Topic description and stories

Brain showing hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (plaques in blue)

New imaging technique measures toxicity of proteins associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases

23 Nov 2016

A new super-resolution imaging technique allows researchers to track how surface changes in proteins are related to neurodegenerative diseases such...

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Snow Crystal Landscape

Harnessing the possibilities of the nanoworld

29 Sep 2016

Scientists have long suspected that the way materials behave on the nanoscale – that is when particles have dimensions of about 1–100 nanometres – is...

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Interacting proteins

Algorithm for predicting protein pairings could help show how living systems work

20 Sep 2016

An algorithm which models how proteins inside cells interact with each other will enhance the study of biology, and sheds light on how proteins work...

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Crystal structure of parallel quadruplexes from human telomeric DNA.

Quadruple helix form of DNA may aid in the development of targeted cancer therapies

12 Sep 2016

Researchers have identified the role that a four-stranded version of DNA may play in the role of cancer progression, and suggest that it may be used...

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Artist’s rendering of protein fibrils (in blue) and healthy proteins from computer simulations

Slow, slow, quick quick, slow: Scientists discover how proteins in the brain build up rapidly in Alzheimer’s disease

18 Jul 2016

Cambridge researchers have identified – and shown that it may be possible to control – the mechanism that leads to the rapid build-up of the disease-...

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Mixing light with dye molecules, trapped in golden gaps

Nano ‘hall of mirrors’ causes molecules to mix with light

13 Jun 2016

Researchers have successfully used quantum states to mix a molecule with light at room temperature, which will aid in the exploration of quantum...

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Fibrils of amyloid-beta

Researchers identify ‘neurostatin’ that may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

12 Feb 2016

An approved anti-cancer drug successfully targets the first step in the toxic chain reaction that leads to Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that...

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False-colour microscopic view of a reduced graphene oxide electrode (black, centre), which hosts the large (on the order of 20 micrometers) lithium hydroxide particles (pink) that form when a lithium-oxygen battery discharges.

New design points a path to the ‘ultimate’ battery

29 Oct 2015

Researchers have successfully demonstrated how several of the problems impeding the practical development of the so-called ‘ultimate’ battery could...

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Borneo rainforest

Pollution on the move – human activity in East Asia negatively affects air quality in remote tropical forests

31 Mar 2015

New analysis shows that pollution from human activity in East Asia is having a negative effect on air quality in tropical rainforests thousands of...

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By tracing the pathway by which paracetamol becomes toxic in the body back to a single molecular initiating event, researchers were able to predict with accuracy the likely toxic effects of other compounds with similar molecular features.

Molecular event mapping opens door to more tests “in silico”

18 Nov 2014

Scientists report a new method for establishing whether chemical compounds are safe for human use without "in vivo" testing, based on so-called "...

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Knee With Patella Right x-ray 0003

Shock-absorbing 'goo' discovered in bone

24 Mar 2014

New findings show that much of the mineral from which bone is made consists of ‘goo’ trapped between tiny crystals, lubricating and allowing movement...

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Left: Laser apparatus used to study singlet fission in Cambridge. Right: Celestia sun

Two for one in solar power

18 Nov 2013

A process that could revolutionise solar energy harvesting has been efficiently demonstrated in solution for the first time.

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