Friday 9 May 2014

Berkeley Lab Researchers Demonstrate First Size-based Chromatography Technique for the Study of Living Cells

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Using nanodot technology, Berkeley Lab researchers have demonstrated the first size-based form of chromatography that can be used to study the membranes of living cells. This unique physical approach to probing cellular membrane structures can reveal information critical to whether a cell lives or dies, remains normal or turns cancerous, that can’t be obtained through conventional microscopy. “We’ve developed membrane-embedded nanodot array platforms that provide a physical means to both probe and manipulate membrane assemblies, including signaling clusters, while they are functioning in the membrane of a living cell,” says Jay Groves, a chemist with Berkeley Lab’s Physical Biosciences Division, who led this research. Groves, who is also a professor with the University of California (UC) Berkeley’s Chemistry Department, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator, is a recognized leader in developing techniques for studying the impact of spatial patterns on living cells. The live-cell supported synthetic membranes he and his group have been developing are constructed out of lipids and assembled onto a substrate of solid silica. These membranes are being used to determine how living cells not only interact with their environment through chemical signals but also through physical force and spatial patterns. “We call our approach the

The post Berkeley Lab Researchers Demonstrate First Size-based Chromatography Technique for the Study of Living Cells has been published on Technology Org.

 
#materials 
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Now that's what I call lateral thinking!

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Now that's what I call lateral thinking!
In a "why didn't I think of that!" moment, of course you can do this. Nice one, peeps :)
 #outerspace

 » see original post https://plus.google.com/116000959328274308893/posts/STSqcZdAZPV
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Search for extraterrestrial life clouded by exomoon atmospheres

Science Focus

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For now, they will remain toys.

Given that we are unlikely to be visiting an exoplanet any time soon, astronomers have been contemplating whether it might be possible to detect indications of simple life—a biosignature—from a distance. Many think that the strongest case for extraterrestrial life would be the discovery of oxygen and methane on the same body. They also think that the likelihood of finding such a biosignature is greatest on an Earth-like planet that is orbiting a sun-like star.

Astronomers who hope to search for these biosignatures in expolanets, however, may be in for a disappointment. New research finds that there is no way we can confirm that such a signature is actually the result of extraterrestrial life. The problem, it turns out, is that an exomoon’s atmosphere will be indistinguishable from the one of the planet it orbits.

Finding E.T.

Searching for extraterrestrial life is no easy feat. Astronomers have to first search for a star that has planets. Then they have to ensure that there is at least one planet that orbits this star in the habitable zone, which is a region around the star in which we might expect liquid water. Finally, they have to record the faint light that originated from the bright star and was reflected off the exoplanet after having passed through its atmosphere.

Read 12 remaining paragraphs | Comments

 
#science 
 » see original post http://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/science/~3/A0YMlvRrg_A/
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Scientists gain new insight into mysterious electronic phenomenon

Science Focus

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A levitating magnet floats above a superconducting surface. For more than a quarter of a century, high-temperature superconductors – materials that can transmit electric current without any resistance – have perplexed scientists who seek to understand the physical phenomena responsible for their unique properties. Thanks to a new study by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, researchers have identified and solved at least one paradox in the behavior of high-temperature superconductors. The riddle involves a phenomenon called the “pseudogap,” a region of energy levels in which relatively few electrons are allowed to exist. Despite their name, high-temperature superconductors are actually quite cold – roughly 250 degrees to 350 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Conventional superconductors, like those used in MRI machines or particle accelerators, are even colder. Even though they are still quite cold, high-temperature superconductors are of special interest to researchers because, at least in theory, they are much easier to keep sufficiently cold and are thus potentially more useful. In general, superconductors can be thought of like an army that prefers the cold. At room temperature, the soldiers – electrons – are oriented every which way, and they all “march” in different directions. Read more at: Phys.org

The post Scientists gain new insight into mysterious electronic phenomenon has been published on Technology Org.

 
#physics 
 » see original post http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TechnologyOrgPhysicsNews/~3/8yedlc8b_gg/
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VIDEO: The risks of sitting all day long

Science Focus

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British researchers believe sitting for long periods of time can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease and even death 
#science 
 » see original post http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27305330#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
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Colin Pillinger (1943-2014)

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British planetary scientist Professor Colin Pillinger, a former ESA principal investigator, passed away on 7 May.




via ESA Space Science

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Colin_Pillinger_1943-2014

Monogram - Enlarged Region of The Omega Nebula Sticker

Here's a great sheet of stickers featuring a beautiful image from deep space


tagged with: stars, galaxies, astronomy, universe, outer space, envelope sealers, eroton, galaxies stars, gas clouds, star forming activity, green hydrogen, omega nebula m17, ultraviolet radiation, young massive stars, monogram initials, blue oxygen, red sulpher

Galaxies, Stars and Nebulae series Like the fury of a raging sea, this bubbly ocean of glowing hydrogen, oxygen, and sulphur gas lies in the extremely massive and luminous molecular nebula Messier 17.
This Hubble photograph captures a small region within Messier 17 (M17), a hotbed of star formation. M17, also known as the Omega or Swan Nebula, is located about 5500 light-years away in the Sagittarius constellation.
Ultraviolet radiation is carving and heating the surfaces of cold hydrogen gas clouds and the warmed surfaces glow orange and red. The intense heat and pressure causes some material to stream away from the surface, creating the glowing veil of even hotter green-coloured gas that masks background structures. The colours in the image represent various gases. Red represents sulphur; green, hydrogen; and blue, oxygen.

