Putting a modern spin on old tech, scientists create a mechanical computer from metamaterials for situations where electronic computers break down. The concept of a mechanical computer is not something one comes…
Scientists create cyborg bacteria – Advanced Science News
Incorporating polymer skeletons inside bacteria stops them from replicating and results in cyborg cells that are half living, half artificial. A “holy grail” in synthetic biology is the creation of fully programmable…
Louis Pasteur, germ theory and the first life-saving vaccines
It is said that few people have saved more lives than Louis Pasteur. Though he began as a chemist, Pasteur’s career cut across disciplines, earning him recognition in fields such as microbiology,…
What shapes the lung microbiome?
Until recently, scientists believed that the lungs were a sterile environment, free of any bacteria. But research over the last five years has upended this idea, providing evidence that healthy lungs possess…
A breakthrough in nuclear fusion announced
Since nuclear fusion research began in the mid-20th century, researchers have been unable to a demonstrate a positive energy gain and a self-sustained reaction — a condition known as “ignition”. However, today…
Biobots made from roundworms – Advanced Science News
Scientists are turning to C. elegans for biobot designs, guiding their movement through reconfigurable microtopographies. Tiny, automated robots are exploding with potential — they have the unique ability to conduct microscale tasks,…
JWST provides unprecedented look at exoplanet WASP-39b
Training its array of sophisticated instruments on a planet orbiting a star 700 light years away, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is delivering on its promise to provide unprecedented insights into…
Lab-grown blood used in transfusions for the first time
Red blood cells grown in a laboratory have now been transfused into another person in a world first clinical trial. In a world first, red blood cells grown in a laboratory have…
Electrical stimulation restores patients’ ability to walk after spinal cord injury
In patients with spinal cord injury, an implanted neurotransmitter restored their ability to walk, but underlying reasons were unexpected. Researchers at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have successfully applied electrical…
Red is the new green: Making polymers in wine
To bring down the cost of a conventional reaction, researchers are turning to green chemistry and wine to provide the right conditions. Any chemist will be familiar with green chemistry, which aims…