The American Chemical Society has announced its 2018 Talented 12, a group of young scientists working to solve the world's most pressing problems. These innovators are deciphering life on Earth, exploring molecules in space, and developing gene editing technology.
Thrombospondin-1 plays a critical role in mechanotransduction and elastic fiber organization, contributing to the development of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms. Deletion of Thbs1 prevents aneurysm formation, restoring aorta biomechanical properties.
Scientists have found that contact lenses can break down into smaller plastic particles when exposed to wastewater treatment plants, which can harm aquatic organisms. The study's authors hope that industry will take note and provide proper disposal guidelines for contact lenses.
Researchers have developed a new type of battery made from paper and fueled by bacteria, which could overcome challenges of limited resources and commercial batteries. The paper-based bio-battery has shown to be effective in powering small devices like LEDs and calculators, with potential for improvement through further research.
Scientists have developed a method using photosensitizers and nanoparticles to activate oxygen, killing bacteria like MRSA. The technique has shown promise in treating microbial infections and possibly even cancer.
Researchers at Tohoku University have identified the retrotransposon insertion in a floral homeotic gene responsible for greenish orchid mutations. This discovery paves the way for genetic modification of orchids to produce more flowers.
The study, conducted by the University of Sheffield, found that 2.2% of participants were infected with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) oral infection, lower than previous US studies. Smoking and sexual behavior were identified as significant risk factors for oral HPV infection.
A new study found that paternal lineages are correlated to vocabulary usage, while maternal lineages are associated with pronunciations in Indo-European languages. Researchers used genetic-linguistic analysis to explore the relationship between Y-chromosome and mtDNA haplogroups and language characteristics.
Research found that STAT3 is constitutively activated in CAEBV-infected T- or NK-cells, promoting cell survival and inflammation. Ruxolitinib inhibition blocks survival and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for this fatal disorder.