SciTech #ScienceSunday Digest - 11/2016.
SciTech #ScienceSunday Digest - 11/2016.
Permalink here: http://www.scitechdigest.net/2016/03/advanced-protein-nanomaterials-powerful.html
Advanced protein nanomaterials, CRISPR enhancements, Milligram gravity measurements, Powerful magnetogenetics, Busting bacterial drug resistance, Texture sensing bionics, Deep learning grasping, Reconfigurable nanomaterials, 2D material applications, Regenerating eye lenses.
1. Improved Nanotechnology with Advanced Protein Design
A new platform of combinatorial protein evolution can quickly produce protein pairs from billions that very tightly bind each other, and these can subsequently be used either on their own or bound to nanoparticles (such as gold) to enable and direct the self-assembly of ordered, robust materials with novel properties http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=42804.php. In the case of nanoparticle-protein structures, adding an excess of one of the proteins to the solution can cause the spontaneous disassembly of the material. This is a promising platform for atomically precise fabrication, and potentially more powerful than DNA origami, with the group moving onto multiple-component assemblies and control of 3D orientation of large assemblies. Applications across materials science, from catalysts to LEDs. In related news, new and better models of DNA folding should help with the design of DNA origami structures http://engineering.tamu.edu/news/2016/03/07/dna-flexibility.
2. Further Enhancements to CRISPR Technology
A new modification to CRISPR involves small changes to the guide RNA component of the system, a simple extension by 5 basepairs, which resulted in much greater efficiency for gene targeting and knockouts http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-03/ttuh-rec030116.php. This further reduces error rates and off-target effects, and when combined with other approaches should help make the system more specific and safer for use in humans.
3. Measuring the Gravity Between Milligram Masses
It might surprise some but the lightest masses ever to have their gravitational force of attraction between them measured is 90 grams. A new proposal seeks to use modern MEMS springboards to measure the attractive gravitational force between two test masses weighing only milligrams, offering an improvement of three orders of magnitude https://www.technologyreview.com/s/600932/how-to-measure-the-gravitational-field-of-a-quantum-object/. Isolating internal and external vibrations will be crucial, difficult, but achievable, and an important advance for probing ever smaller gravitational fields.
4. Advances in Magnetogenetics
Optogenetics involves transferring genes for light sensitive channel proteins into neurons and then controlling those neurons with pulses of light. In a similar way magnetogenetics involves transferring genes for magnetic proteins conjugated to proteins able to activate the cell https://news.virginia.edu/content/uva-scientists-use-synthetic-gene-and-magnets-alter-behavior-mice-fish. The recent advance was used to turn on neurons in mice and zebrafish via controlling an external magnetic field; for example mice with the gene installed in the pleasure centers of their brains preferentially visited a part of their cage where a magnetic field was located and switched on. Unlike light for optogenetics, magnetic fields can easily penetrate the brain.
5. Busting Bacterial Drug Resistance
Tarocin A and Tarocin B are compounds that have been found to target a different component of bacterial cell walls that, on their own, don’t kill bacteria; however when bound to conventional antibiotics the combination kills bacteria, even those that are resistant to those antibiotics, and so far in clinical samples and infected mice (humans soon hopefully) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2080180-mrsa-superbugs-resistance-to-antibiotics-is-broken/. This is a nice, elegant approach to potentially resurrect many antibiotics for which pathogenic bacteria such as MRSA have developed resistance to. To prevent the development of subsequent resistance to these new combinations the group hope to introduce a third molecular component. In related news some bacteria appear to exhibit a type of collective group memory http://www.eawag.ch/en/news-agenda/news-portal/news-detail/news/bakterien-koennen-kollektives-gedaechtnis-entwickeln/.
6. Bionic Finger Provides Tactile Feeling to Amputee
An amputee with electrodes wired into nerves in his arm has been able to feel surface textures via an artificial bionic finger https://actu.epfl.ch/news/amputee-feels-texture-with-a-bionic-fingertip/. The sensors on the finger translated differences in texture into pulsed signals similar to those that would be normally delivered to the nervous system, with the amputee able to distinguish between rough and smooth surfaces 96% of the time, and quoted as providing a similar sensation to that of the normal hand. The test was repeated with non-amputees and temporary (less invasive) electrodes implanted in the skin to successfully convey tactile information at least 77% of the time.
