Articles tagged with Cellular Energy
A new study suggests that repeated head injuries can disrupt the brain's energy use, leading to inflammation, degeneration of brain cell segments, and problems with learning and memory. The discovery could help explain the development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease seen in professional athletes.
Scientists at Carnegie Institution for Science have discovered crucial biochemical pathways in single-cell alga Chlamydomonas that allow it to generate energy from stored sugars without taking up oxygen. This process is essential for the survival of many aquatic and terrestrial organisms, but its mechanisms are poorly understood.
A recent study published in Neural Computation found that CoQ10 supplements improved physical function in 80% of treated veterans with Gulf War illness. The study suggests that CoQ10 may be beneficial for those suffering from this chronic condition, which is linked to chemical exposures and mitochondrial damage.
Sandia National Laboratories has received a $1.2 million award to develop a technique combining metal-organic framework (MOF) materials with dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) to improve photovoltaic efficiency. MOFs' structure, versatility, and porosity help overcome DSSC limitations.
NTNU researchers have developed a technique to produce solar cells using impure silicon, reducing energy consumption and production costs. The new method uses glass fibers coated with a silicon core, which is heated and stretched to create a thin fiber filled with silicon, resulting in lower energy requirements and fewer production steps.
A new study by the University of Virginia challenges two current theories on how simple bacterial cells became mitochondria, proposing that they were initially parasitic. The research uses next-generation DNA sequencing technologies to decode the genomes of 18 bacteria close relatives of mitochondria.
A Yale study reveals the brain's control over transforming white fat into brown fat, which burns energy and aids in weight loss. The researchers found that neurons controlling hunger and appetite regulate this process, suggesting a novel approach to combating obesity.
Researchers found that feeding mice with Rett syndrome a diet supplemented with triheptanoin improved their physical and behavioral symptoms. The oil helped normalize body fat, glucose, and fat metabolism, and increased social interest in other mice. The study offers potential hope for dietary treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
Researchers have found that post-heart-attack arrhythmias are triggered by a power grid-like failure inside cardiac cells, disrupting mitochondria and causing chaotic cell-to-cell signaling. This disruption can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias like fibrillation, but pretreatment with certain medications may help prevent them.
Researchers have identified a potential method to interrupt abnormal bone growth, commonly known as heterotopic ossification (HO), in burn patients. Using an anti-inflammatory treatment called apyrase, the study found that HO can be reduced by breaking down ATP, a primary energy source for cells.
A new study by MD Anderson Cancer Center researchers found that cancer cells traveling to other sites have different energy needs from their original tumor site counterparts. The study suggests that targeting the protein PGC-1 may be a potential therapeutic approach for breast cancer patients.
The researcher aims to understand how electric fish manage energy for signal production, which could benefit human heart failure prevention. The project may also lead to broader impacts in education and research.
A team of University of Pittsburgh professors is working on a project to transition the US power grid to direct current (DC) using a $800,000 grant from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation. DC technology has the potential to improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy, especially in low-income areas. The researchers aim to devel...
Scientists have discovered a unique biochemical connection between cell membranes and mitochondria, regulating cellular energy production. This finding has implications for understanding diseases linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
Scientists at PPPL identified how magnetic reconnection transforms magnetic energy into particle energy, with 50% conversion rate. The process involves electron energization and creation of electrically charged field that powers ions.
Scientists from DTU have created a new technique to produce cheap, flexible and versatile double solar cells using roll-to-roll processing. The method uses 3D ptychography to image the layer structure of the tandem solar cell, which converts 2.67% of incoming sunlight into electric energy.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University are studying ways to make solid oxide fuel cells last longer and more efficiently. They will test small lab-scale fuel cells under accelerated ageing conditions to identify the culprits behind performance loss.
A team of researchers has developed a method to determine the absolute value of charge formation efficiency in organic photovoltaic cells, enabling high-throughput screening of materials. The technique, combining two types of spectroscopy, reveals a high charge formation efficiency even at low temperatures.
A system proposed by MIT researchers recycles materials from discarded car batteries to produce long-lasting solar panels, providing emissions-free power. The production process uses a compound called perovskite, which has achieved power-conversion efficiency of over 19 percent.