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image code: eroton

Image credit: NASA, the ACS Science Team

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Halley Dust and Milky Way

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The early morning hours of May 6 were moonless when grains of cosmic dust streaked through dark skies. Swept up as planet Earth plows through dusty debris streams left behind periodic Comet Halley, the annual meteor shower is known as the Eta Aquarids. This inspired exposure captures a meteor streak moving left right through the frame. Its trail points back across the arc of the Milky Way to the shower's radiant above the local horizon in the constellation Aquarius. Known for speed Eta Aquarid meteors move fast, entering the atmosphere at about 66 kilometers per second. Still waters of the small pond near Albion, Maine, USA reflect the starry scene and the orange glow of nearby artificial lights scattered by a low cloud bank. Of course, northern hemisphere skygazers are expecting a new meteor shower on May 24, the Camelopardalids, caused by dust from periodic comet 209P/LINEAR.

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Ring Nebula (M57) Wall Graphics

Here's a great wall decal featuring a beautiful image from deep space


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"The NASA Hubble Space Telescope has captured the sharpest view yet of the most famous of all planetary nebulae: the Ring Nebula (M57). In this October 1998 image, the telescope has looked down a barrel of gas cast off by a dying star thousands of years ago. This photo reveals elongated dark clumps of material embedded in the gas at the edge of the nebula; the dying central star floating in a blue haze of hot gas. The nebula is about a light-year in diameter and is located some 2,000 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Lyra."

(qtd. from Hubblesite.org NewsCenter release STScI-1999-01)

Credit: The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI/NASA)

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Star Birth and Death in the Carina Nebula iPad Case

Here's a great iPad case from Zazzle featuring a Hubble-related design. Maybe you'd like to see your name on it? Click to personalize and see what it's like!


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The iShoppe has a cool collection of hot iPad folio designs. See all the iShoppe's iPad Folio Cases. Check out the iShoppe's fabulous phone cases, also.

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New nanowire growth mechanism observed

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(Phys.org) —A mechanism of growth of anisotropic metal oxides that was predicted 20 years ago has been observed for the first time by researchers at the University of Bristol. The work is described in an article published this week in Science.



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‘Double-duty’ electrolyte enables new chemistry for longer-lived batteries

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Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new and unconventional battery chemistry aimed at producing batteries that last longer than previously thought possible. In a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, ORNL researchers challenged a long-held assumption that a battery’s three main components — the positive cathode, negative anode and ion-conducting electrolyte — can play only one role in the device. The electrolyte in the team’s new battery design has dual functions: it serves not only as an ion conductor but also as a cathode supplement. This cooperative chemistry, enabled by the use of an ORNL-developed solid electrolyte, delivers an extra boost to the battery’s capacity and extends the lifespan of the device. “This bi-functional electrolyte revolutionizes the concept of conventional batteries and opens a new avenue for the design of batteries with unprecedented energy density,” said ORNL’s Chengdu Liang. The team demonstrated the new concept in a lithium carbon fluoride battery, considered one of the best single-use batteries because of its high energy density, stability and long shelf life. When ORNL researchers incorporated a solid lithium thiophosphate electrolyte, the battery generated a 26 percent higher capacity than what would be its

The post ‘Double-duty’ electrolyte enables new chemistry for longer-lived batteries has been published on Technology Org.

 
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Milky Way Galaxy Posters

Here's a great poster featuring a beautiful image from deep space


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ImageID: 42-20484565 / NASA / JPL-Caltech/Corbis / Milky Way Galaxy

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New insight into star cluster formation: Stars on the outskirts actually are the oldest

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Using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and infrared telescopes, astronomers have made an important advance in the understanding of how clusters of stars come into being. Researchers studied two clusters where sun-like stars currently are forming -- NGC 2024, located in the center of the Flame Nebula, and the Orion Nebula Cluster. From this study, they discovered the stars on the outskirts of the clusters actually are the oldest.

via Science Daily

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Rosetta space probe: Landing on a comet to observe nucleus and environment

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In March 2004, the Rosetta orbiter was launched into space to analyse and observe the nucleus and environment of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Little research has been done on comets and they still hold many secrets. One theory is that comets brought water (and thus possibly even life) to Earth. Although space probes have been able to carry out isolated investigations, this has only been while the comets were flying past. At least until now. This will be the first probe not only to collect measurement data "en passant" as it were, but to accompany the comet -- and even to land on it.

via Science Daily

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Crab Pulsar Time Lapse - Neutron Star Round Stickers

Here's a great sheet of stickers featuring a beautiful image from deep space


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Galaxies, Stars and Nebulae series

Multiple observations made over several months with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope captured the spectacle of matter and antimatter propelled to near the speed of light by the Crab pulsar, a rapidly rotating neutron star the size of Manhattan.

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Image code: crbplsr

Image credit: NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope

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Star Cluster NGC 346 Wall Graphic

Here's a great wall decal featuring a beautiful image from deep space


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"This image of star cluster NGC 346 and its surrounding star-formation region was taken in July 2004 with the Advanced Camera for Surveys aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Located 210,000 light-years away in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a satellite galaxy of our Milky Way, the cluster is one of the most dynamic and intricately detailed star-forming regions in space. A dramatic structure of arched, ragged filaments with a distinct ridge encircles the cluster."

(qtd. from Hubblesite.org NewsCenter release STScI-2005-35)

Credit: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

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Constellation Draco iPad Cases

Here's a great iPad case from Zazzle featuring a Hubble-related design. Maybe you'd like to see your name on it? Click to personalize and see what it's like!


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The iShoppe has a cool collection of hot iPad folio designs. See all the iShoppe's iPad Folio Cases. Check out the iShoppe's fabulous phone cases, also.

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