News on research labs and their facilities. Covers lunar research sites, national-lab partnerships, obesity classification, and cloud-lab funding.
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund has awarded a total of $8.25 million to support established physician-scientists conducting translational research. This funding will enable these researchers to explore scientific questions, apply their knowledge at the bedside, and bring insights back to the laboratory.
Researchers successfully created a magnetic field in a highly turbulent flow of liquid sodium, exhibiting remarkable similarities with cosmic magnetic fields. This breakthrough advances our understanding of the mechanisms behind the formation of natural magnetic fields.
Researchers at Salk Institute find epidermis controls plant growth signals, allowing them to manipulate growth pathways. Dwarf Arabidopsis plants that lack BRI1 receptor expression are made larger by driving its expression in the outer layer.
A series of articles provides tried-and-true advice on maintaining and manipulating flies, inducing mutations, harvesting and analyzing embryos, and characterizing proteins. These protocols are designed to be easy to use at the bench, with reagents, equipment, and recipe lists.
Researchers mapped neurons in zebrafish spinal cords to understand how they control movement speed, revealing a surprising pattern that regulates slow and fast movements. The study opens a door to basic understanding of spinal cord architecture and function.
A study published in Archives of Ophthalmology confirms the effectiveness of genetic testing in diagnosing complex retinal diseases. The research found that genetic testing confirmed a clinician's diagnosis in half of the tested cases, providing crucial information for healthcare professionals.
The latest issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols provides guidance on choosing plant tissues, designing test proteins, and setting up microscope equipment to detect green fluorescent protein (GFP) in plants. This information is essential for researchers interested in plant biology and imaging technologies.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory have developed a novel composite material that combines tungsten and metallic glass to create an armor-piercing projectile. The nanostructured material exhibits self-sharpening behavior, making it a potential replacement for depleted uranium in kinetic energy penetrators.
Researchers at the Hollings Marine Laboratory have uncovered a subtle chemical pathway by which Pfiesteria piscicida can produce a lethal toxin. The discovery resolves a long-standing mystery surrounding occasional mass fish kills on the East Coast.
Scientists have developed a method to rapidly separate blood plasma without moving parts, leveraging the phenomenon of tea leaves accumulating at the center of a stirred teacup. This technique could significantly speed up medical tests, such as cholesterol level checks and glucose testing for diabetics.
Researchers at US DOE's Ames Laboratory have developed a material with a negative refractive index for visible light, marking a significant advance in the field of metamaterials. The silver-based mesh-like material has a refractive index of -0.6 at the red end of the visible spectrum.
Researchers can now observe live cells for extended periods using advanced microscopy techniques, allowing them to study complex cellular processes and identify potential avenues for disease treatment. The new protocols provide a comprehensive toolkit for scientists to visualize and analyze cell movement, growth, and function.
Researchers at NIST and NREL demonstrate a simple laser-based method for purifying raw nanotube materials, significantly reducing impurities. The technique uses carefully calibrated laser pulses to react with contaminants, resulting in cleaner samples that can be used in various applications.
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has licensed its Adaptive Scanning Optical Microscope (ASOM) technology to Thorlabs Inc. The ASOM enables the automation of challenging laboratory tasks, such as diagnosing cancer and discovering new drugs. It provides high-resolution images of large sample areas without sacrificing image quality.
Researchers developed a rapid 3D cell-growth technique that produces organized heart muscle tissue capable of generating pulsating forces and reacting to stimulation. The technique uses fibrin gel to support rat cardiac cells, resulting in tissue with significantly better properties than previous methods.
The GreeneChip System is a comprehensive tool for differential diagnosis of infectious diseases, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. It can be used on various samples and has been tested with positive results in cases where other methods failed to implicate a microorganism.
Four adults received highly concentrated, unlicensed botulinum preparation for cosmetic injections, resulting in toxin levels up to 40 times the estimated human lethal dose. Botulism can cause respiratory failure and death if left untreated.
The Carnegie Institution has been granted a patent for the manufacture of hard, single-crystal diamonds through a Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (MPCVD) process. The inventors' work has led to diamonds with increased hardness and enhanced optical characteristics.
Researchers have resolved key questions about DNA transcription using nanotech tools, revealing a molecular machine that remains stationary and 'reels in' adjacent DNA segments during initial synthesis. This breakthrough advances understanding of the structure and function of transcription, setting the stage for new opportunities in co...
