TUD researchers introduce a two-step process for producing phosphorus-containing chemicals. Professor Jan J. Weigand and his team from the TUD Dresden University of Technology have achieved a ground breaking advancement in the production of phosphorus-containing chemicals. In a recent publication in the renowned scientific journal “Nature Synthesis”, they present an innovative synthesis method that requires only two process steps for the previously complex production of functionalized phosphates. This promising innovation not only contributes to environmental protection but also saves significant…

A band-aid with sensor function. After surgery in the abdominal cavity, they are dreaded: leaks at the sutures where the contents of the digestive tract can sip into the abdomen. “Even today, such leaks are a life-threatening complication,” explains Inge Herrmann, researcher at Empa and professor of Nanoparticulate Systems at ETH Zurich. The idea of sealing sutured tissue in the abdominal cavity with a plaster has already arrived in operating rooms. The problem is that clinical success is not always…

Folate-based radiopharmaceuticals can be used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to detect folate receptors in brain tumours. The discovery of folate receptors and their exploitation potential with respect to brain tumours is a new and significant finding in the field. The discovery is related to gliomas, which are a group of serious brain tumours. Researchers discovered that brain tumours contain increased amount of folate receptor expression relative to adjacent brain tissue. This phenomenon has been observed in both experimental…

Numerous visual illusions are caused by limits in the way our eyes and visual neurones work – rather than more complex psychological processes, new research shows. Researchers examined illusions in which an object’s surroundings affect the way we see its colour or pattern. Scientists and philosophers have long debated whether these illusions are caused by neural processing in the eye and low-level visual centres in the brain, or involve higher-level mental processes such as context and prior knowledge. In the…

Latest research reveals the properties of a type of food poisoning bacteria, and paves way for establishment of preventive methods. Recently, Providencia spp. which have been detected in patients with gastroenteritis, and similar to enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. O157 and Salmonella spp., have been attracting attention as causative agents of food poisoning. For children with low immunity, food poisoning can be lethal as it causes severe symptoms such as diarrhea and dehydration, so clarifying the source of infection and pathogenic factors…

Researchers from the Gothelf lab at Aarhus University have developed a new method to manipulate the shape of DNA, opening up exciting new avenues for exploration in molecular biology, nanotechnology, and beyond. A human cell harbors roughly 2 meters of DNA, encompassing the essential genetic information of an individual. If one were to unwind and stretch out all the DNA contained within a single person, it would span a staggering distance – enough to reach the sun and back 60…

Controlling chemical reactions to generate new products is one of the biggest challenges in chemistry. Developments in this area impact industry, for example, by reducing the waste generated in the manufacture of construction materials or by improving the production of catalysts to accelerate chemical reactions. For this reason, in the field of polariton chemistry – which uses tools of chemistry and quantum optics – in the last ten years different laboratories around the world have developed experiments in optical cavities…

UR researchers develop a method for reliable planning of syntheses. Cross-coupling reactions–chemical transformations in which two fragments are joined together–are a valuable tool in the synthesis of organic molecules. Applications range from drug development and synthesis of naturally occurring molecules to materials science. Despite many known methods, finding the right conditions for new reactions remained a challenge. Given the numerous factors that can affect the outcome of the reaction, such as the presence or absence of ligand molecules, catalyst precursors,…

Scientists have created one of the most detailed 3D images of the synapse, the important juncture where neurons communicate with each other through an exchange of chemical signals.  These nanometer scale models will help scientists better understand and study neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s disease and schizophrenia.  The new study appears in the journal PNAS and was authored by a team led by Steve Goldman, MD, PhD, co-director of the Center for Translational Neuromedicine at the University of Rochester and…

The potential of micro scanners in medical technology is immense. Their small size, low weight and high energy efficiency make them ideal for mobile use. More than 200 different micro scanner designs have been developed at Fraunhofer IPMS to meet customer-specific requirements. The range of services covers the entire value chain, from design and prototype development to pilot production in its own clean room on 8” wafer. Fraunhofer IPMS is continuously expanding the application range of scanner mirror technology with…

Researchers print bacterial biofilms on human lung cells to study chronic lung infections. Some bacterial pathogens form so-called biofilms during infection processes to protect themselves from drugs or cells of the human immune system. Every year, more than 500,000 people die from infections associated with biofilms. Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) have now developed a novel method to place such biofilms on lung cells in the laboratory. The model system produced by means of “bioprinting”…

All living cells contains proteins with different functions, depending on the type of cell. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have discovered a way to identify proteins even without looking at their structure. Their method is faster, easier and more reliable than previous methods. Currently, the general view is that each protein’s structure is what controls its function in cells. The atomic sequences, meaning how the atoms are arranged in the proteins, create the protein’s structure and shape. But there…

Research team at Freie Universität Berlin increases safety of attenuated live SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. After having successfully tested a mucosal vaccine against coronavirus in animals just months ago, Berlin scientists have now further developed their live SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Researchers at Freie Universität Berlin have increased the safety of the vaccine, which is administered via the nose. The results of their study on the modified form of the live vaccine have been published in Molecular Therapy (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.05.004). In early April 2023, a…

The EU has taken up the cause of cancer prevention. The MHH is participating in the EU project PIECES and aims to reduce the risk of cancer and improve liver health with personalized exercise programs. About three million people in the European Union are affected by cancer. For 1.34 million of them, the disease is fatal. However, around 40 percent of cancer cases could be prevented through effective prevention strategies such as a healthier lifestyle and early detection. To achieve…

Meacham leads WashU team in creating an acoustic microfluidic device to study swimming microorganisms. A team from the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis and Massachusetts Institute of Technology has created an acoustic microfluidic method that offers new opportunities to conduct experiments with swimming cells and microorganisms. “The cells that our collaborators study are powerful swimmers for their size, and so the forces needed to trap them are substantial,” said J. Mark Meacham, an associate professor…

PNNL scientists investigate the promising properties of a common, Earth-abundant salt. In a world of continuously warmer temperatures, a growing consensus demands that energy sources have zero, or next-to-zero, carbon emissions. That means growing beyond coal, oil, and natural gas by getting more energy from renewable sources. One of the most promising renewable energy carriers is clean hydrogen, which is produced without fossil fuels. It’s a promising idea because the most abundant element in the universe is hydrogen, found in…