The Enamel 11 Symposium-associated special issue explores key findings on enamel development, mineralization, and pathology, highlighting emerging technologies for prevention and repair. The issue provides a comprehensive overview of current research into dental enamel, one of nature's most extraordinary biomineralized tissues.
SourceInternational Osteoporosis Foundation·JournalCalcified Tissue International·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJun 29, 2026
A new study shows that minerals and microbes should not be treated as separate controls on dissolved organic matter. Iron oxides selectively sort organic molecules, changing what remains available for microbial degradation, with major consequences for biodegradation.
SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalCarbon Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 8, 2026
Researchers found that pill bugs do not simply incorporate ingested CaCO3 minerals as building blocks. Instead, they actively restructure CaCO3 within their bodies to form their tergite cuticles. This study highlights the biological control underlying mineral formation and provides new insights into biomineralization mechanisms.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJournal of Structural Biology·DateApr 21, 2026
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Researchers combine biochar with naturally occurring minerals to create more durable and effective materials for improving soil fertility, capturing contaminants, and delivering nutrients. Engineered composites show promising potential for agricultural and pollution control applications.
SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeLiterature review·DateMar 25, 2026
A new review highlights how engineering biochar with magnetic and mineral modifications can expand its environmental applications while overcoming practical limitations. Engineered biochars combine adsorption with reactive processes to trap pollutants, transform or degrade them, reducing the risk of secondary contamination.
SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeLiterature review·DateFeb 25, 2026
A study published in Carbon Research reveals that a unique Ca-modified biochar can act as a powerful catalyst for the composting process, transforming pig manure and rice straw into stable, nutrient-rich humus. The innovation helps improve waste management in tropical regions, reducing nitrogen loss and environmental footprint.
SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalCarbon Research·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 11, 2026
Researchers have developed a new composite material that stores and releases heat, reducing temperature swings in buildings. The engineered biochar-clay hybrid increased energy storage capacity by 223% and improved thermal conductivity, demonstrating potential for real-world applications.
SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 21, 2026
Researchers from Okayama University have identified a novel eukaryotic protein called radular teeth matrix protein 1 (RTMP1) that plays a crucial role in regulating iron oxide deposition in chiton teeth. The study reveals that RTMP1 helps concentrate iron ions on the chitin fibers, making them ultrahard and durable.
SourceOkayama University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 18, 2025
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Three Israeli scientists will each receive US$100,000 for their innovative work in Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Physical Sciences & Engineering. The Blavatnik Awards recognize outstanding young scientists at the early stages of their careers.
Researchers have developed a building material that uses fungal mycelium and bacteria cells, which can self-repair for at least a month. This innovation has the potential to replace conventional building materials with high carbon footprints like cement, reducing emissions and promoting sustainability.
SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 16, 2025
Researchers found that cannabidiol stimulates the biomineralization of teeth even under inflammatory conditions, promoting tissue repair. The substance also inhibited the synthesis of inflammatory mediators in macrophages, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect.
SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·DateMar 18, 2025
Researchers from Osaka University analyzed dental issues faced by Japanese patients with hypophosphatasia, finding two distinct groups: odonto-type disease (early tooth loss) and non-odonto-type disease (tooth misalignment and softening). The study aims to improve diagnosis and treatment for this often misunderstood disease.
SourceOsaka University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateMar 10, 2025
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The discovery of Helicolocellus fills a 160-million-year gap in the sponge fossil record and suggests non-biomineralizing sponges existed in the Precambrian. The study bridges the Ediacaran and Cambrian fossil assemblages, providing insights into animal evolution.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateJun 5, 2024
Researchers at PolyU have developed a novel biomineralization strategy to prevent microbially induced corrosion on concrete for sustainable marine infrastructure. The technique isolates concrete from corrosive microorganisms, extending the lifespan of structures and reducing environmental impact.
SourceThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 23, 2024
Living organisms produce minerals through a complex process involving pre-nucleation clusters, mobile water molecules, and dissolved hydroxide ions. The study provides a structural model for amorphous calcium carbonate and sheds light on the conductivity of ACC particles.
SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 12, 2024
Early linguliform brachiopods developed stacked sandwich columns in their shells, increasing toughness and flexibility. These structures may have contributed to the species' widespread dispersal during the Cambrian explosion.
Researchers have discovered the process of incorporating selenium into 25 specialized proteins, essential for various cellular and metabolic processes. The study provides critical insights into the workings of these vital mechanisms, which could lead to the development of new medical therapies.
SourceRutgers University·JournalScience·TypeObservational study·DateJun 20, 2022
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A collaboration between researchers identified crucial minerals regulating gene expression to control tissue renewal and growth. Minerals such as silicon, magnesium, and lithium induce endochondral ossification by turning on key genes, leading to the transformation of stem cells into bone cells.
SourceTexas A&M University·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 6, 2022
Researchers have developed a combination of materials that can morph into various shapes before hardening, similar to the natural process of bone development in the human skeleton. The soft material can be used to create microrobots that can inject themselves into complicated bone fractures and expand to form new bone.
SourceLinköping University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 17, 2022
A team of researchers developed a biomimetic mineralization of calcium carbonate using a multifunctional peptide template that can self-supply mineral sources. The study clarifies the formation mechanism of inorganic crystals and their control by organic templates, facilitating understanding of biomineralization.
SourceShinshu University·JournalJournal of Asian Ceramic Societies·DateJun 23, 2021
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Researchers discovered bacteria and archaea involved in nutrient cycle and biomineralization, suggesting microorganisms contribute to metal formation and ecosystem support. The study's findings have implications for understanding the impact of mining on ecosystems.
SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalMicrobial Ecology·DateApr 15, 2021
Scientists discovered that coral structures consist of a biomineral containing organized organic mix of proteins. This process is critical to forming a rock-hard coral skeleton. The research suggests that corals will withstand climate change due to their impressive biomineralization process.
SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateApr 8, 2021
Researchers discovered that rhodochrosite can be photooxidized by UV light under anoxic conditions, suggesting a possible alternative to biological catalysts for oxygenic photosynthesis. This finding provides insight into the evolution of oxygenic photosynthetic organisms on Earth.
SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 31, 2020
A team of engineers at Lehigh University has successfully created a catalyst that uses sunlight to split water molecules, producing hydrogen. This process is performed at room temperature and under ambient pressure, making it a promising route towards a renewable energy-based economy.
SourceLehigh University·JournalGreen Chemistry·DateAug 1, 2019
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Janet Moradian-Oldak, a researcher at the University of Southern California, has been awarded the 2019 Basic Research in Biological Mineralization Award. Her work on enamel biomineralization and biomimetic approaches has advanced our understanding of tooth development.
SourceInternational Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research·DateJun 19, 2019
A new characteristic 'biosignature' has been identified to track the remains of ancient life on Earth. The discovery suggests that graphite-like crystals alongside minerals such as apatite and carbonate are indicative of biological origin.
SourceUniversity College London·JournalJournal of the Geological Society·DateApr 8, 2019
Researchers at NC State University have found a more accurate way to assess an individual's age at death using bone mineral density, increasing the margin of error from 27-70 years to within 13 years. The technique could be used to help identify human remains.
SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalScience & Justice·DateJan 23, 2018
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Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.
Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a novel method combining p53 and BMPep to control nanostructure of inorganic materials. The method successfully created hexagonal silver nanoplates with enhanced specificity and crystal growth regulation.
SourceHokkaido University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 3, 2017
Researchers identified key components of the molecular toolkit that allow corals to build their skeletons, shedding light on the transformation from larval stage to adult coral. This knowledge is crucial for understanding how corals respond to ocean acidification, rising sea surface temperatures, and pollution.
Scientists discovered a novel metal-binding activity in MamO, a protease that helps build magnetic nanoparticles using a unique motif. The study found that this process has evolved convergently throughout the evolution of magnetosomes.
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Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.
Scientists have inventoried and categorized all of Earth's rare mineral species, revealing clues about the planet's sub-surface conditions and past biological upheavals. The rarest minerals are found at five or fewer locations worldwide and offer insights into what an inter-planetary probe might find.
SourceTerry Collins Assoc·JournalAmerican Mineralogist·DateFeb 12, 2016
Mineral evolution has led to at least 90 different mercury-containing minerals on Earth, mostly formed during three periods of supercontinent assembly. The creation of these minerals is linked to hydrothermal activity associated with continents colliding and forming mountain ranges.
SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalAmerican Mineralogist·DateJun 25, 2012
Dental enamel's unique structure is formed through a complex biomineralization process. The Pitt team identified the role of amelogenin in self-assembling into higher-order structures that guide mineral particles into parallel arrays, leading to highly mineralized enamel.
SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 8, 2011
A 2,000-year-old bronze statue of an athlete has provided insights into preventing metal corrosion, safely storing nuclear waste, and understanding biomineralization. The study, published in ACS' Crystal Growth & Design, analyzed the mineral layers and fossilized organisms on the statue.
SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalCrystal Growth & Design·DateJul 8, 2009
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Dr. Graeme Hunter, a renowned dental researcher, has received the 2009 Biological Mineralization Award from the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). His work focuses on the physical biochemistry of biomineralization, with significant contributions to understanding mineralized tissues and pathological calcifications.
SourceInternational Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research·DateMar 17, 2009
Scientists found that up to two thirds of minerals are biologically mediated, driven by oxygen-rich atmosphere and life's presence. Plate tectonics boosted mineral diversity, creating new environments for mineral formation.
SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalAmerican Mineralogist·DateNov 13, 2008
Dr. Franceschi is being recognized for his scientific contributions to mineralized tissue research, including the discovery of vitamin D regulation targets and the development of gene therapy approaches for bone regeneration. He will receive the award at the IADR 86th General Session & Exhibition in Toronto on July 2, 2008.
SourceInternational Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research·DateJun 25, 2008
Dr. Simmer's laboratory made significant observations on the alternative splicing of amelogenin RNA transcripts, leading to improvements in understanding genetic etiologies of inherited enamel defects like amelogenesis imperfecta. His work also focused on tooth dentin and the isolation of dentin sialophosphoprotein-derived proteins.
SourceInternational Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research·DateMar 21, 2007
Dr. Bonewald will receive the IADR Basic Research in Biological Mineralization Award for her groundbreaking work on biological mineralization, a prestigious recognition of her expertise in dental and oral science. The award acknowledges her outstanding contributions to the field, solidifying her position as a leading researcher.
SourceInternational Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research·DateJun 28, 2006
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Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.
Dr. MacDougall receives the IADR Basic Research in Biological Mineralization Award for her groundbreaking research on tooth formation and tissue-specific gene regulation. Her work has been funded continuously since 1985 by the NIH/NIDCR.
SourceInternational Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research·DateMar 9, 2005
Dental researchers successfully grown natural tooth enamel using a protein scaffold, solving a long-standing puzzle. The discovery unlocks one mystery of enamel formation and may have long-term applications in dental science and medical-device development.
SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalScience·DateMar 7, 2005
Dr. Yoshiro Takano has been recognized for his contributions to biological mineralization, including work on calcium transport in the enamel organ.
SourceInternational Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research·DateMar 10, 2004
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