Researchers develop protocols to identify promising molecule/mineral pairs, building on previous findings that many biomolecules can adhere to mineral surfaces. The study uses DNA microarrays and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry to discover which molecules stick to specific mineral surfaces.
The current issue of CSH Protocols introduces multimedia content, including movie clips, to demonstrate techniques and show experimental results. Researchers can track cell movements, visualize physiological changes, and assess behavior using advanced imaging technologies.
The Human Performance Laboratory at FSU assesses how stress impacts critical decision-making skills, using medical simulation rooms and various tests. The research aims to develop new training protocols that prepare people to make life-or-death decisions under pressure.
The Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging at UCL will further bolster the reputation of a laboratory renowned for its research into neural cognition and common neurological diseases. The centre aims to study the functional architecture of the human brain to identify core mechanisms causing common human neurological diseases.
Biophysicist Quhuan Li to visit Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation laboratory for three months, learn flow-enhanced cell adhesion techniques and set up systems at her home university. The Biophysical Society's award supports international collaboration and knowledge sharing in biophysics
Researchers can now identify protein-DNA interactions in complex organisms using a freely available protocol developed by Dr. Marian Walhout and her colleagues. Additionally, the MuDPIT method enables the identification of rare proteins in complex mixtures.
A new study led by UC Davis expert Rosie Woodroffe found that killing wild badgers to prevent tuberculosis in cattle is unlikely to succeed. Badger culling disrupts territorial behavior, leading to increased disease transmission among badgers and from cattle to badgers.
Government laboratories can quickly analyze radioactive samples but with variable accuracy and quality control procedures. The NIST tests found that measurement capability is generally accurate within 30% of the expected value.
Scientists at EMBL have discovered that beta-catenin plays a central role in determining whether blood cells form or not, and that an overactive Wingless pathway can lead to leukemia and other diseases. The study provides new insights into the processes within cells that lead to cancer.
Researchers attribute ozone recovery to the Montreal Protocol and changes in atmospheric transport dynamics. Ozone levels have stopped decreasing in one region and are increasing in another in the stratosphere above mid-latitudes.
A new analysis of 50 years of changes in freshwater inputs to the Arctic Ocean and North Atlantic reveals that freshwater increases from Arctic Ocean sources are highly linked to a fresher North Atlantic. The study, published in Science, suggests that changes in climate and atmospheric dynamics may be driving this trend.
African sleeping sickness parasite Trypanosoma brucei evolves an unusual chromosomal structure to diversify its VSG genes and evade human immune response. This adaptation enables the parasite to change protein expression rapidly, allowing it to persist in a host population.
The latest issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols highlights over 50 new RNA interference methods for researchers to study gene functions in model organisms. These protocols provide detailed guidelines for handling embryonic stem cells, visualizing programmed cell death, and preparing cells for microscopic imaging.
Carnegie Institution's Marilyn Fogel receives Fulbright grant for astrobiology research, tracing phenomena and exploring life on Mars. The grant supports her work with the AMASE team in Svalbard, a Norwegian island similar to Martian geology.
Researchers from Jackson Laboratory found that high BMI is not directly associated with a high percentage of fat, suggesting the need for more refined measurements to distinguish between large body mass and true obesity. The study's results have implications for understanding the complex interplay of genetic factors in health disorders.
Researchers have successfully created sperm in a laboratory using embryonic stem cells, demonstrating their viability in producing viable offspring. The study opens up new avenues for investigating mechanisms involved in sperm production and developing new treatment strategies for infertility.
Researchers found that laboratory animal workers who handled more than 50 rats per day had a two-fold reduction in the risk of developing work-related chest symptoms. This suggests that exposure to laboratory animals can lead to natural immunity, as indicated by high IgG4-IgE antibody ratios.
A survey of UK laboratories showed a 83% increase in lab test requests from primary care between 2000 and 2004. Two strategies developed by Dr. Bernie Croal reduced unnecessary test requests by 10-22% in Scottish primary care practices. These interventions are feasible within most laboratory settings.
Biologists observed sea slug navigation, feeding, mating, and egg-laying behavior, shedding light on its complex nervous system. The study confirms that many wild behaviors are similar to laboratory observations, providing new insights into sensory systems and neural controls.
