Lifeboat Foundation

Biomedical engineers from the University of Melbourne have invented a 3D printing system, or bioprinter, capable of fabricating structures that closely mimic the diverse tissues in the human body, from soft brain tissue to harder materials like cartilage and bone.

This cutting-edge technology offers cancer researchers an advanced tool for replicating specific organs and tissues, significantly improving the potential to predict and develop new pharmaceutical therapies. This would pave the way for more advanced and ethical drug discovery by reducing the need for animal testing.

Head of the Collins BioMicrosystems Laboratory at the University of Melbourne, Associate Professor David Collins said: In addition to drastically improving print speed, our approach enables a degree of cell positioning within printed tissues. Incorrect cell positioning is a big reason most 3D bioprinters fail to produce structures that accurately represent human tissue.

Within the body, cells involved in specific functions, like immune response and secretion, are equipped with granules, which are small membrane-bound compartments containing enzymes, proteins, or other molecules. In neutrophils, the so-called azurophilic (or primary) granules contain enzymes that are involved in the initial response to an infection.

MPO-based E-101 is the first wound and systemically safe antiseptic, with a safety profile comparable to saline, that is effective in physiological conditions.

Myeloperoxidase, or MPO, is one of the most important of such enzymes for the immune system’s ability to destroy pathogens. Allen has been studying the physiological role of MPO since 1971. Using chemiluminescence and metabolic studies he has been able to study the complex and finely regulated mechanism of NADPH oxidase driven MPO action in microbicidal activity.

A SPACEPLANE that uses regular runways could fly to space as soon as next year.

Called Dream Chaser, the futuristic spacecraft will fly on a NASA mission to resupply the International Space Station.

The mission – officially called SSC Demo-1 – is due to take place “no earlier than May 2025”

New research from the Kind Group at the Hubrecht Institute sheds light on how cells repair damaged DNA. For the first time, the team has mapped the activity of repair proteins in individual human cells.

The study demonstrates how these proteins collaborate in so-called “hubs” to repair DNA damage. This knowledge offers opportunities to improve cancer therapies and other treatments where DNA repair is essential. The researchers published their findings in Nature Communications on November 21.

DNA is the molecule that carries our genetic information. It can be damaged by normal cellular processes as well as external factors such as UV radiation and chemicals. Such damage can lead to breaks in the DNA strand. If DNA damage is not properly repaired, mutations can occur, which may result in diseases like cancer. Cells use repair systems to fix this damage, with specialized proteins locating and binding to the damaged regions.

Designed to one day search for evidence of life in the briny ocean beneath the icy shell of Jupiter’s moon Europa, these robots could play a key role in detecting chemical and temperature signals that might indicate alien life, according to scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), who designed and tested the robots.

“People might ask, why is NASA developing an underwater robot for space exploration?” said Ethan Schaler, the project’s principal investigator at JPL. “It’s because there are places we want to go in the solar system to look for life, and we think life needs water.”

Summary: Researchers have demonstrated how brain activity can predict behavior in urban environments, providing a roadmap for improving urban planning. Using functional MRI scans, the study identified activity in the brain’s reward system, specifically the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, as a key predictor of why people visit certain urban areas.

Participants rated photos of Lisbon’s urban spaces, and their brain responses were linked to visitation patterns, showing that people are drawn to areas of perceived value. This research suggests urban design can prioritize environments that align with cognitive and emotional well-being.

Neurourbanism, the emerging field behind this study, offers tools to design cities that enhance livability and sustainability. By focusing on human-centered approaches, cities can improve efficiency, mobility, and resident happiness.

Researchers have developed a new quantum theory that for the first time defines the precise shape of a photon, showing its interaction with atoms and its environment.

This breakthrough allows for the visualization of photons and could revolutionize nanophotonic technologies, enhancing secure communication, pathogen detection, and molecular control in chemical reactions.

A groundbreaking quantum theory has allowed researchers to define the exact shape of a single photon for the first time.

A breakthrough at Rice University enhances thermophotovoltaic systems with a new thermal emitter design, achieving over 60% efficiency.

This could transform energy conversion, making it a viable alternative to batteries for grid-scale energy storage and sustainable industry practices.

Researchers at Rice University have developed an innovative way to enhance thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems, which convert heat into electricity using light. Drawing inspiration from quantum physics, engineer Gururaj Naik and his team designed a highly efficient thermal emitter that works within realistic design constraints.

The price of shutting down coal power, and what would be gained.