The study found that fipronil and imidacloprid inhibit mitochondrial bioenergetics in honeybees, leading to depleted cell energy and impaired flight muscles. This effect can contribute to the inability of bees to forage and return to their hives.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have created a semiconductor structure consisting of two ultra-thin layers, tungsten diselenide and molybdenum disulphide, which exhibits excellent optoelectronic properties. This material has the potential to be used in future low-cost solar cells with improved efficiency and flexibility.
Researchers at The Wistar Institute discovered that mice lacking TRAP-1 protein live longer lives with fewer age-related illnesses. TRAP-1 is an important regulator of metabolism and has been shown to regulate energy production in mitochondria, organelles that generate chemically useful energy for the cell.
Yushan Yan's research team has developed a method to create crystalline porous polymers with large pores and excellent thermal stability. These materials have potential applications in catalysis, separations and energy storage, offering new possibilities for the chemical and petroleum industries.
Researchers found that p53 in flies adapts metabolic response to nutrient deprivation, making cells 'tighten their belts' and optimize energy stores. The study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of p53 and its potential involvement in diabetes and obesity.
Researchers have developed a self-cooling method for solar cells using silica glass to reduce overheating, improving efficiency and lifespan. The design enhances infrared 'window' through Earth's atmosphere to redirect excess heat away from the solar cell.
Researchers at the University of Otago have discovered a key mechanism that enables mycobacteria to survive in extreme conditions, using hydrogen as a high-energy fuel. By understanding this metabolic process, scientists hope to develop new antibiotics to tackle latent tuberculosis infections.
Researchers used game theory to study tumor cell cooperation and found that within certain ranges of mutation rates, critical transitions occur in energy metabolic strategies. This switch in tactics may make tumors vulnerable to disruption, potentially ideal for clinicians to test new therapies.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed an efficient method for harnessing sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into formic acid, a potential alternative fuel. The process achieves nearly 2% energy efficiency, twice that of natural photosynthesis, and has the potential to store solar energy in fuel cells.
The partnership aims to advance fuel cell materials and manufacturing technologies, reducing costs while improving performance and durability. The collaboration will focus on critical next-generation challenges, including platinum loading reduction and hydrogen system development.
Researchers developed a water-based organic battery that is long-lasting, cheap, and environmentally friendly. The battery uses no metals or toxic materials and can store large amounts of energy, making it a potential solution to the nation's renewable energy challenges.
Case Western Reserve scientists pinpoint the channeling of cell's energy flow in moving metal ions using advanced imaging technologies. This finding has the potential to inform future research on treating diseases such as Parkinson's, chronic liver disease, and heart disease.
The Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis will receive $3.5 million annually to explore chemical reactions at the core of solar energy and fuel cells. Researchers from multiple disciplines will work to design faster catalysts, split molecular oxygen, and improve hydrogen reactions.
A UNSW Australia-led team found a class of cryptophytes where quantum coherence is switched off due to genetic mutations, allowing them to thrive in low-light conditions. This discovery could lead to technological advances in organic solar cells and quantum-based electronic devices.
The Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology (H2FIRST) project aims to reduce the cost and time of fueling station construction, increase station availability, and improve reliability. NREL and Sandia will share their hydrogen research expertise to develop low-cost, high-performance materials and components.
A mouse study found that NAD levels decrease with age in the brain, leading to a loss of neural stem cell function. The researchers discovered that supplementing NAD synthesis could prevent this decline, offering potential therapeutic implications.
Researchers at UC Davis have discovered that cyclin B1/Cdk1, a key cell division protein, also powers mitochondria to increase cellular energy production. This finding could lead to new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment and regenerative medicine.
Researchers at MIT and City College of New York directly image exciton movement using a new technique, enabling insights into device efficiency and natural energy-transfer processes. The study provides new information on how crystal structure affects exciton diffusion.
Physicists Luca Giomi and Antonio DeSimone simulated the spontaneous emergence of cell motility and division in artificial cells using a simplified model. They found that by controlling one physical parameter, they could reproduce similar effects observed in experimental observations.
UAlberta researchers found that activating both AMPK and retrograde response pathways simultaneously can benefit cells with damaged mitochondria. This study provides a new concept for dealing with metabolic problems associated with mitochondrial disorders.
