Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for March 23, 2014


Researcher: Study on element could change ballgame on radioactive waste

A team of chemists, led by Professor Thomas Albrecht-Schmitt at Florida State University, has made significant discoveries about the element californium. The findings suggest that californium can bond and separate other materials with remarkable abilities, making it resistant to radiation damage.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMar 23, 2014
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Heparin might be the key to prevent prion conversion and disease

Researchers found that heparin interactions with the terminal domains of murine prion protein stabilize the protein, preventing aggregation. This stabilization prevents prion conversion and disease. Heparin may establish groundwork for therapeutic use against prion diseases.

SourcePublicase International·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateMar 23, 2014

Off-rift volcanoes explained

Researchers used a numerical model to demonstrate the link between crustal unloading and magma transport in rift valleys. In broad, shallow rifts, magma ascends vertically, while in deep, narrow rifts, it's strongly deviated, resulting in off-rift volcanoes forming at distances from the rift axis.

SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMar 23, 2014

TGen-led study discovers genetic cause of rare type of ovarian cancer

A groundbreaking study led by TGen has identified a genetic mutation in the SMARCA4 gene as the primary driver of small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT), a rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer. This discovery holds promise for developing targeted therapies and improving diagnosis.

SourceThe Translational Genomics Research Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateMar 23, 2014

Experiment opens the door to multi-party quantum communication

Physicists demonstrate distribution of three entangled photons at three different locations, proving quantum nonlocality and opening possibilities for multi-party quantum communication. The experiment overcomes the locality loophole, allowing for faster-than-light information transfer.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalNature Photonics·DateMar 23, 2014
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

'MaMTH' advance: New technology sheds light on protein interactions

Researchers developed a new technology called MaMTH to study human proteins, particularly membrane proteins that contribute to disease. The technology identifies a protein, CRKII, that plays a role in non-small cell lung cancer and suggests a potential therapeutic approach.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNature Methods·DateMar 23, 2014

Could diamonds be a computer's best friend?

Researchers at Ohio State University demonstrated that diamond wires can transmit spin, a magnetic effect that could revolutionize computing. The discovery challenges conventional methods of measuring spin dynamics and has the potential to make computers faster and more powerful.

SourceOhio State University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMar 23, 2014
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Unavoidable disorder used to build nanolaser

Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute discovered that imperfect nanostructures can be used to produce 'nanolasers', which is an ultimately compact and energy-efficient light source. The imperfections in photonic crystal membranes result in controlled reflections, amplifying light and enabling efficient laser production.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Niels Bohr Institute·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMar 23, 2014

Mass. General study identifies path to safer drugs for heart disease, cancer

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have identified a path to safer drugs for heart disease and cancer. By analyzing the structure of an extracellular matrix protein and its interaction with an integrin, they have discovered a high-affinity version that can bind strongly without inducing unintended receptor activation.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateMar 23, 2014

Fast and reliable: New mechanism for speedy transmission in basket cells discovered

Basket cells convert excitatory signals into inhibitory outputs within milliseconds; researchers identify controlled increase in Na+ channels and conductance for fast transmission. Signal processing is made possible by high density of Na+ channels and increased conductance, compensating for small axon diameter and lack of myelination.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMar 23, 2014

Shifting evolution into reverse promises cheaper, greener way to make new drugs

Scientists have successfully used a novel approach called bioretrosynthesis to produce the HIV drug didanosine. This method leverages natural selection to create specialized enzymes that can manufacture complex molecules from simple sugars, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional chemistry.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateMar 23, 2014
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

The Lancet journals: World TB Day media alert

The Lancet journals publish a special collection on tuberculosis, highlighting emerging challenges like drug-resistant strains and poor treatment outcomes. New anti-tuberculosis drugs and host-directed therapies are being developed to improve treatment efficacy.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·DateMar 23, 2014

MIT engineers design 'living materials'

Researchers at MIT have successfully designed and created living materials that incorporate non-living components, such as gold nanoparticles and quantum dots. These hybrid materials exhibit unique properties, including the ability to conduct electricity and emit light, making them suitable for various energy applications.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateMar 23, 2014

Drugs fail to reawaken dormant HIV infection

Scientists at Johns Hopkins report that compounds designed to 'wake up' dormant HIV reservoirs have failed to work in laboratory tests of infected cells taken directly from patients. The failure challenges the idea that a single latency-reversing agent can uncover the hidden virus.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·DateMar 23, 2014

Leukemia caused by chromosome catastrophe

Researchers found that people with a rare chromosome abnormality have a 2,700-fold increased risk of a rare childhood leukemia. The fusion of chromosomes 15 and 21 led to chromothripsis, which shattered the chromosome and created an optimised genome for leukaemia.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalNature·DateMar 23, 2014