MI weekly selection #17

Villar printed droplets

Scientists use 3D printer to create networks of artificial cells

Researchers have developed networks of water droplets that can act like biological tissue cells. The researchers created the networks using a three-dimensional printer. The networks can support up to 35,000 droplets and have the potential to be a scaffold for growing synthetic tissues or a way to model organ functions.

Nature

Gabriel Villar, Alexander D. Graham, Hagan Bayley (2013) A Tissue-Like Printed Material Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1229495

Data analysis can identify seismic traces of landslides

A new method of data analysis could help scientists single out giant landslides from other seismic activity, research that could help predict high-risk areas before the catastrophes occur, according to findings published in the journal Science. The technique currently overestimates the number of landslides, so detection must be confirmed with satellite imagery; however, some scientists believe the system could be refined and globalized in the future.

SciDev

Göran Ekström, Colin P. Stark (2013) Simple Scaling of Catastrophic Landslide Dynamics Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1232887

Neanderthal bones found in Greek cave suggest “thriving” population

The timing of a collection of Neanderthal fossils discovered in a Greek cave suggest the possibility of early interactions between the species and humans. The discovery includes several bones from children and adults dating to between 39,000 and 100,000 years ago and are a “confirmation of a thriving and long-standing Neanderthal population in the region”.

LiveScience

Katerina Harvatia, Andreas Darlasb, Shara E. Bailey, Thomas R. Reina, Sireen El Zaatarie, Luca Fiorenzaf, Ottmar Kullmerg, Eleni Psathih (2013) New Neanderthal remains from Mani peninsula, Southern Greece: The Kalamakia Middle Paleolithic cave site The Journal of Human Evolution DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2013.02.002

Emissions-free production of hydrogen fuel

Researchers have developed technology to produce hydrogen from plant sugar xylose, potentially paving the way for an environmentally friendly way of making hydrogen fuel from any biomass. Most commercially available hydrogen fuel is made from natural gas using a costly process that releases a vast amount of pollutants into the air.

UPI

del Campo JSM, Rollin JR, Myung S, You C, Chandrayan S, Patiño R, Adams MWW, Zhang Y-HP (2013) Dihydrogen production from xylose and water mediated by synthetic cascade enzymes Angewandte Chemie International Edition. DOI: 10.1002/ange.201300766.

Early life form capable of processing chemicals present on Mars surface for energy

Archaeoglobus fulgidus microbes, an ancient life form, is capable of metabolizing perchlorate for energy, which can help scientists understand the history and evolution of the Earth’s earliest creatures. The ancestral microbe, which exists in extreme temperatures such as hot hydrothermal vents, use of perchlorate might have been one of the first entries of highly oxidative compounds in the microbial metabolism, probably even before photosynthesis evolved.

PhysOrg

Martin G. Liebensteiner, Martijn W. H. Pinkse, Peter J. Schaap, Alfons J. M. Stams, Bart P. Lomans (2013) Archaeal (Per)Chlorate Reduction at High Temperature: An Interplay of Biotic and Abiotic Reactions Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1233957

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