A new experimental vaccine has been shown to protect nonhuman primates against Marburg virus infection, even when administered after exposure. The study found that all treated monkeys survived for at least 80 days, while controls succumbed to the disease within 12 days.
HHMI's Janelia Farm Research Campus aims to promote high-risk, high-reward research by providing internal funding and a flexible environment. The campus will feature small research groups, active bench scientists, and excellent support facilities.
Researchers found cuttlefish can detect contrast differences of at least 15%, suggesting they use intensity matching for camouflage. The study's findings shed light on the complex visual processing of these cephalopods, an ideal model for studying camouflage.
David Walt's HHMI-funded program aims to infuse undergraduate and K-12 education with scientific discovery, tackling real-world problems and promoting interdisciplinary approaches. The initiative seeks to boost the flow of students into scientific research and careers.
The Jackson center aims to understand how genes interact to develop healthy individuals or lead to diseases, leveraging the power of the mouse model. Collaborators will use computational approaches to identify clusters of genes associated with complex diseases, shedding light on their evolution and causes.
Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health have developed a rapid and highly sensitive diagnostic test for pathogens responsible for disease outbreaks. The new test, known as MassTag PCR, can simultaneously identify multiple agents and reduce the time needed for differential diagnosis.
The HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) provides long-range weather prediction, enhances ocean current understanding, and supports real-time maritime operations. This innovative tool enables accurate forecasts and tracking of pollution, algal blooms, and oil spills.
The CLS prototype has successfully produced its first X-ray beam, demonstrating the feasibility of compact synchrotrons. This breakthrough offers new opportunities for researchers to access high-quality, tunable x-ray beams in university and industrial labs.
A study conducted by the NIH and NINDS evaluated patients treated with natalizumab for relapsing-remitting MS and found no new cases of PML. However, the researchers caution that the long-term risk associated with natalizumab treatment is unknown.
The new mobile lab expands the diagnostic laboratory's capacity to respond to animal disease outbreaks, enabling quick expansion of testing capabilities. The trailer is equipped with biosafety level 3 standards and can process blood and tissue samples within 24-48 hours.
Researchers used virtual-reality displays to show that humans can't accurately judge size and distance when motion is present. Instead, they prefer a stable representation of the world independent of head and eye movements.
Researchers found high levels of selenium in contaminated toads and their offspring, leading to developmental abnormalities such as structural malformations and abnormal swimming. The study highlights the importance of maternal transfer in contaminant exposure for amphibians.
Scientists study stardust in labs to understand element formation and stellar evolution. The analysis of isotopic compositions provides clues about nuclear and chemical processes in stars.
The University of Houston is collaborating with the US Navy to develop nanomagnetic biosensors for detecting biological warfare agents and land mines. The program aims to create high-sensitivity techniques for improving land mine detection.
Ahmet Yildiz developed a new technique for fluorescence imaging that allowed him to identify the 'walking mechanism' used by protein motors in living cells. He applied this technique to measure how Myosin V, a biomolecular motor involved in intracellular transport, moves.
A team led by FSU physicist Sam Tabor has discovered a novel form of radioactive decay in which two protons are ejected simultaneously from a silver atom. This unexpected finding expands knowledge of nuclear physics and has implications for astrophysics and the production of elements on Earth.
Researchers have developed hybrid antibodies from chimpanzees and humans that effectively inhibited the spread of vaccinia and variola viruses in test tube experiments. In mice infected with vaccinia virus, the hybrid antibodies proved more effective than anti-vaccinia immune globulin when given two days after virus exposure.
In eukaryotic cells, RINGO/Spy controls transcription and translation through protein-protein interactions. It inhibits the activity of the translation initiation factor eIF4E, leading to reduced protein synthesis.
A comprehensive update of E. coli K-12 genes has been published, providing a centralized resource for the scientific community. The project, led by MBL scientists, aims to improve understanding of gene function and accelerate laboratory work.
A team of bio-archaeologists confirms the existence of human activity in northern Europe dating back approximately 700,000 years. The findings were made using a newly-refined technique of amino acid analysis and published in Nature.
Researchers are developing intelligent systems to monitor seniors' daily lives and detect changes in health. The ORCATECH center is creating technologies for in-home monitoring of mobility, cognition, and medication management.
The grant will support two graduate and five undergraduate students at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, as well as a postdoctoral position at North Carolina A&T University. The magnet lab will provide hands-on research experience for minority researchers, aiming to increase their participation in extreme conditions research.