Flanders Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)

New material is 1,000 times more conductive than commercially available materials currently on the market Scientists at A*A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) have invented a new type of thermoplastic thread that can be used in 3D printers to create functional circuits for use in electrical gadgets. “I believe this will revolutionise desk-top

Stanford researchers took a virtual reality experience into a variety of educational settings, including high school classrooms, to test the impact on awareness and understanding of ocean acidification. See video here. Utter the words “ocean acidification” in mixed company, and you’ll probably get blank stares. Although climate change has grown steadily in the public consciousness, one

ETH researchers working with Martin Fussenegger have developed an early warning system for the four most common types of cancer. Should a tumour develop, a visible mole will appear on the skin. Alongside cardiovascular disease, cancer has become the top cause of death in industrialised countries. Many of those affected are diagnosed only after the

A genetic method that can increase biomass in algae by 50 to 80 percent   Research at Iowa State University has led to discovery of a genetic method that can increase biomass in algae by 50 to 80 percent. The breakthrough comes from expressing certain genes in algae that increase the amount of photosynthesis in

Scientists report steps toward safer, cheaper, longer-lasting, and faster-charging solid-state battery People use their GPS apps, cameras, and mobile internet to navigate strange cities in search of good coffee, record “selfie” commentary while they wait in line, and upload their videos directly to social media sites while they sip their latte. But no amount of

Swiss researchers have achieved a major breakthrough in the development of bioengineered skin. The new grafts, which are about to undergo clinical trials, work a lot like the real thing — because they actually contain functioning blood vessels and lymph capillaries. The breakthrough was made by Daniela Marino and her team from the Tissue Biology Research Unit

Researchers demonstrate nanoscale particles that ordinary light sources can set spinning. Science fiction is full of fanciful devices that allow light to interact forcefully with matter, from light sabers to photon-drive rockets. In recent years, science has begun to catch up; some results hint at interesting real-world interactions between light and matter at atomic scales,

Algal Protein Gives Boost to Electrochemical Water Splitting   Photosynthesis is considered the “Holy Grail” in the field of sustainable energy generation because it directly converts solar energy into storable fuel using nothing but water and carbon dioxide (CO2). Scientists have long tried to mimic the underlying natural processes and to optimize them for energy

With a new smartphone device, you can now take an accurate iPhone camera selfie that could save your life – it reads your cholesterol level in about a minute. Forget those clumsy, complicated, home cholesterol-testing devices. Cornell engineers have created the Smartphone Cholesterol Application for Rapid Diagnostics, or “smartCARD,” which employs your smartphone’s camera to