MIT researchers have found an elegant solution to a sticky scientific problem in basic fluid mechanics: Why water doesn't soak into soil at an even rate, but instead forms what looks like fingers of fluid flowing downward.
Graphic / Luis Cueto Felgueroso
Saturation maps from a numerical simulation of the proposed model
show that the flow dynamics and the distinctive saturation overshoot
at the tip of the fingers agree with experimental observations.
A new class of exceptionally effective chemical catalysts that promote the powerful olefin metathesis reaction has been discovered by a team of Boston College and MIT scientists, opening up a vast new scientific platform to researchers in medicine, biology and materials.
Team Led by Scripps Research Scientists Uncovers New Way to Limit Damaging Production of Nitric Oxide
Results Could Lead to New Treatments for Conditions From Inflammation to Cancer
LA JOLLA, CA, October 12, 2008—Excess nitric oxide production by one enzyme has been tied to human illnesses ranging from inflammation to cancer, but adequate treatments for the problem have been elusive. Now, work led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute has revealed a new method for chemically targeting this single enzyme to block troubling nitric oxide production, without limiting its beneficial production by other closely related enzymes. This technique provides a general solution that should enable development of new drugs to treat medical problems tied to nitric oxide overproduction, such as arthritis, and may also aid the discovery of treatments for other conditions such as HIV/AIDS.
Delivery Confirmation: Biodegradable Polymers Show Promise for Improving Treatment of Acute Inflammatory Diseases
A family of biodegradable polymers called polyketals and their derivatives may improve treatment for such inflammatory illnesses as acute lung injury, acute liver failure and inflammatory bowel disease by delivering drugs, proteins and snips of ribonucleic acid to disease locations in the body.
Niren Murthy, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech’s Department
of Biomedical Engineering, has developed biodegradable polymers
that may improve the treatment of acute inflammatory illnesses. Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek
Biochemists reveal details of mysterious bacterial microcompartments
By Stuart Wolpert
UCLA biochemists and colleagues have answered an important question about the structure of microcompartments — the mysterious molecular machines that seem to be present in a wide variety of pathogens and other bacteria.
New, non-invasive prostate cancer test beats PSA in detecting prostate cancer, researchers report Simple urine test leads to more accurate diagnoses, fewer false-positive results
PHILADELPHIA - An experimental biomarker test developed by researchers at the University of Michigan more accurately detects prostate cancer than any other screening method currently in use, according to a study published in the February 1 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Regenerating Nerves: Neurotransmitters in Polymers Stimulate Nerve Regrowth
Research reported December 11 in the journal Advanced Materials describes a potentially promising strategy for encouraging the regeneration of damaged central nervous system cells known as neurons.
Regenerating Nerves: Neurotransmitters in Polymers Stimulate Nerve Regrowth
Research reported December 11 in the journal Advanced Materials describes a potentially promising strategy for encouraging the regeneration of damaged central nervous system cells known as neurons.
Yadong Wang, assistant professor in the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University (right), and graduate student Christiane Gumera (left) have developed a potentially promising strategy for encouraging the regeneration of damaged central nervous system neurons. Gumera points to a fluorescence image that indicates the presence of proteins required for nerve regeneration.
Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek
U-M biochemists add new molecular weapon to their arsenal
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—University of Michigan researchers have acquired a new molecular tool that could help them transform a toxin from coral-reef bacteria into a next-generation cancer drug.
MIT gel changes color on demand
Material could lead to fast, inexpensive sensors
Anne Trafton, News Office
MIT researchers have created a new structured gel that can rapidly change color in response to a variety of stimuli, including temperature, pressure, salt concentration and humidity.
Credit: Youngjong Kang In this video, MIT researchers add ammonium chloride in solution to the tunable gel, changing the gel's color. Washing the ammonium chloride away returns the gel to its original color.
Protein binding makes possible to cure degenerative diseases Might help generate a drug to cure or control these type of diseases
Permitiría generar algún medicamento que cure o controle
este tipo de enfermedades
Laura Romero
Entender el proceso de
plegamiento de las proteínas
abre la posibilidad para una
cura de los males degenerativos
que tanto afectan a la humanidad,
lo que significaría dar un
paso gigantesco, afirmó Leopoldo
García-Colín, doctor Honoris
Causa por la UNAM.
Weizmann Institute Scientists discover: The pleasantness of an odor can be predicted from its molecular structure
What makes one smell pleasant and another odious? Is there something in the chemistry of a substance that can serve to predict how we will perceive its smell? Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science and the University of California at Berkeley have now discovered that there is, indeed, such a link, and knowing the molecular structure of a substance can help predict whether we will find its smell heavenly or malodorous.
SPEEDING “FINGERTIP” DISCOVERY-TWENTY YEARS OF PROTEIN INFO IN ONE PLACE
--New information about old proteins offers researchers shortcuts to study disease
Researchers at Johns Hopkins took advantage of a new technique that reads the makeup of proteins to identify nearly all chemical changes nature makes by adding phosphate to proteins manufactured in human cells.
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—By recognizing sugars, a technique developed by University of Michigan analytical chemist Kristina Hakansson sets the stage for new cancer diagnosis and treatment options.
A model of the gold-phosphine complex based on X-ray crystallographic data. The gold atoms, in gold, participate in organic reactions, donating or accepting electrons, but the precise structure of the surrounding phosphine molecule determines the final product and whether it is left-handed or right-handed. The pink atoms are phosphorus; the black, carbon; the green, chlorine. (Dean Toste/UC Berkeley)
Hydrogel particles pave way for new bedside diagnostics
Chemical engineers bring 'theranostics'--personalized therapies--ever closer
Anne Trafton, News Office
March 8, 2007
MIT researchers have developed a high-throughput method for the detection of biomolecules (such as DNA shown here) using multifunctional particles. The technique could make medical diagnostics and drug discovery faster and cheaper.
Researchers Create DNA Logic Circuits That Work in Test Tubes
PASADENA, Calif.--Computers and liquids are not very compatible, as many a careless coffee-drinking laptop owner has discovered. But a new breakthrough by researchers at the California Institute of Technology could result in future logic circuits that literally work in a test tube--or even in the human body.
Artificial Cornea Offers Better Results for Infants, Some Blind Patients
New Plastic Device Cuts Down on Repeat Surgeries, Infections, and Improves Vision
Infants and adults who are blind due to a cloudy or damaged cornea are seeing some remarkable results thanks to a new version of an artificial implant that takes the place of the cornea, the clear covering of the eye that serves as our window on the world.