7. Deep Learning Grasping for Robotics
Google’s new deep learning system for training robotic grasping objects provides continuous feedback as a type of “hand-eye coordination”, getting progressively better at observing its own gripper and correcting / adjusting gripper motions in real-time to increase the chances of a successful grasp on an arbitrary object http://googleresearch.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/deep-learning-for-robots-learning-from.html. And there are other related research systems using deep learning techniques to boost robot performance in complex object grasping and manipulation tasks http://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/bakarfellows/profile/pieter_abbeel. In related deep learning news and following the preliminary announcement a couple months ago, AlphaGo officially defeated the reigning world Go champion this week https://deepmind.com/alpha-go.html.
8. Reconfigurable Nanomaterials
First, the orientation of magnetism in a new class of materials comprised of thin layers of perovskites can be precisely controlled at will, and offering interesting spintronics and other applications https://www.utwente.nl/en/news/!/2016/3/477452/nanotechnologists-at-ut-make-orientation-of-magnetism-adjustable-in-new-materials. Second, a different technique based on thermal scanning probe lithography uses a hot nanotip to heat and cool thin-films of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic materials and offering a different way to reconfigure magnetic nanopatterns at will http://asrc.cuny.edu/2016/03/09/riedo-magnetic-nanopatterns/. Finally, in related news a flexible metamaterial can be stretched and tuned to reduce the reflection of a wide range of radar frequencies http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2016/03/04/meta-skin.
9. Interesting 2D Materials Advances
First, a new graphene water filter removes anything larger than 1nm and is prepared by a novel and apparently scalable process http://www.eng.monash.edu.au/news/shownews.php?nid=11&year=2016. Second, the company Graphenano claims to have developed a graphene polymer battery that achieves 1,000 Wh / kg that would boost a the range of a Tesla Model S from 334 km to >1,000 km http://nextbigfuture.com/2016/03/spanish-company-graphenano-claims.html. Finally, a novel lens 6.3nm thick made from nine layers of molybdenum disulphide and shaped into a lens with a focused ion beam possesses exceptional optical properties http://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/worlds-thinnest-lens-to-revolutionise-cameras.
10. Stem Cells Regenerate Human Eye Lens
A human clinical trial with 12 patients successfully regenerated eye lenses damaged by congenital cataracts in all cases http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/stem_cells_regenerate_human_lens_after_cataract_surgery_restoring_vision. The procedure involved (i) new minimally invasive surgery to remove the damaged lens while leaving the lens capsule intact, and (ii) methods to stimulate latent lens epithelial cells to regrow the a healthy lens able to restore vision. Great demonstration of using latent stem cells in the body to heal; we’ll hopefully see more of this in future.
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Permalink here: http://www.scitechdigest.net/2016/03/advanced-protein-nanomaterials-powerful.html
Advanced protein nanomaterials, CRISPR enhancements, Milligram gravity measurements, Powerful magnetogenetics, Busting bacterial drug resistance, Texture sensing bionics, Deep learning grasping, Reconfigurable nanomaterials, 2D material applications, Regenerating eye lenses.
1. Improved Nanotechnology with Advanced Protein Design
A new platform of combinatorial protein evolution can quickly produce protein pairs from billions that very tightly bind each other, and these can subsequently be used either on their own or bound to nanoparticles (such as gold) to enable and direct the self-assembly of ordered, robust materials with novel properties http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=42804.php. In the case of nanoparticle-protein structures, adding an excess of one of the proteins to the solution can cause the spontaneous disassembly of the material. This is a promising platform for atomically precise fabrication, and potentially more powerful than DNA origami, with the group moving onto multiple-component assemblies and control of 3D orientation of large assemblies. Applications across materials science, from catalysts to LEDs. In related news, new and better models of DNA folding should help with the design of DNA origami structures http://engineering.tamu.edu/news/2016/03/07/dna-flexibility.
2. Further Enhancements to CRISPR Technology
A new modification to CRISPR involves small changes to the guide RNA component of the system, a simple extension by 5 basepairs, which resulted in much greater efficiency for gene targeting and knockouts http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-03/ttuh-rec030116.php. This further reduces error rates and off-target effects, and when combined with other approaches should help make the system more specific and safer for use in humans.
3. Measuring the Gravity Between Milligram Masses
It might surprise some but the lightest masses ever to have their gravitational force of attraction between them measured is 90 grams. A new proposal seeks to use modern MEMS springboards to measure the attractive gravitational force between two test masses weighing only milligrams, offering an improvement of three orders of magnitude https://www.technologyreview.com/s/600932/how-to-measure-the-gravitational-field-of-a-quantum-object/. Isolating internal and external vibrations will be crucial, difficult, but achievable, and an important advance for probing ever smaller gravitational fields.
