Technology in “Star Trek” seems to become reality all the time. Cell phones — what Captain Kirk would call a “communicator” — are commonplace. Now, thanks to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), we have what Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy would call a “hypospray.” Fans of the show would immediately know what medical [...]
Stem Cells Specialize Better in Polymer Gel
May 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A polymer gel created by researchers at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering provides a culture to develop human stem cells that is free from biological contaminants unlike commonly used cultures that often contain animal cells and proteins. About five years ago, scientists discovered that human specialized cells could be reprogrammed to behave like [...]
BPA Substitutes Could Cause Health Effects, Too
May 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Updated regulatory screening for endocrine disruptors is needed on a particular alternative to BPA (bisphenol A) because the substitute may have similar health effects as the latter chemical, and people can have significant exposure to it, some scientists are saying. Manufacturers put BPA into plastics, and paper companies use it in the ink of heat-sensitive [...]
Copolymers Help Create Better Microprocessors
May 25, 2012 By 1 Comment
French and American researchers have developed a breakthrough in thin films used in electronic circuits, using copolymers, that could provide a six-fold increase in computer storage capacity, more applications in flexible electronics, and better photovoltaic cells and biosensors. Before the development, thin films used in electronic circuits have been designed from synthetic polymers that are [...]
Polymers Help Make Roads Stronger
May 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Researchers at Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) have developed a method using polymers that stabilizes the soil under roads and in asphalt to provide more stability. “Mixing polymers to subgrade soils, instead of the conventional practice of mechanical stabilization, resulted in higher strengths and stiffness than cement and more elasticity,” says Dr. Eyad Masad, [...]
Polymers Stabilize Fragile Proteins
May 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Proteins used in drugs often react poorly to fluctuations in temperature and can degrade in storage. But researchers at UCLA have developed polymers that can stabilize the proteins during shipping, storage, and other activities. Their instability means that proteins must be shipped and stored at regulated temperatures, increasing costs. Sometimes they must be discarded because [...]
Scientists Make More Uses for Polymers
May 22, 2012 By 1 Comment
Scientists from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, have developed a process that incorporates graphene oxide into polymers, which forms a range of enhanced plastics that are super-strong and super-versatile. The research adds to a growing field that finds more ways to toughen polymers. Graphene is one hundred times stronger than steel. [...]
Device Detects Cancer Early
May 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Purdue researchers have developed a biosensor that could detect cancer early and design personalized medicine based on a patient’s specific biochemistry. The device, called a Flexure-FET biosensor, combines a mechanical sensor that identifies a bio-molecule based on its mass and size with an electrical sensor that identifies molecules based on their electrical charge, according to [...]
Polymers Prevent Reduction in Cooling Capacity
May 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
As it starts to warm up, staying cool will become a growing need. Now, thanks to a polymer, air conditioners will stay more efficient. The nanotechnology polymer, polytetrafluoroethylene, is a key component of a trademarked product, Cold-Plus, an oil and bonding agent, that is used on exchanger coil surfaces. The polymer is in the same [...]
Smartphone Turned Into Glucose Monitor
May 17, 2012 By 1 Comment
Medical researchers have started an outpatient trial on a medical device built by reconfiguring a smartphone that will allow patients with type 1 diabetes to more easily monitor their condition. The smartphone-turned-into-medical-device is handheld and can continuously monitor a patient’s glucose level, reports ScienceDaily. The device automates much of the work to maintain safe blood [...]
