion of ancient sediments found deep beneath Antarctic ice is a vital source of the nutrients and energy needed to sustain for subglacial microbial life. Their lab-based experiments replicated the conditions in Lake Whillans, 800m underneath Antarctica, where crushed sediments could release methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen in substantial concentrations.
Learn about their insight in Communications Earth & Environment: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00202-x?proof=t
#sciencenews #environment
Nature
Subglacial erosion has the potential to sustain microbial processes in Subglacial Lake Whillans, Antarctica
Communications Earth & Environment - The crushing and wetting of rocks by erosion under glaciers produces chemical compounds that could fuel microbial activity, as demonstrated by experiments...
The earthworm in a new light.
By combining novel imaging techniques, a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology has imaged the exciting variety of chemical interactions that take place inside the earthworm. Their chemo-histo-tomography method combines chemical imaging of the metabolites using mass spectrometry with micro-computed X-ray tomography of the microanatomy of the animal.
The work has recently been published in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2023773118
#sciencenews #microscopy #biology #microbiology
By combining novel imaging techniques, a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology has imaged the exciting variety of chemical interactions that take place inside the earthworm. Their chemo-histo-tomography method combines chemical imaging of the metabolites using mass spectrometry with micro-computed X-ray tomography of the microanatomy of the animal.
The work has recently been published in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2023773118
#sciencenews #microscopy #biology #microbiology
PNAS
Connecting structure and function from organisms to molecules in small-animal symbioses through chemo-histo-tomography
Metabolites mediate the establishment and persistence of most interkingdom symbioses. Still, to pinpoint the metabolites each partner displays upon interaction remains the biggest challenge in studying multiorganismal assemblages. Addressing this challenge…
Visualizing atomic-scale structures with the optical force.
Researchers from Osaka University have achieved the first ever sub-nanometre resolution in photoinduced atomic force microscopy. They eliminated noise sources to map out the forces acting on quantum dots in 3D with a precision never previously achieved.
Their work has been published in Nature Communications: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24136-2
#sciencenews #microscopy #quantum
Researchers from Osaka University have achieved the first ever sub-nanometre resolution in photoinduced atomic force microscopy. They eliminated noise sources to map out the forces acting on quantum dots in 3D with a precision never previously achieved.
Their work has been published in Nature Communications: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24136-2
#sciencenews #microscopy #quantum
Nature
Optical force mapping at the single-nanometre scale
Nature Communications - Direct visualisation of 3D vector distributions of photoinduced fields can shed light on the optical and mechanical behaviour of different materials. Here, the authors...
A mouse in a Petri dish.
University of Virginia biologists have grown the most sophisticated in-vitro mammal model known from stem cells. The tiny mouse embryo has a heart that beats, and its muscles, blood vessels, gut, and nervous system are beginning to develop. The model will aid understanding of mammalian development to help grow new tissues and organs for transplants.
Their latest results are published in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23653-4
#sciencenews #biology #embriology
University of Virginia biologists have grown the most sophisticated in-vitro mammal model known from stem cells. The tiny mouse embryo has a heart that beats, and its muscles, blood vessels, gut, and nervous system are beginning to develop. The model will aid understanding of mammalian development to help grow new tissues and organs for transplants.
Their latest results are published in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23653-4
#sciencenews #biology #embriology
Nature Communications
Construction of a mammalian embryo model from stem cells organized by a morphogen signalling centre
Following instruction by a morphogen secreting centre, aggregates of mouse embryonic stem cells develop into embryo-like structures organized around an axial mesoderm, which show extensive...
On the brink of chaos.
Scientists at the University of Sydney and Japan's National Institute for Material Science have discovered that an artificial network of nanowires can be tuned to respond in a brain-like way to electrical stimuli. By keeping the network of nanowires in a chaotic, brain-like state optimized its performance.
Their insights are published in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24260-z
#sciencenews #nano #AI
Scientists at the University of Sydney and Japan's National Institute for Material Science have discovered that an artificial network of nanowires can be tuned to respond in a brain-like way to electrical stimuli. By keeping the network of nanowires in a chaotic, brain-like state optimized its performance.
Their insights are published in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24260-z
#sciencenews #nano #AI
Nature Communications
Avalanches and edge-of-chaos learning in neuromorphic nanowire networks
Neuromorphic nanowire networks are found to exhibit neural-like dynamics, including phase transitions and avalanche criticality. Hochstetter and Kuncic et al. show that the dynamical state at the...
