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A new method for protection from plant pathogens could help support global food security.

Researchers have engineered a plant immune receptor to robustly bind a conserved fungal pathogen effector, demonstrating potential for new resistance traits against rice blast disease and other plant diseases. This approach could lead to improved crop protection and global food supply stability.

SourceDiamond Light Source·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 13, 2024

Organic nanozymes have broad applications from food and agriculture to biomedicine

Research from the University of Illinois highlights the potential of organic nanozymes for broader applications beyond traditional uses of inorganic nanozymes. The development of sustainable, environmentally friendly materials offers a promising solution for various industries.

Advanced printing crafts precision scaffolds for tissue regeneration

Researchers developed core-shell microfibrous scaffolds that excel in rotator cuff repair, restoring natural morphology and mechanical properties. The acellular, in situ tissue engineering technology harnesses stem cell regenerative abilities to provide robust biological regeneration without cell seeding.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateJul 24, 2024

Microbeads with adaptable fluorescent colors from visible light to near-infrared

The team created microbeads that emit various colors of light depending on the illuminating light and bead size, offering a wide range of applications. The use of plant-derived materials allows for low-cost and energy-efficient synthesis, making them an attractive alternative to conventional luminescent devices.

SourceNational Institute for Materials Science, Japan·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2024

Robots face the future

The team, led by Professor Shoji Takeuchi, created a layer of skin that can bind to complex forms of humanoid robots, granting them increased mobility and self-healing abilities. The research has potential applications in the cosmetics industry, medical research, and robotics.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 25, 2024

Multifunctional droplet manipulation technology combining femtosecond laser-designed slippery surface and electrostatic interactions

A new technology combines femtosecond laser-designed lubricated slippery surfaces with electrostatic interactions to manipulate droplets. This allows for diverse working conditions and functions, including driving droplets on inclined surfaces, manipulating various liquids, and sorting particles.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateJun 19, 2024

New technology allows researchers to precisely, flexibly modulate brain

A new technology combining holographic acoustic devices with genetic engineering allows precise targeting of affected neurons in the brain, potentially treating neurodegenerative diseases. The technique, AhSonogenetics, uses a noninvasive wearable ultrasound device to alter genetically selected neurons in mice, alleviating Parkinson's-...

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 17, 2024

The first example of cellular origami

Researchers Manu Prakash and Eliott Flaum have discovered a new geometric mechanism in the single-cell organism Lacrymaria olor, enabling it to produce complex morphodynamics through curved-crease origami. The cell's cytoskeletal structure encodes this behavior, which is driven by a singularity that acts as a controller.

SourceStanford University·JournalScience·DateJun 6, 2024

Optimal cancer-killing t cells discovered

Researchers at the University of Houston have identified a subset of T cells called CD8-fit that show high motility and serial killing capabilities in patients with clinical responses. These cells were discovered using a patented approach called TIMING, which evaluates cell behavior and movement to identify potential cancer-killing cells.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalNature Cancer·DateMay 28, 2024

Illuminating neuro-vascular dynamics throughout the body: 3D-printed implants and bioluminescence duet shed light on brain–spinal interactions

A team of visionaries at the Carney Institute developed 3D-printed brain and spinal cord implants, revolutionizing surgical implantations and optical access. Bioluminescence imaging overcomes limitations of traditional fluorescent microscopy, providing unprecedented observation of neural and vascular activity.

Exploring interface phenomena for more durable and effective nickel–tungsten alloys

Scientists studied the nickel-tungsten alloy interface to understand its properties and behavior. The research revealed the formation of intermetallic compounds and diffusion-induced recrystallization regions, which significantly impact the material's mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Alloys and Compounds·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 14, 2024

Scientists solve chemical mystery at the interface of biology and technology

Researchers at the University of Washington have solved a long-standing chemical mystery in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), which allow current to flow in devices like implantable biosensors. The study reveals that OECTs turn on via a two-step process, causing a lag, and off through a simpler one-step process.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 30, 2024

Synthetic droplets cause a stir in the primordial soup

Scientists from OIST created synthetic droplets to mimic biological processes, finding that pH gradients facilitate Marangoni effect and enabling droplets to detect and migrate towards each other. This study sheds light on the movement of simplest forms of life in primordial soup billions of years ago.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 25, 2024

A pulse of innovation: AI at the service of heart research

Researchers at Columbia University developed BeatProfiler, an AI-based software that automates the analysis of heart cell function from video data, significantly speeding up the process and reducing errors. The tool can accurately analyze cardiomyocyte function, outperforming existing tools by being faster and more reliable.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalIEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology·DateApr 8, 2024

Artificial reef designed by MIT engineers could protect marine life, reduce storm damage

The MIT-designed 'architected' reef could dissipate more than 95% of incoming wave energy using a fraction of the material needed, reducing erosion and flooding. The cylindrical structure's unique design leverages turbulence to efficiently break waves, making it a potential solution for coastal protection in various water conditions.