MI weekly selection #250
Single-strand DNA robot developed to transport tiny cargo
A tiny robot made from a strand of DNA that can transport cargo has been developed by researchers at the California Institute of Technology and is one of the first steps towards developing general-purpose DNA robots.
The mysterious seismic event following nuclear test
Researchers around the world are baffled by a second seismic event that occurred at Mount Mantap eight-and-a-half minutes after North Korea tested a nuclear bomb there on 3 Sept.. The US Geological Survey suggests the second event may have been caused by a tunnel collapse linked to the test, while other scientists say it may have been due to rock fracturing, among other potential causes.
Ice may lurk beneath surface of Vesta
Ice may exist beneath the surface of Vesta, the massive asteroid located between Mars and Jupiter, according to researchers who used data from the Dawn space probe to study smooth patches that contained a large amount of hydrogen.
Mice exposed to cigarette smoke residue exhibit increased risk of health problems
Prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke residue, or thirdhand smoke, in items such as furniture or clothing may increase the risk of health problems. Researchers took samples at various intervals from mice exposed to thirdhand smoke for about six months and found progressive evidence of increased health risks as the exposure continued.
Antibiotics may help reactivate chemotherapy drug hobbled by bacteria
Gemcitabine, a chemotherapy drug often used to treat a variety of cancers, can be rendered ineffective by certain bacteria that produce an enzyme that protects the tumors. Researchers found that antibiotics given to infected mice along with gemcitabine helped the drug get back to work killing tumor cells.