General principles to explain DNA brick self-assembly

(Phys.org)—DNA bricks are an odd phenomenon. They are nanostructures built from synthetic, single-strand DNA that self-assemble into 3D structures. Several years ago, researchers at Wyss Institute at Harvard demonstrated ...

Watching protein crystal nucleation in real time

A major hurdle in structural biology and pharmacology is growing crystals to determine the structure of the biomolecules and pharmaceuticals under study. Researchers at the University of Tübingen, working with colleagues ...

Samurai sword protein makes strategic cuts in cell skeletons

Just as our bodies have skeletons, so do our cells. They're equally indispensible in both cases. Without our bony skeletons we'd go limp and fall down. And without our cytoskeletons, our cells, which come in roughly 200 different ...

Graphene 'onion rings' have delicious potential

Concentric hexagons of graphene grown in a furnace at Rice University represent the first time anyone has synthesized graphene nanoribbons on metal from the bottom up—atom by atom.

Better droplet condensation could boost power efficiency

Researchers at MIT have developed an innovative approach to improving heat transfer in power plants and cooling systems. The new system could provide a 100 percent improvement in the efficiency of heat transfer over conventional ...

The science of sculpture, nano-style

(Phys.org) —The next breakthrough in highly efficient battery technologies and solar cells may very well be nanoscopic crystals of silicon assembled like skyscrapers on wafer-scale substrates. An important route for growth ...

page 6 from 8