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NEWS
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A model cell
A computer model showing cell signaling pathways
-- the ways cells respond to stimuli from each other and
the environment -- shows that cells process information
in the same way even though the same stimulus patterns
produce different results in different types of cells.
The model predicts how cells respond in specific conditions,
which promises to improve medical diagnosis and drug development.
(Common
Effector Processing Mediates Cell-Specific Responses to
Stimuli, Nature, August 2, 2007)
Levitating cells
Using sound waves to levitat tiny blood droplets
for spectral analysis yields better signal-to-noise ratios
than samples on slides or other containers. The technique's
promise for diagnosing diseases was demonstrated by detecting
malaria in infected cells. (Raman
Acoustic Levitation Spectroscopy of Red Blood Cells and
Plasmodium Falciparum Trophozoites, Lab on a Chip,
published online August 3, 2007)
Polymers go long
A pair of advances in polymer chemistry make it
easier to form nanoscale cylinders and chains. The minuscule
structures could be used to deliver drugs, strengthen
plastics and as templates for nanowires. (Cylindrical
Block Copolymer Micelles and Co-Micelles of Controlled
Length and Architecture, Block
Copolymer Assembly via Kinetic Control, Science,
August 3, 2007)
Nanowires on chips
A chemistry advance makes it possible to load
minuscule amounts of metal in polymer chains on silicon
chips, then remove the polymer to leave metal lines as
narrow as 10 nanometers, which is the width of 100 hydrogen
atoms. This is about nine times smaller than the circuits
on today's computer chips. The technique provides a relatively
simple chemical process for integrating nanotechnology
with today's microelectronics. (Assembly
of Aligned Linear Metallic Patterns on Silicon, Nature
Nanotechnology, August 2007)
Heavy metal sponge
Highly porous semiconducting aerogels -- sponge-like
solids -- soak up heavy metals. The materials could be
used to remove toxic heavy metals like mercury from water.
(Porous
Semiconducting Gels and Aerogels from Chalcogenide Clusters,
Science, July 27, 2007)
Quantum magnets
Scientists have found that strings of magnetic
atoms as long as 20 nanometers can be quantum-mechanically
linked even though they are not aligned magnetically.
The finding improves the chances for making large-scale
chip-based quantum computers, which are expected to be
able to crack security codes. (Mesoscopic
Phase Coherence in a Quantum Spin Fluid, Science,
published online July 26, 2007) |
FEATURES
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View
from the High Ground: ICL's John Pendry
Physics as machine tool, negative refractive
index, metamaterials, shattered wine glasses, higher capacity
DVDs, scientific backwaters, risk perception and practice,
practice, practice.
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How
It Works: Quantum computing: qubits
Photons, electrons and atoms, oh my! These particles are
the raw materials for qubits, the basic building blocks
of quantum computers. |
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"Physics
is to the rest of science what machine tools are
to engineering. A corollary is that science places
power in our hands which can be used for good or
ill. Technology has been abused in this way throughout
the ages from gunpowder to atomic bombs."
- John Pendry, Imperial College London |
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Thanks
to Kevin from
GoldBamboo.com
for technical support |
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