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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.

Silicon nanowires trap sunlight

Silicon nanowires trap sunlight

Solar cells made from silicon are projected to be a prominent factor in future renewable green energy equations, but so far the promise has far exceeded the reality. While there are now silicon photovoltaics that can convert sunlight into electricity at impressive 20% efficiencies, the cost of this solar power is prohibitive for large-scale use. Researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), however, are developing a new approach that could substantially reduce these costs.

Life’s smallest motor carries cell cargo like a seesaw

Life’s smallest motor carries cell cargo like a seesaw

Life’s smallest motor, a protein that shuttles cargo within cells and helps cells divide, does so by rocking up and down like a seesaw, according to research conducted by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Brandeis Univ.

Black carbon: The culprit in melting of Himalayan glaciers?

Black carbon: The culprit in melting of Himalayan glaciers?

The fact that glaciers in the Himalayan mountains are thinning is not disputed. However, few researchers have attempted to rigorously examine and quantify the causes. A scientist from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory set out to isolate the impacts of the most commonly blamed culprit—greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide—from other particles in the air that may be causing the melting.

Mismatched alloys are a good match for future development of thermoelectrics

Mismatched alloys are a good match for future development of thermoelectrics

Employing some of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have shown that mismatched alloys are a good match for the future development of high performance thermoelectric devices. Thermoelectrics hold enormous potential for green energy production because of their ability to convert heat into electricity.

Microbes produce advanced biofuel directly from biomass

Microbes produce advanced biofuel directly from biomass

A collaboration led by researchers with the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) has developed a microbe that can produce an advanced biofuel directly from biomass. Deploying the tools of synthetic biology, the JBEI researchers engineered a strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria to produce biodiesel fuel and other important chemicals derived from fatty acids.

More than a billion supercomputing hours awarded by DOE

More than a billion supercomputing hours awarded by DOE

The INCITE program is designed to distribute valuable time on America’s most powerful computers to worthy projects. This week, Secretary Chu announced the 69 projects to be awarded 1.6 billion supercomputing processor hours. This research includes lithium air batteries, fusion energy, nuclear power, combustion, DNA sequencing and nanostructure superconductors.

Toxic-free click chemistry a first on a living organism

Toxic-free click chemistry a first on a living organism

So-called click chemistry previously depended on the use of toxic metals. But a copper-free variant has finally been used to label glycans—a common sugar in animals—in mouse instestinges, heart, and liver. Click chemistry may be a crucial diagnostic tool because of its ability to affix molecular probes to cells.

Lab analysis: Recovery Act may stimulate community-scale wind projects

Lab analysis: Recovery Act may stimulate community-scale wind projects

The stimulus package passed in 2009 by Congress may help shovel-ready community wind projects move ahead, according to a new report by Mark Bolinger, a scientist at Berkeley Lab. Bolinger analyzed the impact of two new incentives for wind power that were included in the Recovery Act.

Molecular worm algorithm navigates inside chemical labyrinth

Molecular worm algorithm navigates inside chemical labyrinth

With the passage of a molecule through the labyrinth of a chemical system being so critical to catalysis and other important chemical processes, computer simulations are frequently used to model potential molecule/labyrinth interactions. In the past, such simulations have been expensive and time-consuming to carry out, but now researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new algorithm that should make future simulations easier and faster to compute, and yield much more accurate results.

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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.

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P2i showcases liquid repellent nano-coating for hearing aids
P2i showcases liquid repellent nano-coating for hearing aids

At the AudiologyNOW! 2010 show in San Diego next month, UK-based coatings company P2i will display their relatively new Aridion liquid-repellant nano-coating. Designed for exposure to humidity or sweat, the polymer layer is applied by a pulsed ion gas process that lower’s the hearing aid’s surface energy, coaxing water away from delicate components.

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.

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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