Scientists Characterise Cancer Genes Using Ground-breaking New Method
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- Written by IMP - Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pathologie GmbH
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In a paper in the journal “Science”, researchers from the Vienna BioCenter combine cutting-edge technologies to decipher regulatory functions of important cancer genes. Key to this success is an innovative method called “SLAMseq”, which allows the direct detection of sudden changes in gene expression and thereby revolutionizes the way scientists can investigate effects of genes and drugs.
Motor And Energy Store In One
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- Written by Universität Heidelberg
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Physicists and material scientists have succeeded in constructing a motor and an energy storage device from one single component. They used an elastic polymer fibre closed into a ring that was made to rotate on application of an external energy supply. The researchers from the universities in Heidelberg and Strasbourg (France) hope that this mechanism will spur the development of intelligent materials with precisely defined functions. The findings were published in the journal “Nature Materials”.
Evaluating Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement: New Simulation of Cold Cracks in High-strength Steels
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- Written by Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoffmechanik IWM
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High-strength steels play a vital role in the construction of modern vehicles and machines. If these steels are welded during the production of components, mobile hydrogen atoms can cause problems within the material: the atoms accumulate slowly at highly stressed areas of a component, resulting in the steel becoming brittle at these locations. This can result in so-called cold break formations which can lead to component failure. Dr. Frank Schweizer of the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM has developed a simulation method with which component manufacturers can assess cold break tendencies and adjust their production accordingly.
More than Just Spectators
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- Written by Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
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Physics team at Kiel University investigates influence of ions on atomic motions. In batteries, fuel cells or technical coatings, central chemical processes take place on the surface of electrodes which are in contact with liquids. During these processes, atoms move over the surface, but how this exactly happens has hardly been researched. Physicists at Kiel University want to gain a better understanding of these motions, and the role of the chemical components involved. To do so, they observe with highest microscopic resolution how sulphur atoms move on copper electrodes, which are immersed in different saline solutions.
Stagediving with Biomolecules Improves Optical Microscopy
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- Written by Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
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Physicists from Dresden and Würzburg have developed a novel method for optical microscopy. Using biological motors and single quantum dots, they acquire ultra-high-resolution images. The resolution of conventional optical microscopy is limited by the fundamental physical principle of diffraction to about one half of the wavelength of the light: If the distance between two objects is smaller than this so-called "diffraction limit", they can no longer be visually separated - their image appears "blurred ". To acquire optical images at the scale of few nanometers, this is clearly not sufficient.
New Approach: Researchers Succeed in Directly Labelling and Detecting an Important RNA Modification
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- Written by Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
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Researchers at the Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence at University of Münster have developed a new method enabling them to locate important modifications to messenger RNA. This is the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration between biochemists and molecular biologists. It has been published in “Angewandte Chemie” (International Edition).
Industrial Maturity of Electrically Conductive Adhesives for Silicon Solar Cells Demonstrated
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- Written by Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE
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The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and teamtechnik, an international leader in production technology, report that it is now possible to connect high efficiency solar cells using electrically conductive adhesives in series production. The results of the joint research project »KleVer« show that the adhesive technology is ready for the market and can be used as an alternative to the widespread soft soldering interconnection technology. Due to the much lower process temperatures of this technology compared to soldering, temperature-sensitive high efficiency solar cells can be connected using adhesives in a gentle and material-saving process.
Silicon as a New Storage Material for the Batteries of the Future
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- Written by Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
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Kiel University and equipment manufacturers RENA Technologies present new approach at the Hannover Messe. Longer life times, larger ranges and faster recharging - developments such as electric mobility or the miniaturisation of electronics require new storage materials for batteries. With its enormous storage capacity, silicon would potentially have decisive advantages over the materials used in commercial available lithium-ion batteries. But due to its mechanical instability, it has so far been almost impossible to use silicon for storage technology.
Molecules Brilliantly Illuminated
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- Written by Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik
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Physicists at the Laboratory for Attosecond Physics, which is jointly run by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität and the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, have developed a high-power laser system that generates ultrashort pulses of light covering a large share of the mid-infrared spectrum. The researchers envisage a wide range of applications for the technology – in the early diagnosis of cancer, for instance.
Magnetic Nano-imaging on a Table Top
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- Written by Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
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A research team at the Universities of Göttingen and Augsburg in Germany in collaboration with Technion in Israel have used femtosecond HHG pulses for the first time to capture images of magnetic domains. The work establishes a highly-sought after technology: magneto-optical nano-imaging in a table-top scheme.
Joining Metals without Welding
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- Written by Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
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Kiel prototype for new connection technology will be presented at the Hannover Messe. Welding is still the standard technique for joining metals. However, this laborious process carried out at high temperatures is not suitable for all applications. Now, a research team from the "Functional Nanomaterials" working group at Kiel University, together with the company Phi-Stone AG from Kiel, has developed a versatile alternative to conventional welding and gluing processes.
Basel Researchers Succeed in Cultivating Cartilage from Stem Cells
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- Written by Universität Basel
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Stable joint cartilage can be produced from adult stem cells originating from bone marrow. This is made possible by inducing specific molecular processes occurring during embryonic cartilage formation, as researchers from the University and University Hospital of Basel report in the scientific journal PNAS. Certain mesenchymal stem/stromal cells from the bone marrow of adults are considered extremely promising for skeletal tissue regeneration.
Real-time Layer Thickness Measurement with Terahertz
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- Written by Fraunhofer-Institut für Nachrichtentechnik, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut, HHI
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Terahertz is a key technology for non-destructive material testing. Major advantages are examinations without physical contact and the analysis of complex systems with a low contrast range, in which established methods like ultrasonic usually fail. The Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute HHI has successfully developed a cost-efficient and compact measurement system that conducts real-time measurements of the thickness of multi-layer systems for the first time, an essential technology e.g. for lacquering lines. The new terahertz measurement system T-Sweeper will be presented live at the Hannover Messe trade fair from April 23 to 27, 2018 (Fraunhofer booth C22, hall 2).
An Atomic Quantum Bit Made Switchable
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- Written by Universität Augsburg
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One bit per atom: Augsburg-based physicists and US colleagues are reaching the ultimate limit for nanoscale data storage
Individual Impurity Atoms Detectable in Graphene
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- Written by Universiät Basel
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A team including physicists from the University of Basel has succeeded in using atomic force microscopy to clearly obtain images of individual impurity atoms in graphene ribbons. Thanks to the forces measured in the graphene’s two-dimensional carbon lattice, they were able to identify boron and nitrogen for the first time, as the researchers report in the journal Science Advances.
Mimicking Nanoscale Natural Movements with the Help of DNA Origami
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- Written by Max-Planck-Institut für Intelligente Systeme
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Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems together with researchers at the University of Heidelberg and the University of Stuttgart use a technique called DNA origami to mimic a multitude of vital movements seen in nature, such as the sliding motion exerted by protein motors during cell division. Their invention, which is a thousand times smaller than a human hair, features a preliminary attempt to construct nanoscale analogues of the mysterious natural machines in living cells.