Quantum random numbers.
Most random numbers aren’t truly random. However, using quantum computers can achieve levels of randomness only limited by the basic laws of quantum physics. Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have built the fastest known real-time quantum random number generator by combining state-of-the-art photonic integration with advanced post-processing technologies.
Their machine is described in Applied Physics Letters: https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0056027
#sciencenews #Quantum #photonic
Most random numbers aren’t truly random. However, using quantum computers can achieve levels of randomness only limited by the basic laws of quantum physics. Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have built the fastest known real-time quantum random number generator by combining state-of-the-art photonic integration with advanced post-processing technologies.
Their machine is described in Applied Physics Letters: https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0056027
#sciencenews #Quantum #photonic
AIP Publishing
18.8 Gbps real-time quantum random number generator with a photonic integrated chip
Quantum random number generators (QRNGs) can produce true random numbers. Yet, the two most important QRNG parameters highly desired for practical applications, i.e., speed and size, have to be com...
Environmental brain effects.
A stimulating environment helps to keep the hippocampus young through molecular mechanisms affecting gene regulation. Studies in mice by the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases provide clues as to why an active, varied lifestyle can help preserve mental acuity in old age.
Their insights are described in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23993-1
#sciencenews #environment #biology
A stimulating environment helps to keep the hippocampus young through molecular mechanisms affecting gene regulation. Studies in mice by the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases provide clues as to why an active, varied lifestyle can help preserve mental acuity in old age.
Their insights are described in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23993-1
#sciencenews #environment #biology
Nature
Environmental enrichment preserves a young DNA methylation landscape in the aged mouse hippocampus
Nature Communications - Decline of brain function during aging is associated with epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation. Here the authors provide evidence that environmental enrichment...
Viruses fighting cancer.
Researchers at the Luxembourg Institute of Health have developed a cancer-destroying virus that binds to laminins on the surface of cancer cells to gain entry to the cell before ultimately killing it. The viruses hold significant potential for deployment in targeted cancer therapies.
The work has recently been published in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24034-7
#sciencenews #medicine #health
Researchers at the Luxembourg Institute of Health have developed a cancer-destroying virus that binds to laminins on the surface of cancer cells to gain entry to the cell before ultimately killing it. The viruses hold significant potential for deployment in targeted cancer therapies.
The work has recently been published in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24034-7
#sciencenews #medicine #health
Nature
Oncolytic H-1 parvovirus binds to sialic acid on laminins for cell attachment and entry
Nature Communications - Rat H-1 parvovirus (H-1PV) is in clinical development for oncolytic therapy. Here, Kulkarni et al. identify LAMC1 as a modulator of H-1PV cell attachment and entry and find...
Fighting Alzheimer’s.
Researchers from the University of Barcelona are working to develop new compounds that can bind to specific receptors in the brain linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Their studies in mice improved the cognitive deficit and the biomarkers related to the disease.
Their work has been published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0223523421003895?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #biology #neuroscience
Researchers from the University of Barcelona are working to develop new compounds that can bind to specific receptors in the brain linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Their studies in mice improved the cognitive deficit and the biomarkers related to the disease.
Their work has been published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0223523421003895?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #biology #neuroscience
Sciencedirect
Benzofuranyl-2-imidazoles as imidazoline I2 receptor ligands for Alzheimer's disease
Recent findings unveil the pharmacological modulation of imidazoline I2 receptors (I2-IR) as a novel strategy to face unmet medical neurodegenerative …
Kirigami cameras.
University of Houston researchers have developed a kirigami-inspired camera with a curvy, adaptable imaging sensor that could improve image quality in endoscopes, night-vision goggles, artificial compound eyes and fish-eye cameras.
Learn about their system in Nature Electronics: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-021-00600-1
#sciencenews #sensors #physics #optics
University of Houston researchers have developed a kirigami-inspired camera with a curvy, adaptable imaging sensor that could improve image quality in endoscopes, night-vision goggles, artificial compound eyes and fish-eye cameras.
Learn about their system in Nature Electronics: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-021-00600-1
#sciencenews #sensors #physics #optics
Nature Electronics
Curvy, shape-adaptive imagers based on printed optoelectronic pixels with a kirigami design
Curvy and shape-adaptive imagers with high pixel fill factors and tunable focusing power can be created by transferring an array of ultrathin silicon optoelectronic pixels with a kirigami design...
