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Assorted scientific discoveries
Apr. 13th, 2006 05:19 pmPrint me a heart and a set of arteries (New Scientist) - Researchers have come up with a way to mechanically "print" select cells and have demonstrated this by printing a muscle layer of chicken heart cells. In theory they can use this technology to combine various types of cells to construct a 3-dimensional organ. Current research has focused on building a biopolymer scaffold and injecting cells into the scaffold. One challenge has been to figure out how to lace the structure with blood vessels. It is hoped that bioprinting will allow researchers to layer not only the cells necessary for the organ's function, but also the support system of nerves and blood vessels.
Quantum quest leads to super-efficient lights (New Scientist) - Working with organic LEDs has lead to the development of a light source that lasts 20 times as long as a conventional light bulb and uses 75% less energy to generate a brighter output. OLEDs generate phosphoresent light of limited wavelenghts and tend to burn out quickly. Latest research has extended the life of OLED output and they can now modify the wavelength of the light generated by doping the OLEDs with different types of fluorescent molecules.
Nanopore will make for speedy DNA sequencing (New Scientist) - Although strictly theoretical (nothing as actually been built), researchers believe they can construct a DNA reader from a series of "nanopores". The resulting system could read a single DNA strand with 99.9% accuracy in several hours rather than months. They admint, though, that a number of serious hurdles lay between theory and construction.
All the pleasures of alcohol, with no downsides (New Scientist) - Apparently there is little standing in the way of developing a form of "synthahol". a psychopharmacologist reports that we understand pretty well how alchol works and all the drugs required to replicate its effects (relaxation and sociability) without the side effects (hangover, memory loss, agression , loss of coordination, liver damage). He identified two drugs that could do the trick, and their effects would be reversed "instantly" by a third drug.
Time for sushi!
Quantum quest leads to super-efficient lights (New Scientist) - Working with organic LEDs has lead to the development of a light source that lasts 20 times as long as a conventional light bulb and uses 75% less energy to generate a brighter output. OLEDs generate phosphoresent light of limited wavelenghts and tend to burn out quickly. Latest research has extended the life of OLED output and they can now modify the wavelength of the light generated by doping the OLEDs with different types of fluorescent molecules.
Nanopore will make for speedy DNA sequencing (New Scientist) - Although strictly theoretical (nothing as actually been built), researchers believe they can construct a DNA reader from a series of "nanopores". The resulting system could read a single DNA strand with 99.9% accuracy in several hours rather than months. They admint, though, that a number of serious hurdles lay between theory and construction.
All the pleasures of alcohol, with no downsides (New Scientist) - Apparently there is little standing in the way of developing a form of "synthahol". a psychopharmacologist reports that we understand pretty well how alchol works and all the drugs required to replicate its effects (relaxation and sociability) without the side effects (hangover, memory loss, agression , loss of coordination, liver damage). He identified two drugs that could do the trick, and their effects would be reversed "instantly" by a third drug.
Time for sushi!