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Scientists discover how plant roots adapt their shape to maximize water uptake

Researchers have discovered how plant roots adapt their shape to maximise their uptake of water, pausing branching when they lose contact with water and only resuming once they reconnect with moisture, ensuring they can survive even in the driest conditions.

19 Nov 2022

New method reveals how photosynthetic microalgae interact with their environment

Microalgae are algae too small to see with the human eye that live in both fresh and sea water. They are responsible for half of fixation of carbon that occurs on Earth through photosynthesis.

2 Nov 2022

Large 'omics' dataset reveals a year in the biological life of Arctic Ocean

A major new project will help benchmark biodiversity change in the Arctic Ocean and guide conservation efforts by identifying unique species and assessing their extinction risk.

18 Oct 2022

Newly discovered small blue fish may have evolved from cold-adapted species of the Southern Ocean

The Atacama Trench is a deep-water channel running along the Pacific coast of Chili and Peru, South America. In 2018, an international team of scientists used free-falling "landers" to study the trench, gathering images and specimens of deep-sea creatures.

13 Oct 2022

Research team discovers “trapped” unknown insect genus

Micro-computed tomography was used in a significant work by Professor Javier Alba-Tercedor of the Department of Zoology at the University of Granada to produce sharp pictures that allowed the insect to be examined and identified.

12 Oct 2022

The exchange of nutrients between the mother and fetus mirrored by ‘placenta-on-a-chip’

Plasmodium falciparum infections can result in placental malaria, which can have serious consequences for both mother and child. Nearly 200,000 newborn fatalities annually from placental malaria, primarily as a result of low birth weight, as well as 10,000 maternal deaths.

27 Sep 2022

Tiny DNA strand net in a low-cost test platform traps COVID-19 virus

According to a new study, tiny nets made of DNA strands can capture the spike protein of the virus that causes COVID-19, illuminating it for a quick yet accurate diagnostic test and preventing it from infecting cells, suggesting a new potential path to antiviral treatment.

26 Sep 2022

New imaging technologies to evade immune responses of Candida albicans

Researchers from the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute have demonstrated how the common fungus Candida albicans evades immune responses using newly discovered imaging technologies. The researchers claim that this involves a fungus that can shape-shift in an “alien-like” manner to escape immune cells.

21 Sep 2022

Researchers use bacteria to create artificial cells that function like living cells

Researchers have used bacteria to create sophisticated synthetic cells that imitate the activity of genuine cells.

15 Sep 2022

Researchers develop microscopes for identifying biological activities in detail

Consider a PhD candidate with a fluorescence microscope and a live bacterial sample. How might these resources be used in the most effective way to get specific observations of bacterial division from the sample?

9 Sep 2022

Re-defining the limits of single batch assay stabilisation

In response to increasing demand for stabilised molecular diagnostic assays, we have significantly increased our single batch lyophilised reagent bead manufacturing throughput to 300,000 reactions per freeze drying run and are now progressing towards a capacity of 100 million tests per annum.

From Biofortuna Limited 22 Aug 2022

Engineers develop the world's smallest EEG caps for mini brains

It could be the world's tiniest EEG electrode cap, created to measure activity in a brain model the size of a pen dot. Its designers expect the device to lead to better understanding of neural disorders and how potentially dangerous chemicals affect the brain.

18 Aug 2022

Tips to keep vegetable gardens healthy during a drought

For backyard gardeners, mild droughts and water ban restrictions common during the summer months can be a cause for concern.

2 Aug 2022

Researchers analyze ultra-thin layer of lipids in gecko feet, likely to serve as their grip factor

Geckos are known for having sturdy feet that enable them to easily scale vertical surfaces. Millions of microscopic, hair-like structures on their toes provide them with this apparent superpower.

From National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 8 Jul 2022

A new study analyzes antimicrobial detergents and textile chemicals in homes

The use of less bleach and lower temperatures over washing machine cycles is promoted as a result of shifting societal attitudes toward the environment.

8 Jul 2022

Rhizosphere-on-a-chip with a simulated soil allows scientists to view how roots grow over time

The rhizosphere is the living ecosystem around plant roots. It is a dynamic ecosystem of plant and microbes that is difficult to study because soil is opaque and complex.

23 Jun 2022

Nanomaterials may be the key to better monitoring and treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death across the globe, responsible for about 17.9 million (32%) of all deaths worldwide every year.

13 Jun 2022

CHEMUK 2022: the IBioIC on Industrial Biotechnology

In this interview, we speak to Dr. Russell Clarke, a Senior Business Engagement Manager with IBioIC, about the Industrial Biotechnology sector and how the IBioIC supports its members.

9 Jun 2022

Researchers create human cornea-on-a-chip to check the therapeutic effect of MSC exosomes on corneal disorders

Ophthalmologists and researchers have been looking into mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with regenerative and differentiation capacities as a potential therapy option for corneal disorders.

30 May 2022

Research sheds light on new options for organ cultivation in vitro

How do human cells organize themselves to give the organs their ultimate shape? The solution is morphogenesis, a collection of systems that controls their spatial distribution throughout embryonic development. In this sector, a team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) recently discovered an unexpected discovery: when a tissue curves, the volume of the cells that makes it up grows rather than decreases.

18 May 2022