Mechanism that helps us see in bright and low light discoveredOctober 14th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Vision scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found an intricate process that allows the human eye to adapt to darkness very quickly.
New technique paves way for effective liver disease treatmentsOctober 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from University of California, San Diego have developed a novel technique that would pave way for more effective treatments for liver disease. During the study, researchers utilized an array system that can identify the biological components that can lead to or alleviate liver disease.
Study explains negative effects of microgravity on astronautsSeptember 29th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Scientists from University of New South Wales in Sydney claim to have found the reason why long-term exposure to microgravity causes loss of bone density and muscle wasting in astronauts. They said stem cells exposed to microgravity express different proteins than those grown in normal gravity.
Scientists uncover origin of Merkel cellsSeptember 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists claim to have unravelled the mystery surrounding the developmental origin of specialized skin cells involved in touch sensation. Merkel cells are neuroendocrine cells that reside in the vertebrate epidermis, passing mechanical stimuli on to sensory neurons.
'Liposuction leftovers' better than skin cells to regenerate tissuesSeptember 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Fat that is left after liposuction is a huge bank of versatile cells that could be more quickly and easily coaxed to become induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells than the often used skin cells, according to a study by researchers at Stanford's School of Medicine. Lead researcher Dr.
Scientists find cell in fish that can sense light and contribute to visionJuly 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, US, have discovered in fish yet another type of cell that can sense light and contribute to vision. The team of neuroscientists shows that retinal horizontal cells, which are nerve cells once thought only to talk to neighboring nerve cells and not even to the brain, are light sensitive themselves.
An 'eye catching' discovery made among fishJuly 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Nearly all animals can detect light, thanks to three types of retinal cells that allow us to see images or distinguish between night and day. Now researchers have discovered in fish yet another type of cell that can sense light and contribute to vision.
Circulating blood cells can form bone outside the normal skeletonJuly 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Circulating cells in the blood have the ability to form bone at sites distant from the original skeleton, according to a new research. It is believed that bone-forming cells, derived from the body's connective tissue, are the only cells able to form the skeleton.
Velcro-like cells on petals help bees stick to flowersMay 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists at Cambridge University have found that bees make use of small cone-shaped cells on flower petals, which act like 'velcro' on their feet, to stick to flowers and collect nectar. In a new study, the scientists have shown that bumblebees can recognise the texture of petal surfaces by touch alone, and they prefer landing on petals with conical cells that make it easier to grip, rather than on flat, smooth surfaces.
Scientists coax skin cells to behave like muscle cellsMay 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have now shown that skin cells can be coaxed to behave like muscle cells and muscle cells like skin cells. The fickleness of the cells, and the relative ease with which they make the switch, provide a glimpse into the genetic reprogramming that must occur for a cell to become something it's not.
Scientists power artificial cells with non-stop mobilityMay 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists are developing artificial cells with the ability to tap an energy source and use it for sustained mobility. A Japanese study described the first 'self-propelled' oil droplets (used as a model for research on artificial cells) that can run on a chemical 'fuel'.
How light can be used in medical therapyMarch 31st, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has delved into the emerging practice of drug delivery systems that use light to activate medications in the body. The new process makes use of biocompatible materials that are sensitive to certain physiological variables or external physicochemical stimuli.
Genes from fireflies shed light show causes of infertilityMarch 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Genes from fireflies and jellyfish are virtually shedding light on possible causes of infertility and auto-immune diseases in humans. Auto-immune diseases are those in which something goes wrong with your immune system and it attacks healthy cells and tissues and makes you sick.
Study sheds light on egg cells' unique ability to ensure that sperm don't get too oldMarch 26th, 2009 WASHINGTON - While it is thought that men remain fertile throughout life as compared to women, Swedish researchers have now shown that a fertilising sperm can get help from the egg to rejuvenate. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, say that their finding is an important step towards future stem cell therapy.
New approach helps solar cells harvest light more efficientlyDecember 23rd, 2008 WASHINGTON - Lacing solar cells with nano-sized metallic particles will vastly improve their ability to harvest light more efficiently and cheaply. Like plants, solar cells turn light into energy.
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