MIT constructs synthetic analog computers inside living cells May 16, 2013 at 10:06 am
Inspired by early computer designs, researchers at MIT have created synthetic analog computers that use genetic machinery — in other words, living cell calculators. In addition to arithmetic, these computers can also perform more complex function like taking logarithms and square roots. While these machines are not as convenient as any inexpensive calculator, especially for dealing with big numbers, they can process number up to four digits, and are a heck of a lot smaller.
Magnetically steerable, injectable microrobots could help treat blindness May 13, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Researchers from the Institute of Robotics in Zurich, have recently developed an electromagnetically-controlled robot that can be positioned in the eye to deliver drugs. By coating their microbot with dye-containing nanospheres, the researchers have now re-purposed the device to also provide critical measurements of oxygen concentration in the eye to make quick diagnoses.
Creating the first virtual organisms: the OpenWorm digital life project May 10, 2013 at 7:33 am
OpenWorm is an open-source project that aims to create a virtual nematode worm in a computer. Their GitHub wiki and code make it easy for anyone with coding skills to get involved. Provided these projects do not crumble under their own computation weight and distributed complexity, we should begin to see some pretty cool effects from building virtual organisms.
Scientists grow a mouse brain that looks like a human’s May 3, 2013 at 2:32 pm
The population of the developing brain with cells, is a mass-migratory event that proceeds with algorithmic precision. A recent publication uncovered a few of the molecular players that define this game. By manipulating one of these components researchers changed the normally smooth cortex of the mouse into one that has folds just like a human’s.
Researchers create world’s first 3D-printed bionic organ May 2, 2013 at 2:01 pm
A group of researchers at Princeton and Johns Hopkins have combined biology and electronics to create the first 3D printed organ — a bionic ear. While this is more of a technology demonstration, 3D printing continues to astound, showing that artificial organs of the future need not be limited to just biological tissues.
Researchers create transistors out of nanowire forests, for ‘ultimate scaling’ beyond 10nm May 1, 2013 at 2:00 pm
As transistor size decreases, the limits of planar technologies have been partially alleviated by stepping into the third dimension. Researchers in France have come up with a 3D transistor design based on silicon nanowires that promises to extend lithographic techniques down to ever smaller scales.
Neuromimetic processor board beats supercomputers at their own game April 25, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Neuromorphic computing designs have yet to compete with traditional computing architectures, which continue to impress. Researchers have now developed a new computing platform known as Neurogrid, that runs around 100,000 times more efficiently. Each Neurogrid board, running at 5 watts, can simulate detailed neuronal activity of one million neurons — and it can now do it in real time.
Microrocket ‘Innerspace’ medical devices begin to take shape April 23, 2013 at 9:24 am
Last week, at the meeting of the American Chemical Society, researcher Joesph Wang and his lab presented some new concepts for microrockets that can operate inside the body. These self-propelled devices are able to fuel themselves using the surrounding natural environment. These new devices are the first successful implementation continuous-thrust bubble propulsion with the potential at least for indefinite service life in the body.
Researchers use nanosponges to mop up MRSA toxin, venom from the bloodstream April 18, 2013 at 11:11 am
Researchers at UCSD have come up with a way to combat the effects of alpha-haemolysin, the often lethal component of drug-resistant bacteria. By soaking it up with a polymer nanosponge wrapped in red blood cell membranes, animals by be cured from am otherwise lethal injection of the bacterial toxin.
Human Genome Project is 10 years old, what’s next? April 16, 2013 at 7:30 am
This past Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of the human genome — the sequencing of it at least. Now that a little time has passed, it makes sense to take stock of what the project has done for us.