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Mushrooms are older than we thought

Researchers at Université libre de Bruxelles discover oldest known mushroom fossil, dating back 715-810 million years, using advanced molecular analysis techniques. The findings suggest that fungi played a crucial role in the colonization of Earth's surface around 500 million years ago.

SourceUniversité libre de Bruxelles·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 22, 2020

Freeze frame: Scientists capture atomic-scale snapshots of artificial proteins

Researchers at Berkeley Lab successfully image the atomic structure of peptoid nanosheets using cryo-EM, a breakthrough that could advance applications such as synthetic antibodies and self-repairing membranes. The study demonstrates unprecedented atomic precision and paves the way for designing soft materials at the atomic scale.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 4, 2019

A close look at a sticky situation

New research published in PNAS finds the missing link between soft surface adhesion and the roughness of the hard surface it touches. The study reveals that small-scale roughness can create more surface area for soft materials to grip, explaining predicted adhesion behavior.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 2, 2019

Cracking the mystery of nature's toughest material

A team of researchers has revealed how nacre, the rainbow-sheened material lining mussel shells, achieves its remarkable hardness and resilience. By studying the nano-engineering process, they found that combining microscopic 'bricks' of aragonite with organic mortar enables strength without losing resilience, setting it apart from hum...

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2019

A look at the space between mouse brain cells

Researchers have developed a new imaging paradigm to study the extracellular space between brain cells, revealing its complex and dynamic nature. The technique, called SUSHI, provides high-quality 3D reconstructions of brain tissue and has the potential to improve drug delivery within the brain.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateFeb 22, 2018

Proteins keep a grip on cells

Scientists have identified where laminin 511 interacts with integrins, crucial adhesion molecules that determine cell function and shape. The discovery reveals the gamma chain directly interacts with integrins, stabilizing the laminin-integrin bond.

SourceOsaka University·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 11, 2017

A swell diagnostic method

Researchers develop a technique called expansion microscopy to physically expand tissues, enabling pathologists to diagnose diseases like early breast cancer with high accuracy and reliability. The method has been shown to improve the resolution of conventional microscopes and can be applied to any type of clinical sample.

SourceLudwig Institute for Cancer Research·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateJul 17, 2017

Scientists get closer look at living nerve synapses

Researchers developed a custom-built microscope to study living nerve synapses, resolving events in the synapse with high precision. They found that the active zone is more like a rain shower than a single jet, with about 10 locations reused too often and a limit to how quickly these sites can be reused.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNeuron·DateMar 23, 2017