Technology

The genome editing technique known as CRISPR-Cas9 (1) has taken the biology world by storm. Initially it was primarily used to knock-out (literally, to make inoperative) specific genes, however, scientists have now figured out how to use the system to knock-in genes as well as edit the epigenome. These features, along with the technique’s relative simplicity and ease of use, have led to CRISPR being adapted into a wide variety of fields such as bio-agriculture. If you aren’t yet familiar with the term, you soon will be. CRISPR-Cas9 engineered crops are very close to being on the market. Yet…

A new paper in the Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry states next generation 'heated' tobacco devices - confusing to the public because heating nicotine vapor is the mechanism behind e-cigarette devices - produce side-stream emissions similar to secondhand cigarette smoke. Heated tobacco devices are similar to "e-cigarettes" except heated tobacco products actually contain blended or processed tobacco just like conventional cigarettes rather than just nicotine vapor. Heated tobacco products are claimed to work by heating cigarettes at a lower temperature to vaporize nicotine and…

Stanford engineers have created a plastic "skin" that can detect how hard it is being pressed and generate an electric signal to deliver this sensory input directly to a living brain cell. Zhenan Bao, a professor of chemical engineering at Stanford, has spent a decade trying to develop a material that mimics skin's ability to flex and heal, while also serving as the sensor net that sends touch, temperature and pain signals to the brain. Ultimately she wants to create a flexible electronic fabric embedded with sensors that could cover a prosthetic limb and replicate some of skin's sensory…

Computers have scanned aerial photographs and conducted the first automated mass-crowd count in the world, thanks to the work of researchers at the University of Central Florida. Counting large-scale crowds has been a long, tedious process involving people examining aerial photographs one at a time - and it has been termed accurate, with organizers often claiming results 1000% greater than police and journalists. They are able to make claims and stick to them because the traditional method involves dividing photographs into sections and counting the number of heads per inch. …

Human twin embryos created in the laboratory by splitting single embryos into two using a common method known as blastomere biopsy may be unsuitable both for IVF and for research purposes, according to a new study. In the UK, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Code of Practice says that clinics should not be producing embryos for IVF treatment by embryo splitting, such genetically identical embryos should be used only for research purposes. However, in the US the Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine has not indicated any major ethical objections to…

An international team have used cutting edge genomic methods to uncover key biological insights that help explain the protective effects of the world's most advanced malaria vaccine candidate, RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S).  RTS,S is the first malaria vaccine candidate to complete phase 3 trials. Originally designed by scientists at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in 1987, development of the vaccine is now being advanced by a public-private partnership between GSK and PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative. Applying highly sensitive sequencing technology to more patient samples than previously tested, the team was…

A new crime scene identification technique for fingerprint detection and analysis adds a drop of liquid containing crystals to surfaces, which means investigators using a UV light are able to see invisible fingerprints "glow" in about 30 seconds. The strong luminescent effect creates greater contrast between the latent print and surface enabling higher resolution images to be taken for easier and more precise analyses.   The new method can reveal fingerprints on metal, plastic and glass. Credit: CSIRO CSIRO materials scientist Dr Kang Liang believes that this technique could…

In 1939, a Russian engineer proposed a "flying submarine" -- a vehicle that can seamlessly transition from air to water and back again. While it may sound like something out of a James Bond film, engineers have been trying to design functional aerial-aquatic vehicles for decades with little success. Now, engineers may be one step closer to the elusive flying submarine. The biggest challenge is conflicting design requirements: aerial vehicles require large airfoils like wings or sails to generate lift while underwater vehicles need to minimize surface area to reduce drag. To solve this…

Researchers have developed a new lightweight and stretchable material with the consistency of memory foam that has potential for use in prosthetic body parts, artificial organs and soft robotics. The foam is unique because it can be formed and has connected pores that allow fluids to be pumped through it. The polymer foam starts as a liquid that can be poured into a mold to create shapes, and because of the pathways for fluids, when air or liquid is pumped through it, the material moves and can change its length by 300 percent. While applications for use inside the body require federal…

X smoked a pack of cigarettes a day, used alcohol like a fish uses water, and lived to a ripe old age. His brother Y did the same thing and succumbed to cancer at age 55. Why do some individuals develop certain diseases or disorders while others do not? A new approach uses artificial intelligence to illuminate cellular processes and suggest possible targets to correct aberrations.  What is interesting is they used artificial intelligence to do it. The findings are believed to mark the first time artificial intelligence has been used to discover a molecular model that explains why some…