Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Seeing a neurotoxin's deadly grip

Two research teams discovered detailed views of the toxin plugged into its neuronal receptor, providing new information on how it shuts down neurons. The findings could aid efforts to engineer specialized versions of the neurotoxin used to treat various medical conditions.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature·DateDec 13, 2006

Learning how nature splits water

Scientists have derived the precise structure of a catalyst composed of four manganese atoms and one calcium atom that drives water-splitting reactions. The high-resolution structure holds promise for developing clean energy technologies that rely on sunlight to split water, enabling the production of hydrogen fuel.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateNov 3, 2006
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Stress management: X-rays reveal Si thin-film defects

Researchers developed a new X-ray diffraction imaging technique to study crystal defects in strained silicon films. The technique reveals that defects created at the interface between layers propagate through the film, affecting its performance. This discovery could improve the manufacturing process for high-performance transistors.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJul 6, 2006

From biological imaging to Sudoku solutions

A new algorithm, developed by Cornell University researchers, can reconstruct detailed images of small specimens from raw data using X-ray diffraction microscopy. The algorithm also solves the internationally popular puzzle Sudoku, appealing to its creator's 'whimsical side'.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 3, 2006

Key heart and Alzheimer's disease protein imaged for first time in native state

Scientists at Gladstone Institutes have successfully imaged the native state of apoE4, a key protein in Alzheimer's and cardiovascular diseases. This breakthrough has significant implications for developing future therapeutic interventions by providing a complete understanding of the protein's configuration.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJan 12, 2006

Zooming in on the protein-conducting channel

Advanced imaging techniques allow researchers to visualize and analyze the protein-conducting channel with unprecedented detail. The study reveals new insights into the structure and function of this complex biological system.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature·DateNov 16, 2005
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Living metals

A research team from the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research and ESRF observes temporal structural fluctuations on an atomic scale in a crystalline material. The discovery sheds light on how materials respond to external perturbations like changes in temperature, pressure, magnetic or electric fields.

SourceEuropean Synchrotron Radiation Facility·JournalScience·DateApr 22, 2005

UO's molecular 'claws' trap arsenic atoms

Researchers at the University of Oregon have discovered a way to build a molecular 'claw' that can grab onto arsenic and sequester it, potentially leading to improved treatments for arsenic poisoning. The molecules developed by the team are known as chelators, which enable them to trap and immobilize heavy metal atoms like arsenic.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateNov 15, 2004

Paint absorbs corrosion-causing chemicals, kitty-litter style

Researchers have developed a new paint that prevents corrosion by capturing and releasing corrosion-fighting agents when needed. The pigment contains cerium, a natural anti-corrosion mineral, and can be used in conjunction with other corrosion inhibitors to provide enhanced protection.

SourceOhio State University·DateAug 23, 2004

How DNA copying enzyme 'stops the presses' for repair synthesizing enzyme

Researchers have discovered that the DNA copying enzyme, DNA polymerase, retains a "short-term memory" of mismatches and halts itself past the point of the mismatch. The study found that mismatch structures differ dramatically from previous indirect biochemical studies, revealing why stalling occurs.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalCell·DateMar 30, 2004
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

'Elves' makes protein crystallography easier

Elves automates X-ray crystallography process, decreasing time to 19 minutes from days or weeks, increasing efficiency of beamlines. The software uses X-ray diffraction data to produce a 3-D layout of proteins, crucial for understanding their function and designing drugs.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 27, 2004

New algorithm offers fast and accurate X-ray crystal structure identification

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed an algorithm that provides fast and accurate structure determination for organic compounds with a center of symmetry. The new approach reformulates the phase problem into an integer programming problem, allowing for rapid solution finding using off-the-shelf optimization software.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalActa Crystallographica Section A·DateSep 2, 2003

Electron nanodiffraction technique offers atomic resolution imaging

Scientists have successfully imaged a double-wall carbon nanotube at atomic resolution using an electron nanodiffraction technique. This breakthrough enables the determination of the structure of non-periodic objects, including biological macromolecules, much like X-ray diffraction does for crystals.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalScience·DateMay 29, 2003
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

New technique reveals structure of thin films with high resolution

Scientists have developed a new technique called COBRA to study the structure of thin films at an atomic level, revealing surprising alignment between film and substrate atoms. The technique provides precise information on atomic positions within films and their interactions with substrates.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateOct 29, 2002

Nanoscale crystallography reveals hidden structural details

Researchers used non-traditional techniques to determine nanoscale structures, revealing cesium ions arranged in short-range order zigzag chains. This verifies CsxSi32O64 as a room-temperature stable inorganic electride with potential useful electronic properties.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 25, 2002

X-ray microscope can image crystalline grains in three dimensions

Scientists at the University of Illinois developed a lensless X-ray microscope that can image microscopic crystals in three dimensions. This technique offers potential for studying nanocrystalline materials and protein crystals, providing new insights into their growth mechanisms.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·DateMar 18, 2002

Scientists identify molecular structure of cancer-related proteins

Researchers have characterized the structure of an Eph receptor tyrosine kinase bound to its corresponding ligand molecule, ephrin. This discovery provides a framework for developing potential drugs that could prevent cancer growth by blocking Eph signaling.

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center·JournalNature·DateDec 27, 2001
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Molecular structure could advance understanding of human disorders

Researchers at Northwestern University determine the molecular structure of a metallochaperone (CCS) bound to its target protein (SOD), providing new insight into a metal transfer mechanism and shedding light on diseases related to copper and oxidative stress.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateAug 27, 2001

'Frozen pictures' allow far-reaching glimpse into the cell’s protein factory

A team of scientists has unraveled key features of the small ribosomal subunit, including the site where protein biosynthesis begins. The study, which used novel experimental strategies and cryo-crystallography, provides a far-reaching glimpse into the microscopic world of ribosomes.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 6, 1999

Fake Photosynthesis? Test-Tube System InSciencePaper Sheds Light On The Oxygen We Breathe, UD Prof Says

Researchers created a test-tube photosynthesis system that mimics the metal cluster in green plants, shedding light on how life-giving oxygen is produced. The study, led by University of Delaware chemist Arnold Rheingold, may suggest new strategies for converting sunlight into electricity and enhance our appreciation of the natural world.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalScience·DateMar 5, 1999

Nature's Sugar High

Researchers from NASA and French-American teams crystallized thaumatin in space, producing larger and more defect-free crystals with improved x-ray diffraction properties. This breakthrough paves the way for better understanding of the molecule's shape and function, potentially leading to new treatments for diabetes and obesity.

SourceNASA/Marshall Space Flight Center--Space Sciences Laboratory·DateSep 14, 1998
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.