Vision in mice.
Mouse vision was thought to be different to that of humans because humans have a region of the retina specialized for fine details called the 'fovea' whereas mice do not. However, researchers from the Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience have shown that the visual cortex of mice in fact contains a region of enhanced visual sensitivity - the 'focea'. This makes mice a better model for human vision than previously predicted.
The results can be read in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24311-5
#sciencenews #biology #neuroscience
Mouse vision was thought to be different to that of humans because humans have a region of the retina specialized for fine details called the 'fovea' whereas mice do not. However, researchers from the Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience have shown that the visual cortex of mice in fact contains a region of enhanced visual sensitivity - the 'focea'. This makes mice a better model for human vision than previously predicted.
The results can be read in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24311-5
#sciencenews #biology #neuroscience
Nature Communications
Mouse visual cortex contains a region of enhanced spatial resolution
Nature Communications - The representation of space in mouse visual cortex was considered to be relatively uniform. The authors show that mice have improved visual resolution in a cortical region...
Synthesising cancer treatments.
Rice University chemists have developed a simplified method for the facile synthesis of halichondrin B and related compounds. This important molecule has potent anti-tumour properties of great interest to medical research.
Their insights are published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c05270
#sciencenews #chemistry #cancer
Rice University chemists have developed a simplified method for the facile synthesis of halichondrin B and related compounds. This important molecule has potent anti-tumour properties of great interest to medical research.
Their insights are published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c05270
#sciencenews #chemistry #cancer
ACS Publications
A Reverse Approach to the Total Synthesis of Halichondrin B
A new strategy is described for the total synthesis of halichondrin B featuring reversal of the sequential construction of a number of its cyclic ethers from the classical approach by instead forming C–O bonds first followed by C–C bond formation. Employing…
Gravitational waves from black holes swallowing neutron stars.
Scientists from LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA have detected gravitational waves generated over 900 million light-years away by the merging of a neutron star with a black hole, broadening the field of gravitational wave astronomy to another astrophysical system.
The preliminary report has been published in Astrophysical Journal Letters: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ac082e
#sciencenews #astrophysics
Scientists from LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA have detected gravitational waves generated over 900 million light-years away by the merging of a neutron star with a black hole, broadening the field of gravitational wave astronomy to another astrophysical system.
The preliminary report has been published in Astrophysical Journal Letters: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ac082e
#sciencenews #astrophysics
Sensitive coronavirus testing.
A new corona test developed at the University Hospital Bonn can simultaneously analyse a large number of swabs using sequencing technology and has a similarly high sensitivity to the common qPCR tests. The innovative method offers great potential for rapid systematic testing without the drawbacks of most methods.
The test is described in Nature Biotechnology: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-00966-9
#sciencenews #coronavirus #molecularbiology
A new corona test developed at the University Hospital Bonn can simultaneously analyse a large number of swabs using sequencing technology and has a similarly high sensitivity to the common qPCR tests. The innovative method offers great potential for rapid systematic testing without the drawbacks of most methods.
The test is described in Nature Biotechnology: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-00966-9
#sciencenews #coronavirus #molecularbiology
Nature
LAMP-Seq enables sensitive, multiplexed COVID-19 diagnostics using molecular barcoding
Nature Biotechnology - SARS-CoV-2 detection with LAMP-Seq combines isothermal amplification and barcoding with high-throughput sequencing.
Cancer testing from blood.
A microfilter device that can easily separate and capture trace amounts of cancer cells in blood has been developed by a Kumamoto University research group. The palm-sized device is being used to develop new cancer diagnostic technologies, detecting even at concentrations of just 5 cancer cells per millilitre.
The research is reported in Talanta:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0039914021001600?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #cancer #medicine
A microfilter device that can easily separate and capture trace amounts of cancer cells in blood has been developed by a Kumamoto University research group. The palm-sized device is being used to develop new cancer diagnostic technologies, detecting even at concentrations of just 5 cancer cells per millilitre.
The research is reported in Talanta:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0039914021001600?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #cancer #medicine
Sciencedirect
Detection of cancer cells in whole blood using a dynamic deformable microfilter and a nucleic acid aptamer
Cancer cell count in the blood of cancer patients is extremely low. If these cells are easily detectable, cancer diagnosis may be possible by simply u…
Laser control with metasurfaces.
