Technologies & Strategies That Enable R&D
DNA coatings help achieve new forms of colloidal self-assembly
June 13, 2013 8:58 pm | News | CommentsColloidal solutions are made up of large particles, dispersed in a liquid solvent, that achieve stable structural arrangements through various types of self-assembly. But what about self-assembly of two—or more—species of different colloids? Scientists showed that when the interactions between the particles of two different DNA-coated colloids are carefully designed, they result in the formation of new structures.
Research identifies scent of melanoma
June 13, 2013 6:00 pm | News | CommentsMelanoma is a tumor that is responsible for approximately 75% of skin cancer deaths. According to new research, odors from human skin cells can be used to identify melanoma. The method, which uses gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques, takes advantage of the fact that human skin produces numerous airborne chemical molecules known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, many of which are odorous.
Researchers reveal next-generation emergency response technology
June 13, 2013 5:07 pm | News | CommentsAmericans are accustomed to calling 9-1-1 to get help in an emergency. A research team lead by Ram Dantu of the University of North Texas sees the growth of cell phone and smartphone usage as an opportunity to improve 9-1-1 response. His team has designed several innovative smart phone apps that virtually place 9-1-1 operators at the scene of an emergency, allowing faster response.
Unzipped nanotubes unlock potential for batteries
June 13, 2013 4:04 pm | News | CommentsResearchers at Rice Univ. have come up with a new way to boost the efficiency of the ubiquitous lithium-ion battery by employing ribbons of graphene that start as carbon nanotubes. Proof-of-concept anodes built with graphene nanoribbons and tin oxide showed an initial capacity better than the theoretical capacity of tin oxide alone.
Electronic nose nanosensor in development for food safety
June 13, 2013 3:47 pm | News | CommentsThe "electronic nose" sensor developed by a Univ. of California, Riverside engineering professor, and being commercialized by Innovation Economy Crowd (ieCrowd), will be further refined to detect deadly pathogens including toxic pesticides in the global food supply chain, according to a recently signed product development and distribution agreement.
Nanoparticle opens the door to clean-energy alternatives
June 13, 2013 1:57 pm | News | CommentsCheaper clean-energy technologies could be made possible thanks to a new discovery. A Penn State Univ. research team has found that an important chemical reaction that generates hydrogen from water is effectively triggered—or catalyzed—by a nanoparticle composed of nickel and phosphorus, two inexpensive elements that are abundant on Earth.
Accelrys launches new laboratory informatics system
June 13, 2013 12:58 pm | News | CommentsScientific innovation and lifecycle management software company Accelrys Inc. on Thursday launched its Accelrys Experiment Knowledge Base (EKB), a laboratory informatics system that facilitates experimentation management and enables organizations to transform mass amounts of scientific data into knowledge essential for faster, more efficient new product innovation.
U.S. court says human genes cannot be patented
June 13, 2013 11:53 am | by JESSE J. HOLLAND - Associated Press Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsThe U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that companies cannot patent parts of naturally-occurring human genes, a decision with the potential to profoundly affect the emerging and lucrative medical and biotechnology industries. The high court's unanimous judgment reverses three decades of patent awards by government officials.
Neuroscience to benefit from hybrid supercomputer memory
June 13, 2013 11:11 am | News | CommentsTo handle large amounts of data from detailed brain models, IBM, EPFL, and ETH Zürich are collaborating on a new hybrid memory strategy for supercomputers. They are exploring how to combine different types of memory—DRAM, which is standard for computer memory, and flash memory that is akin to USB sticks—for less expensive supercomputing performance to help advance the Human Brain Project.
Cheetah's acceleration power key to their success
June 13, 2013 10:35 am | by Seth Borenstein, AP Science Writer | News | CommentsResearchers have recently determined that cheetahs can run twice as fast as Olympian Usain Bolt on a straightaway. Then they measured the energy a cheetah muscle produces compared to body size and calculated the same for Bolt, the sprinter. They found the cheetah had four times the crucial kick power of the Olympian. That power to rapidly accelerate—not just speed alone—is the key to the cheetah's hunting success.
Scientists capture crystallization of materials in nanoseconds
June 13, 2013 10:16 am | News | CommentsLawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers, for the first time, have created movies of irreversible reactions that occur too rapidly to capture with conventional microscopy. The team used multiframe, nanosecond-scale imaging in the dynamic transmission electron microscope to create movies of the crystallization of phase-change materials used for optical and resistive memory.
Z-axis Elevator Stage
June 13, 2013 8:51 am | Product Releases | CommentsPiezosystem jena has introduced the PZ 300 piezoelectric actuator-based z-axis elevator stage for standard and inverted microscopes. The monolithic stage design is free of mechanical play and offers a travel range of up to 300 microns with a step resolution of ±2.5 nm.
Dual Stiffness Isolation Mount
June 13, 2013 8:47 am | Product Releases | CommentsKinetic Systems has introduced a new concept in vibration isolation for moving load applications—the Vibralevel DSM dual stiffness isolation mount. Providing the optimal combination of damping and vibration isolation, the Vibralevel DSM is an alternative to active vibration isolation systems.
Light-carved nanovolcanoes hold promise for drug delivery
June 13, 2013 8:16 am | News | CommentsResearchers from North Carolina State Univ. have developed a method for creating nanovolcanoes by shining various colors of light through a nanoscale “crystal ball” made of a synthetic polymer. These nanovolcanoes can store precise amounts of other materials and hold promise for new drug-delivery technologies.
Silicon-based nanoparticles could make LEDs cheaper, greener
June 13, 2013 8:07 am | News | CommentsLight-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are the most efficient and environmentally friendly light bulbs on the market. But they come at a higher up-front price than other bulbs, especially the ones with warmer and more appealing hues. Researchers at the Univ. of Washington have created a material they say would make LED bulbs cheaper and greener to manufacture, driving down the price.
