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Articles archive for Year 2012

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V-chip pocket test measures 50 things in a drop of blood

By Damir Beciri
2 Comments30 December 2012
v-chip-blood-testUp until recent years, blood tests have been performed on large, complex, and expensive equipment such as mass spectrometers, or require fluoroscopy analysis which must be done in a lab, but various groups of researchers are developing low-cost and portable solutions. Researchers at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute and MD Anderson Cancer Center developed V-chip… »

Tech»

Imaging nanoscale dynamic systems in structural biology

By Damir Beciri
28 December 2012
imaging-dynamic-systems-in-structural-biologySeeing viruses in action in their natural environment is invaluable, and researchers at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have devised a way to directly image biological structures at their most fundamental level and in their natural habitats. The technique is a major advancement toward the ultimate goal to image nanoscale dynamic systems in structural… »

Tech»

Using high-resolution imaging to reveal Chang Shan secrets

By Maja Bosanac
26 December 2012
schimmel-prorsResearches from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), California, have determined a molecular structure that gives us a better insight into the mysterious inner workings of Chang Shan – a Chinese herbal medicine used for thousands of years to treat malaria related fevers. The researchers used high-resolution imaging technique to reveal atomic details of a two-headed… »

Architecture| Bionics»

Constructing “living” façades with biological concrete

By Damir Beciri
24 December 2012
biological-concrete-1A group of researchers from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and BarcelonaTech (UPC), Spain, have developed a type of biological concrete that supports the natural, accelerated growth of pigmented organisms. The material has been designed for Mediterranean climates, and it is adapted to offer environmental, thermal and aesthetic advantages over other similar construction solutions. Unified… »

Bionics| Tech»

Bioinspired nanomaterial could boost electrode efficiency

By Damir Beciri
23 December 2012
electrochemica-templatingInspired by structures found in the nature’s own fuel cells and solar cells (mitochondria and chloroplasts), researchers at the University of Reading have patented a new method to create electrode coatings with a thousand-fold increase in surface area compared to a flat electrode. The increased contact surface could lead to more efficient and greener vehicles,… »

Bionics| Tech»

Using modified E. coli to create succinic acid from soybean meal

By Damir Beciri
23 December 2012
rice-soybean-teamAccording to the ancient Chinese myth, in year 2853 before the common era, the legendary Emperor Shennong of China proclaimed that soybeans are one out of five sacred plants, and it is estimated that soybeans were a crucial crop in eastern Asia even before the written records. Aside its growing worldwide utilization in food industry,… »

Tech»

Researchers testing new coating to counter nitrogen oxides

By Damir Beciri
23 December 2012
coating-breaksdown-nitrogen-oxidesIn our previous articles, we often mentioned air quality since it affects our health and quality of life. Despite the fact you might pay attention to the materials, finishes and proper ventilation inside your home, people living in urban areas still suffer from high levels of pollution from automotive traffic. Fraunhofer Institute researchers plan to… »

Tech»

Using liquid metal to create ultra-stretchable wires

By Damir Beciri
18 December 2012
dickey-elastic-wireHow many times you wished that your headphones had extra length or you ended up with tangled elastic electrical cord? North Carolina State University researchers are close to a great solution to these problems, since they managed to create conductive wires that won’t tangle and can function after being stretched up to eight times of… »