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Our defensive chemical sensors are almost as ancient as vision

 The detection of tissue-damaging pungent chemicals like those found in wasabi, tear gas and cigarette smoke is called chemical nociception. It’s different than either taste or smell, and according to recent phylogenetics research, this defensive sensor has been conserved across 500 million years of evolution.

Hand bacteria study holds promise for forensics identification

Forensic scientists may soon have a valuable new item in their toolkits—a way to identify individuals using unique, telltale types of hand bacteria left behind on objects like keyboards and computer mice, says a new Univ. of Colorado at Boulder study.

Berkeley scientists find way to get physical in cancer fight

Berkeley scientists find way to get physical in cancer fight

Conventional biological wisdom holds that living cells interact with their environment through an elaborate network of chemical signals, which is most therapies rely on drugs that block chemical signals. Scientists can now show, however, for the first time, that direct physical force can also change the way cellular proteins conduct chemical activity.

Molecular midwives may have helped give birth to the genetic material of life

Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered that small molecules could have acted as “molecular midwives” in helping the building blocks of life’s genetic material form long chains and may have assisted in selecting the base pairs of the DNA double helix.

Biochemists take a bead on gene-controlling code

DNA may provide the blueprint for life, but scientists are learning more about the role of a chemical code that governs the way that blueprint is read. Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have developed a new technique for observing the proteins that operate by that controlling code—called the epigenome—and assembled a library of interactions between the proteins and key positions on packets of DNA.

The killing power of clay: Advancing antibacterial alternatives

The killing power of clay: Advancing antibacterial alternatives

Researchers from the Arizona State Univ. have helped advance understanding about the antibacterial activity of clay minerals and their ability to kill what the best antibiotics on the market can't touch.  

Right mix of tools found to measure nanomaterials in blood vessels

A Univ. of Calgary chemistry professor is a step closer to helping solve a complex problem in nanotechnology: the impact nanoparticles have on human health and the environment.

Underwater silk adhesive might suture wounds

Underwater silk adhesive might suture wounds

Like silkworm moths, butterflies, and spiders, caddisfly larvae spin silk, but they do so underwater instead on dry land. Now, Univ. of Utah researchers have discovered why the fly's silk is sticky when wet and how that may make it valuable as an adhesive tape during surgery.

Technique allows study of protein folding

Technique allows study of protein folding

A new technique to study protein dynamics in living cells has been created by a team of Univ. of Illinois scientists, and evidence yielded from the new method indicates that an in vivo environment strongly modulates a protein’s stability and folding rate.

Material mimics bone to create better biomedical implants

Material mimics bone to create better biomedical implants

Researchers at North Carolina Univ. have developed a “metal foam” that has a similar elasticity to bone, which could mean a new generation of  biomedical implants that would avoid bone rejection that often results from more rigid implant materials, such as titanium.  

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Much ado about next to nothing

Much ado about next to nothing

The recent review of the past 10 years of the National Nanotechnology Initiative--as presented by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology--suggested the rise of nanomanufacturing as the near future of nanotechnology. But the actual proposed funding reflects a cautious approach, even about nanotech in general.

Lunar tires, space MRSA, and resonating microfluidics

Lunar tires, space MRSA, and resonating microfluidics

I typically attend the annual Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy each year in pursuit of specific coverage. This year, I sought out candidates for coverage in a vacuum technology article, and pulled together some instruments for a spectroscopy guide. But as busy as that kept me, it wasn’t all mass spectrometers and vacuum pumps on the show floor.  

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NuGard Coating Ashburn Hill

NuGard Coating Ashburn Hill

NuGard First Response Protective Clothing are lightweight coveralls, jackets, and pants that provide protection from heat and flame while keeping the wearers body temperature constant.

Multi-Touch Music Maker

Multi-Touch Music Maker

Professor David Wessel shows his multi-touch interface that uses computer technologies that allow him to experiment with fine controls to "caress" the instrument.

New To Market

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Submersible FlowCAM catches particle images and data in-situ and real-time
Submersible FlowCAM catches particle images and data in-situ and real-time

Fluid Imaging Technologies recently introduced its Submersible FlowCAM particle and cell imaging and analysis system at Ocean Sciences 2010 in Portland, Ore. The remote sensing platform can be used for continuous, unattended monitoring tethered to research vessels or autonomous submersibles.

Daytime running light has just two LEDs

The new OSTAR Compact LED from OSRAM has been developed specifically for use in vehicle headlights. Despite drawing just 5 W, the device provides 300 lumens of power and meets ECE/SAE color binning requirements for use on motor vehicles.

Tools & Technology

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Benchtop NMR analyzer
Benchtop NMR analyzer

Oxford Instruments America, Inc.’s Magnetic Resonance Group released the second generation of its MQC analyzers.

Software solution for microarray image analysis

BioDiscovery Inc. released ImaGene 9.0 for microarray image analysis. The new features include improved memory performance for the latest high density arrays, streamlined processing pipeline focused on image quantification and intensity extraction, and new modular design with options to add modules for analysis of gene/miRNA expression or CGH data.

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