"Scientists inch closer to building a drug-delivering nanorobot"

Scientists have been hard at work recently to create a bio-synthetic "cage" for delivering drugs in the body. The cages are made of eight unique DNA strands that have custom sequences that once bound, form a functional portal. These temperature dependent "nanorobots" open up when warm (allowing the uptake or release of the drug) and close when cool (holding and transporting the drug). The enzyme that was transported in the study was horseradish peroxidase because of its ease to trace. The "nanocages" are made of DNA, so they can be customized to open and close at specific temperatures and carry larger and smaller substrates. The custom bio-synthetic transporters still have a lot of research that needs to be done but they could one day be used to treat diabetes, cancer, and many other issues.

CNET - The Journal ACS Nano - http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57614376-76/scientists-inch-closer-to-building-a-drug-delivering-nanorobot/

"Mere Presence Of Males Shortens Female's Lifespan: Yes, It's True For Roundworms"

Recently at Stanford University it was discovered that male roundworms secrete a substance that causes the female roundworms to die quickly after giving birth to their young. This is beneficial to the male in two ways. First, the large female will not be around to compete for food with the new offspring. Second, the female will not be available for other males to pass on their genes with. I also found it interesting that only 0.01 to 0.1 percent are complete males and the rest are hermaphrodites ( have both male and female reproductive organs), so the male needs every reproductive advantage it can get.

Design & Trend Article: http://www.designntrend.com/articles/9405/20131129/mere-presence-males-shortens-females-lifespan-yes-true-roundworms.htm

"New waterproof surface is 'driest ever'"

From the same lab that recently created the LiquiGlide no-stick ketchup bottle, comes a new kind of hydrophobic surface. The new surface material is based on replicating the natural "gold standard" of water shedding, the lotus leaf. The new discovery is a surface pattern that can be easily added to many materials including metals, fabrics, and ceramics. The weaving pattern for fabrics that replicate this pattern are currently being developed and could be the next big thing coming out. The super hydrophobic surface works by causing incoming raindrops to quickly break apart into many smaller drops on contact and throwing the droplets outward. The list of things that can be improved with the new material is endless; tents, clothing, sportswear, and non-icing airplane engines are a few of the possibilities.

Link To BBC Article (includes a video of the material shedding water):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25004942

"Accidental discovery dramatically enhances electrical conductivity in crystals"

Recently at Washington State University, researchers studying strontium titanate crystals made an accidental discovery. They had left the crystal out in the light for a day and it exploded. After looking further into the crystal, they discovered that it had very high levels of electrical conductivity. In fact, 400-fold times higher than the current conductors. The crystal is able to both insulate and superconduct electric signals. What makes it unique and useful is that it can perform these functions at room temperature. This new discovery will greatly improve the functionality of all electronic devices.

Science Recorder - Physics Review Letters -http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/accidental-discovery-dramatically-enhances-electrical-conductivity-in-crystals/

 

"New species of microbe thrives in spacecraft clean rooms"

A new microbe was recently discovered in two places that were considered the cleanest places on Earth. Spacecraft Clean rooms in Florida and South America were thought to be spotless, until Tersicoccus phoenicis showed up. These microbes have never been seen in nature before, in fact, they are so rare that they had to make a new genus to name it. Tersicoccus phoenicis is able to survive on virtually no nutrients, so ultra clean surfaces such as spacecrafts are possible places where they can survive. They plan on using these findings to keep clean rooms even cleaner than they had been before. A possible implication of this microbe living on a spacecraft is it riding to space and being considered the first life found on Mars.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57611307-1/new-species-of-microbe-thrives-in-spacecraft-clean-rooms/ - Cnet - Nasa

"Asian Carp Breed in Great Lakes"

"Asian Carp Breed in Great Lakes, Threaten Fishing." USA Today. Gannett, 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 31 Oct. 2013. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/28/asian-carp-great-lakes/3289387/>. 

http://bigfishesoftheworld.blogspot.com/2011/11/grass-carp-ctenopharyngodon-idella.html

On Monday, October 28, 2013 scientists documented the first cases of Asian carp successfully breeding in rivers connected to the Great Lakes. The three main types of Asian carp that are invading the waterways are: grass, bighead, and silver carp. The carp were initially brought to America to control algae and other plants in sewage treatment lagoons. Asian carp are not from North America and compete with the native species for food and habitat. The bighead and silver carp are the most dangerous to the ecosystem because they eat massive amounts of plankton, which play a key role in the food chain.

A consequence of these quickly breeding carp species taking off would be the elimination of native fish populations. This could hurt the $7 billion fishing industry of the Great Lakes. The Obama administration has spent $200 million on protective measures, such as electricity gated waterways between the Mississippi River (which is full of carp) and Lake Michigan. The amount of carp in the Great Lakes may be higher than scientists originally thought. New equipment is being created to determine if rivers are suitable for carp breeding.