Researchers identified a protein, nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), that can be altered to increase energy expenditures. Reducing NNMT levels in fat and liver cells dramatically reduces obesity and diabetes development in mice.
Researchers at NC State University found that organic solar cell efficiency improves when donor and acceptor molecules are aligned face-on, rather than edge-on. This alignment enables favorable charge transfer interactions, reducing recombination and increasing power generation.
Research discovers that tumor cells' reliance on glucose for energy is driven by a defective gene that fails to degrade glucose receptors, making them 'addicted' to sugar. The study offers new insights into the Warburg effect and potential treatment strategies.
Researchers have found a potential target for treating mitochondrial disorders, a condition that affects cellular energy production. The study suggests that blocking the gene ATPIF1 may be therapeutic in rescuing cells from mitochondrial dysfunction.
Researchers from Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have developed a software platform to bring together small energy providers in a virtual power plant, ensuring reliable grid operation. The system optimizes energy use and storage, allowing for efficient management of distributed energy sources.
Scientists have developed a new approach to simulate the emergence of cell metabolism on Earth by harnessing geological redox reactions. The study demonstrates that certain minerals could drive these reactions, potentially leading to biological metabolisms.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have created semi-transparent, colored photovoltaics that can generate electricity while maintaining their color. The cells are 10 times thinner than traditional solar cells and have a nearly 100% quantum efficiency, making them suitable for use indoors and in densely populated cities.
A new portable hydrogen fuel cell unit will provide electricity to the Port of Honolulu, reducing emissions and energy consumption. The unit, built by Sandia National Laboratories, is self-contained and can be deployed at various locations.
Researchers propose a new approach to understanding biology, shifting focus from genes to energy consumption and complex dissipative systems. The theory suggests that genes cannot determine biological activity, but rather, it is the energy flows within cells that drive emergence of properties.
Research finds polar bears have unique genetic variations that influence nitric oxide production, a key factor in energy metabolism and thermogenesis. This adaptation enables them to survive the harsh Arctic environment without hibernation.
The Israel government has announced a new national cyber research complex called CyberSpark, which will be located adjacent to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The complex is expected to attract major companies and researchers in the field, and will be a hub for cybersecurity innovation and education.
Researchers have found a potential new strategy to selectively kill pancreatic cancer cells while sparing healthy ones, using energy supply disruption. By blocking glycolysis, they observed a toxic calcium overload and cell death in cancer cells, but not in normal cells.
A new drug called amlexanox has shown promise in reversing obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease in mice. The treatment works by restoring sensitivity to catecholamines, which enables fat cells to burn energy and return to normal size.
A daily bout of exercise significantly reduces detrimental health impacts from short-term overeating and inactivity. Exercise prevents unhealthy metabolic changes and disrupted nutritional balance, even when consuming thousands of calories more than burned.
A novel approach predicts heart failure outcomes in patients by targeting impaired energy metabolism, a diseased heart's underlying mechanism. This method could help tailor therapeutic interventions and improve treatment planning for physicians.
A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that decreased energy metabolism in heart cells is a significant independent risk factor for worsening heart failure. The study used magnetic resonance imaging to measure energy metabolism and found it was significantly lower in patients whose conditions worsened.
Researchers have charted a significant signaling network in Synechococcus, a fast-growing microbe that can produce biofuels. The findings reveal redox reactions that allow the organism to adapt to changing environments and provide insights into its ability to create biofuels.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a lithium-sulfur (Li/S) battery with more than twice the specific energy of lithium-ion batteries and up to 1,500 cycles without significant capacity loss. The battery's high performance makes it promising for electric vehicles with long driving ranges.
A recent study published in Nature Chemistry shows that singlet fission can be controlled by interacting molecules, leading to a doubling of current in solar cells. The researchers used laser experiments and chemical methods to slow down the process and observe key intermediate steps.
South Asian men have lower resting energy expenditure and metabolically active brown fat compared to Caucasians, which may contribute to their increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Increasing BAT activity through cold exposure or medication could potentially help alleviate this risk.
Researchers at Duke University designed a power-harvesting device that efficiently captures microwave signals and converts them into electrical current. The device has an energy conversion rate of 37%, comparable to solar cells.