Prostate cancer drugs ‘not treating root cause’
March 5, 2014
New drugs aimed at treating prostate cancer may not be targeting the root cause of the disease say researchers who have discovered that methylation – thought to be a significant...
Cognitive powers unique to humans
March 3, 2014
An area of the brain responsible for strategic planning, decision making and multi-tasking is unique to humans say researchers from the University of Oxford.By comparing brain MRI scans of 25...
Hairy materials grown on microscale
February 27, 2014
Materials constructed of tiny little hairs self-assembled at the microscale could be used in the next generation of batteries and solar cells.The key ingredient is epoxy and when added to...
Cas9’s secrets revealed
February 26, 2014
Bacterial enzyme Cas9 needs short DNA sequences to identify and degrade foreign DNA during viral infections American researchers have discovered.Cas9 (CRISPR-associated) is guided by RNA, but needs short DNA sequences...
New oncology deal for Immunocore
February 24, 2014
Biotechnology company Immunocore has entered into an oncology research collaboration and licensing agreement with MedImmune to research and develop novel cancer therapies using Immunocore’s ImmTAC technology. ImmTAC (Immune Mobilising Monoclonal...
Borophene competition to graphene
February 21, 2014
Chemists have produced the first experimental evidence of the existence of borophene – a single-atom sheet of boron. Taking the form of a hexagonal symmetrical disc with a hole in...
Sudden collapse could await insect networks
February 20, 2014
Insect pollinators play a crucial role in food security and biodiversity and are already subject to increasingly harsh conditions – if these get any worse, numerous species could go suddenly...
On-demand nano-vaccines
February 19, 2014
Vaccines produced on the spot when and where a disease is breaking out might be possible thanks to engineered nanoparticles. Vaccines are usually made en masse in centralised locations, far...
Sodium key to opioid brain signalling
February 17, 2014
A high-resolution 3-D view of an opioid receptor’s atomic structure has resolved the 40-year mystery of how sodium controls opioid brain signalling. The structure was obtained by scientists at the...
Love in the air at CERN
February 14, 2014
As CERN celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, a pair of Italian physicists whose lives have been intertwined with the organisation’s history will be celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary. Maria...
Gummy material could improve battery safety
February 12, 2014
A chewing gum-like material could dramatically improve the safety of lithium ion batteries by replacing the liquid acid electrolyte. High performance lithium batteries are great for storing large amounts of...
Supervolcanic eruptions solved?
February 11, 2014
Supervolcanic eruptions are caused by a change in magma pressure and magma buoyancy suggests two new research papers. Supervolcanoes have a large magma chamber compared to conventional volcanoes, and are...