The article was factual and informative. It was to the point and did not use any analogies, metaphors or similes to reinforce its topics. The conversation like syntax as well as the clear, simple diction made it easy to follow and understand. The organization was key to this article. It started with background information, followed by the issues of invasive carp, what is being done to control them, and what the future looks like. Judging by the style of the article, it is meant to quickly inform the public of the invasive carp situation that looms.

Growing up next to Lake Superior has allowed me to hear about other invasive species scares throughout years, such as lampreys, zebra mussels, and many more. I think all of these invasive species invasions should be taken very seriously because our food chain/ecosystem is not made to control these invasive species from growing out of control. I would hate to see native species go extinct because humans transported species here in non-natural ways.

Questions

1. The article mentions permanently cutting off the waterway that connects the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan as an invasive carp solution. Should humans have the right to cut off/reroute natural rivers just so species cannot travel into the Great Lakes? Why or Why not?

2. In the news you often hear about new invasive species. Are there any cases where humans should not interfere with invasive species and let them proliferate? Explain.

3. If you caught/found an invasive species, what would you do with it? Does it depend on what the organism is?

"Baby 'cured' of HIV: New details offer hope for other patients"

Recently a 3-year-old girl was labeled the first human to be cured of HIV through genetic therapy. A mix of three different antiretroviral drugs was prescribed at only a few days old. After stopping the treatment for 18 months, there was no longer any HIV present in the little girl. The cocktail of drugs as well as the early treatment is figured to work because it stopped HIV from being able to latch onto the immune system and take over. Infants born with HIV is very rare in the United States, but around the world about 1000 people are born with HIV each day. The new early treatment strategy could play a big part in helping to eliminate other HIV infected babies.

Los Angeles Times - http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-baby-cured-of-hiv-report-20131023,0,2346578.story#axzz2ibMz98mM

"Yeti bear: Yetis are real – but not magical, says British geneticist"

Two pelts believed to be from Yetis in the Himalayas were sent to Oxford University. At Oxford, geneticists found the DNA sequences of the pelts and they were a 100% match.... to a bear. It was not a regular bear though. It matched a DNA sample of an ancient bear 40,000 to 120,000 years old at the time where bears split into separate polar and brown species. The pelts are evidence that a brown bear, polar bear hybrid is living in the rugged Himalayas and may be what people have been considering a Yeti.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/1017/Yeti-bear-Yetis-are-real-but-not-magical-says-British-geneticist-video - The Christian Science Monitor

"What's the Best Cure for a Hangover? Sprite Of Course"

A study published in the journal Food & Function suggested that one of the most effective remedies to a hangover is Sprite. It was found to work because it increases ALDH activity, which breaks down acetaldehyde, a byproduct of ethanol metabolism. Acetaldehyde is what causes headaches and nausea. So next time you need a hangover cure, try a carbonated citrus soda.

What's the Best Cure for a Hangover? Sprite Of Course - Counsel & Heal

"Physicists one step closer to creating real-life lightsabers"

A team of MIT and Harvard physicists accidentally found lightsaber like properties when attempting to develop photons to be used in a quantum supercomputer. No lightsaber has been produced but it is the beginning steps to understanding how to make one. The creation of a real life lightsaber would be just in time for the new Star Wars movies coming out.

"Most of the properties of light we know about originate from the fact that photons are massless and do not interact," Lukin said. "What we have done is create a special type of medium in which photons interact with each other so strongly that they act as though they have mass, and bind together to form molecules."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57605327/physicists-one-step-closer-to-creating-real-life-lightsabers/

http://www.geek.com/science/new-form-of-photon-based-matter-is-essentially-a-lightsaber-1571956/

"Married cancer patients fare better: Can you put that in a pill?"

Harvard just conducted research that suggests that being married reduces the chance of dying from the most common cancers by 20 percent. Some of the major reasons for this include: married people are more likely to go to the doctor, have more emotional support, have less stress, are more likely to undergo strong treatment and stick with it, and have less depression. This study was done by studying past cancer patients' marital status and treatment results. There is a possibility of understanding this relationship more on the molecular level in the future.

"Married cancer patients fare better: Can you put that in a pill?" - Los Angeles Times

UMD Brian Kobilka Honoring

On Friday, September 13, 2013 I attended Brian Kobilka's seminar on his research on how cells sense and interact with their environment. Brian Kobilka graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1977 with bachelors of science in chemistry and biology. In 2012 Kobilka received the Nobel Prize for chemistry. His discovery will be crucial to the development and understanding of drugs.

Link To Sept 13 UMD Honoring Information

Neature Walk

Not a serious post. Just for fun.