4. Advances in Magnetogenetics
Optogenetics involves transferring genes for light sensitive channel proteins into neurons and then controlling those neurons with pulses of light. In a similar way magnetogenetics involves transferring genes for magnetic proteins conjugated to proteins able to activate the cell https://news.virginia.edu/content/uva-scientists-use-synthetic-gene-and-magnets-alter-behavior-mice-fish. The recent advance was used to turn on neurons in mice and zebrafish via controlling an external magnetic field; for example mice with the gene installed in the pleasure centers of their brains preferentially visited a part of their cage where a magnetic field was located and switched on. Unlike light for optogenetics, magnetic fields can easily penetrate the brain.
5. Busting Bacterial Drug Resistance
Tarocin A and Tarocin B are compounds that have been found to target a different component of bacterial cell walls that, on their own, don’t kill bacteria; however when bound to conventional antibiotics the combination kills bacteria, even those that are resistant to those antibiotics, and so far in clinical samples and infected mice (humans soon hopefully) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2080180-mrsa-superbugs-resistance-to-antibiotics-is-broken/. This is a nice, elegant approach to potentially resurrect many antibiotics for which pathogenic bacteria such as MRSA have developed resistance to. To prevent the development of subsequent resistance to these new combinations the group hope to introduce a third molecular component. In related news some bacteria appear to exhibit a type of collective group memory http://www.eawag.ch/en/news-agenda/news-portal/news-detail/news/bakterien-koennen-kollektives-gedaechtnis-entwickeln/.
6. Bionic Finger Provides Tactile Feeling to Amputee
An amputee with electrodes wired into nerves in his arm has been able to feel surface textures via an artificial bionic finger https://actu.epfl.ch/news/amputee-feels-texture-with-a-bionic-fingertip/. The sensors on the finger translated differences in texture into pulsed signals similar to those that would be normally delivered to the nervous system, with the amputee able to distinguish between rough and smooth surfaces 96% of the time, and quoted as providing a similar sensation to that of the normal hand. The test was repeated with non-amputees and temporary (less invasive) electrodes implanted in the skin to successfully convey tactile information at least 77% of the time.
7. Deep Learning Grasping for Robotics
Google’s new deep learning system for training robotic grasping objects provides continuous feedback as a type of “hand-eye coordination”, getting progressively better at observing its own gripper and correcting / adjusting gripper motions in real-time to increase the chances of a successful grasp on an arbitrary object http://googleresearch.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/deep-learning-for-robots-learning-from.html. And there are other related research systems using deep learning techniques to boost robot performance in complex object grasping and manipulation tasks http://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/bakarfellows/profile/pieter_abbeel. In related deep learning news and following the preliminary announcement a couple months ago, AlphaGo officially defeated the reigning world Go champion this week https://deepmind.com/alpha-go.html.
8. Reconfigurable Nanomaterials
First, the orientation of magnetism in a new class of materials comprised of thin layers of perovskites can be precisely controlled at will, and offering interesting spintronics and other applications https://www.utwente.nl/en/news/!/2016/3/477452/nanotechnologists-at-ut-make-orientation-of-magnetism-adjustable-in-new-materials. Second, a different technique based on thermal scanning probe lithography uses a hot nanotip to heat and cool thin-films of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic materials and offering a different way to reconfigure magnetic nanopatterns at will http://asrc.cuny.edu/2016/03/09/riedo-magnetic-nanopatterns/. Finally, in related news a flexible metamaterial can be stretched and tuned to reduce the reflection of a wide range of radar frequencies http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2016/03/04/meta-skin.
9. Interesting 2D Materials Advances
First, a new graphene water filter removes anything larger than 1nm and is prepared by a novel and apparently scalable process http://www.eng.monash.edu.au/news/shownews.php?nid=11&year=2016. Second, the company Graphenano claims to have developed a graphene polymer battery that achieves 1,000 Wh / kg that would boost a the range of a Tesla Model S from 334 km to >1,000 km http://nextbigfuture.com/2016/03/spanish-company-graphenano-claims.html. Finally, a novel lens 6.3nm thick made from nine layers of molybdenum disulphide and shaped into a lens with a focused ion beam possesses exceptional optical properties http://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/worlds-thinnest-lens-to-revolutionise-cameras.
10. Stem Cells Regenerate Human Eye Lens
A human clinical trial with 12 patients successfully regenerated eye lenses damaged by congenital cataracts in all cases http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/stem_cells_regenerate_human_lens_after_cataract_surgery_restoring_vision. The procedure involved (i) new minimally invasive surgery to remove the damaged lens while leaving the lens capsule intact, and (ii) methods to stimulate latent lens epithelial cells to regrow the a healthy lens able to restore vision. Great demonstration of using latent stem cells in the body to heal; we’ll hopefully see more of this in future.
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