Harvard University researchers have developed a single metasurface that can effectively tune the different properties of laser light, including wavelength, without requiring additional optical components. The metasurface can split light into multiple beams with controlled shape and intensity in an independent, precise, efficient manner.
Their work is published in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-24071-2
#sciencenews #photonics
Harvard University researchers have developed a single metasurface that can effectively tune the different properties of laser light, including wavelength, without requiring additional optical components. The metasurface can split light into multiple beams with controlled shape and intensity in an independent, precise, efficient manner.
Their work is published in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-24071-2
#sciencenews #photonics
Nature
Multifunctional wide-angle optics and lasing based on supercell metasurfaces
Nature Communications - The angular dependence is a well-known issue in metasurface engineering. Here the authors introduce a supercell metasurface able to implement multiple independent functions...
Building better wind farms.
A study from the Carnegie Institution for Science shows how the placement of wind turbines is hugely important to their efficiency. They looked at the wake of individual turbines and larger scale networks to understand how the power generation capabilities can be optimized.
The study is published in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103875118
#sciencenews #environment #energy
A study from the Carnegie Institution for Science shows how the placement of wind turbines is hugely important to their efficiency. They looked at the wake of individual turbines and larger scale networks to understand how the power generation capabilities can be optimized.
The study is published in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103875118
#sciencenews #environment #energy
PNAS
Spatial constraints in large-scale expansion of wind power plants
Wind comprised 6.1% of worldwide electricity generation in 2020. If this share is to substantially grow to decarbonize electricity systems, the size of future wind farms may extend far beyond that of current installations. The spatial scale of a wind farm…
Equitable immunogenomics.
Most large-scale immunogenomic studies exploring the association between genes and disease were conducted with a bias toward individuals of European ancestry. University of Louisville researchers are leading a call to actively diversify the genetic resources used in their work to advance genomic medicine more equitably.
Their vision is outlined in Nature Methods: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01169-5
#sciencenews #immunogenomics #bioscience #diversity
Most large-scale immunogenomic studies exploring the association between genes and disease were conducted with a bias toward individuals of European ancestry. University of Louisville researchers are leading a call to actively diversify the genetic resources used in their work to advance genomic medicine more equitably.
Their vision is outlined in Nature Methods: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01169-5
#sciencenews #immunogenomics #bioscience #diversity
Nature Methods
Diversity in immunogenomics: the value and the challenge
Nature Methods - Immunogenomics studies have been largely limited to individuals of European ancestry, restricting the ability to identify variation in human adaptive immune responses across...
3D printing with functional gels.
A study from Dartmouth College describes a process using heat to change the arrangement of molecular rings on a chemical chain creates 3D-printable gels with a variety of functional properties. Printing objects with different mechanical strengths using a single ink could replace the costly and time-consuming use of multiple inks for printing.
The results are published in the journal Chem: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2021.06.004
#sciencenews #chemistry #3dprinting #engineering
A study from Dartmouth College describes a process using heat to change the arrangement of molecular rings on a chemical chain creates 3D-printable gels with a variety of functional properties. Printing objects with different mechanical strengths using a single ink could replace the costly and time-consuming use of multiple inks for printing.
The results are published in the journal Chem: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2021.06.004
#sciencenews #chemistry #3dprinting #engineering
Sciencedirect
Kinetic trapping of 3D-printable cyclodextrin-based poly(pseudo)rotaxane networks
Synthetically trapping kinetically varied (super)structures of molecular assemblies and amplifying them to the macroscale is a promising, yet challeng…
Increased infectiousness of coronavirus variants.
A team of researchers at Duke University has combined concepts from structural biology with computation to show that multiple mutations on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein independently create variants that are both more transmissible and resistant to antibodies.
The mechanisms are explained in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/06/23/science.abi6226
#sciencenews #biosciences #covid
A team of researchers at Duke University has combined concepts from structural biology with computation to show that multiple mutations on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein independently create variants that are both more transmissible and resistant to antibodies.
The mechanisms are explained in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/06/23/science.abi6226
#sciencenews #biosciences #covid
Science
Effect of natural mutations of SARS-CoV-2 on spike structure, conformation, and antigenicity
SARS-CoV-2 variants with multiple spike mutations enable increased transmission and antibody resistance. Here, we combine cryo-EM, binding and computational analyses to study variant spikes, including one that was involved in transmission between minks and…