Press monitoring
Bioinspired, sponge-like shrinking gel steers tooth, tissue formation
6.3.2014 | Press monitoring
A bit of pressure from a new shrinking, sponge-like gel is all it takes to turn transplanted unspecialized cells into cells that lay down minerals and begin to form teeth. The bioinspired gel material could one day help repair or replace damaged organs, such as teeth and bone, and possibly other organs as well, scientists from the Wyss Institute...
Fully compostable bioplastic made from shrimp shells
5.3.2014 | Press monitoring
Researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute have developed a method to carry out large-scale manufacturing of everyday objects—from cell phones to food containers and toys—using a fully degradable bioplastic isolated from shrimp shells. The objects exhibit many of the same properties as those created with synthetic plastics, but without the...
Unmasking the secrets of the extinct moa
4.3.2014 | Press monitoring
Griffith researchers have undertaken a study to clarify the number of species which existed of the extinct New Leon Zealand moa. Lead author Dr Huynen said the challenges of understanding extinct fauna can be formidable and particularly so when it comes to this ancient bird. "Despite more than 100 years of research being devoted to the issue,...
Researchers advance algae\'s viability as a biofuel
3.3.2014 | Press monitoring
Lab success doesn't always translate to real-world success. A team of Michigan State University scientists, however, has invented a new technology that increases the odds of helping algae-based biofuels cross that gap and come closer to reality. The current issue of Algal Research showcases the team's invention—the environmental...
Breakthrough in synthesizing biomedically relevant nanoparticles
28.2.2014 | Press monitoring
Nanoparticle research is huge. That is, the study of nanoparticles, very miniscule objects that act as a unit with specific properties, is a very popular area of study. With implications in many avenues of science, from biomedicine to laser research, the study of how to create nanoparticles with desirable properties is becoming increasingly...
Growing cells with 3D microgels
27.2.2014 | Press monitoring
The tool, which can be used to study cells in cost-efficient, three-dimensional microgels, may hold the key to personalized medicine applications in the future. Stars, diamonds, circles: Rather than your average bowl of Lucky Charms, these are three-dimensional cell cultures generated by an exciting new digital microfluidics platform, the...
Cancer diagnosis as simple as a pregnancy test
26.2.2014 | Press monitoring
A paper strip can sample urine for signs of tumours in the body. The cancer-detecting strip could one day make it simpler and more affordable to detect some cancers at an early stage. "Something I think that's really shocking is the prevalence of cancer and cardiovascular disease in both the developed world and the developing world," says...
Scientists unlock a microbial Pompeii
25.2.2014 | Press monitoring
An international team of researchers have discovered a microbial Pompeii preserved on the teeth of skeletons around 1,000 years old. The key to the discovery is the dental calculus (plaque) which preserves bacteria and microscopic particles of food on the surfaces of teeth, effectively creating a mineral tomb for microbiomes.
Essential step toward printing living human tissues
24.2.2014 | Press monitoring
A new bioprinting method developed at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) creates intricately patterned 3D tissue constructs with multiple types of cells and tiny blood vessels. The work represents a major step toward a longstanding goal...
Pond-dwelling powerhouses genome points to its biofuel potential
21.2.2014 | Press monitoring
Duckweed is a tiny floating plant that's been known to drive people daffy. It's one of the smallest and fastest-growing flowering plants that often becomes a hard-to-control weed in ponds and small lakes. But it's also been exploited to clean contaminated water and as a source to produce pharmaceuticals. Now, the genome of Greater Duckweed...
