Researchers at Kyushu University discovered that cancer cells use a previously unrecognized physical mechanism called CODE to create water pressure that aids in their migration. This finding opens new avenues for therapies targeting amoeboid movement, a key strategy used by most advanced cancer cells.
A team from Osaka University demonstrates greater control of ion passage through a nanopore membrane by applying a voltage to a gate electrode. This leads to a six-fold increase in osmotic energy efficiency and a power density of 15 W/m^2, enabling the potential for scaling up the technology.
Researchers discover a microscopic phenomenon that enables hydrogels to swell and contract quickly, improving the flexibility of soft robots. This breakthrough could lead to faster and more agile robots with applications in healthcare, manufacturing, and search and rescue operations.
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Scientists at Osaka University have developed an ultrathin silicon membrane with arrays of nanopores that can harness osmotic flow to generate electricity from seawater. The device achieved peak power efficiency of 400 kW/m² and demonstrated optimal configuration for best power generation.
A Japan-US research collaboration found that taurine absorption by sperm cells helps regulate osmotic stress during fertilization. The study, published in FEBS Journal, revealed that taurine deficiency leads to increased male infertility rates and altered sperm shape.
A thermodynamic theory of osmosis was published in 1897, but its explanation has not been fully adopted by chemistry and biology. Key findings include the misconception that osmosis only applies to liquids, and the need for an attractive force to drive the process.
Research at Virginia Tech suggests that the oldest complex life forms fed by osmosis, absorbing nutrients through their outer membrane. The two groups of modular Ediacara organisms grew and constructed their bodies in different ways to maximize surface-area to volume ratios necessary for osmosis-based feeding.