All articles tagged with #biological materials
The marble berry from Africa appears blue due to a structural optical illusion caused by twisted fibers on its surface, which reflect blue light intensely without containing any blue pigment, making it a natural example of iridescence and structural coloration used to attract birds for seed dispersal.
Researchers have studied chiton mollusks and discovered their teeth are incredibly strong and durable due to a unique protein, RTMP1, which deposits iron to create nanoscale, superhard structures. This biological process, occurring at room temperature, could inspire advances in manufacturing, materials, and environmental sustainability.
Chengxuan Han, a Chinese citizen and Ph.D. student from Wuhan, was charged with smuggling biological materials into the U.S. and making false statements at Detroit airport, raising concerns over national security and research integrity.
Scientists have developed an open-source supercomputer algorithm that can solve the complex equations of active matter theory, enhancing our understanding of living materials. This algorithm allows for the exploration of the behaviors of biological materials across space and time, bringing us closer to understanding how cells and tissues attain their shape and designing artificial biological machines. The algorithm is implemented in an open-source supercomputer code and can handle different shapes in three dimensions, making it applicable to realistic scenarios. The code is scalable and freely available for use, providing a powerful tool for computational scientists to study active materials.
Scientists have developed a new method for storing biological materials, such as RNA and proteins, in a solid-state form resembling a pill or tablet. This innovation allows for on-demand use by dissolving the tablet in water. The solid-state storage overcomes limitations in the storage and handling of sensitive biological materials, improving access to healthcare and scientific research. The method has the potential to revolutionize the storage and transportation of biologics, enabling easier access to remote locations and facilitating the production of life-saving therapies. Further improvements and modifications are expected to enhance the platform's suitability for various applications.
Researchers from Columbia University have identified a new class of matter called "hydration solids," which includes wood, fungi, and bacteria. The team found that the properties of these materials are defined by the water that permeates them, rather than the atoms and molecules they consist of. The new understanding of biological matter can help answer questions that have dogged scientists for years. The team's findings emerged from research into the strange behavior of spores, dormant bacterial cells.
A new paper published in Nature argues that the character of many biological materials is actually created by the water that permeates these materials. Water gives rise to a solid and goes on to define the properties of that solid, all the while maintaining its liquid characteristics. The authors group these and other materials into a new class of matter that they call "hydration solids," which they say "acquire their structural rigidity, the defining characteristic of the solid state, from the fluid permeating their pores."