7-Aug-2025 ‘Conan the Bacterium’ is now a poet University of Texas at Austin Texas Engineer Lydia Contreras teamed up with renowned poet Christian Bök to encode poetry into a “deathless bacterium.”
7-Aug-2025 Accelerating functional material innovation: AI and data-driven approach to advanced electronics technologies The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The discovery of new functional materials has traditionally relied on time-consuming and costly trial-and-error methods, often taking over 20 years for a material to move from initial discovery to commercial use. Prof. Ming YANG, Assistant Professor of the Department of Applied Physics of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, is transforming this process through a data-driven, AI-powered approach that significantly increases the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of identifying advanced materials for electronics and energy technologies.
7-Aug-2025 Minimally invasive options lead to shorter recovery times in pancreatic cancer surgery Mayo Clinic Pancreatic cancer begins in the pancreas, which is located behind the stomach. It is often difficult to detect early because symptoms typically appear only after the cancer has spread. As a result, it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, which complicates treatment. Michael Kendrick, M.D., a hepatobiliary and pancreas surgeon at Mayo Clinic, explains how minimally invasive surgery is speeding recovery.
7-Aug-2025 Birds found thriving in a very large commercial forest in Maine Tufts University North America has lost an estimated 3 billion birds since 1970. But in one giant commercial forest in Maine? The birds are thriving. “When we started this project, we expected to add to the pile of bad news... We were pleasantly surprised,” says Tufts University Professor Michael Reed. Journal Biological Conservation
7-Aug-2025 Computer-based design for custom proteins Graz University of Technology In the ERC project HelixMold, a team from Graz University of Technology developed a method for the computer-based design of artificial proteins, with a focus on custom biocatalysts for pharmaceutical applications or the degradation of biopolymers. Funder European Research Council
7-Aug-2025 Researchers identify promising new compound to treat tuberculosis Texas A&M AgriLife Communications Scientists have developed a new compound that could offer a breakthrough in the global fight against tuberculosis, history’s deadliest infectious disease. A study recently published in Nature describes the treatment potential of the novel compound known as CMX410. The drug uniquely targets a crucial enzyme in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis. Importantly, this compound even proved effective against drug-resistant infections, which are common globally and pose a significant challenge for controlling the disease’s spread and progression.
6-Aug-2025 Interview with Dr. Christopher R. Moore, University of South Carolina, U.S. PLOS Interview with Dr. Christopher R. Moore, University of South Carolina, U.S. Author of PLOS One paper: Moore CR, Tselmovich VA, LeCompte MA, West A, Culver SJ, Mallinson DJ, et al. (2025) A 12,800-year-old layer with cometary dust, microspherules, and platinum anomaly recorded in multiple cores from Baffin Bay. PLoS One 20(8): e0328347. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328347 Journal PLOS One
6-Aug-2025 NewBridge on the Charles and Orchard Cove residents fund 40 educational scholarships for staff Hebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research Residents at NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham, MA, and Orchard Cove in Canton, MA, two Hebrew SeniorLife living communities, have funded and awarded nearly $198,425 in educational scholarships to 40 staff members this year. Hebrew SeniorLife, New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and a Harvard Medical School affiliate with eight communities around Greater Boston, is recognized among Boston’s Top Places to Work.
6-Aug-2025 UNM scientists test experimental psychedelic drug to alleviate the emotional toll of a life-threatening diagnosis University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center University of New Mexico researchers are joining a multi-site clinical trial of RE104, an experimental psychedelic drug intended to alleviate the mental suffering many patients experience when they receive a life-altering disease diagnosis.
6-Aug-2025 Toward multitasking drug carriers that do more than just deliver Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Drug delivery systems (DDSs) like nanoparticles, hydrogels, micelles, or liposomes improve drug availability while minimizing off-target distribution and side effects. Nanoparticle-based DDSs further enhance functionality owing to their larger surface area, leading to better stability, targeted delivery, and controlled drug release. But their low drug-loading capacity hinders desired therapeutic effect. Now, however, Professor Motoichi Kurisawa from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology addresses this challenge with a green tea nanoparticle-based DDSs.
