New biosensor measures extracellular hydrogen peroxide levels with nanometer-resolution
Several processes in the human body are regulated by biochemical reactions involving hydrogen peroxide (H
2O
2).
2O
2 is generally toxic because of its oxidant character. The latter means that it converts (oxidizes) biochemical molecules like proteins and DNA.
The oxidizing property of H
2O
2 is of potential therapeutic relevance for cancer, though: deliberately causing tumor cells to increase their H
2O
2 concentration would be a way to destroy them. In light of this, but also for monitoring pathologies associated with H
2O
2 overproduction, it is crucial to have a means to reliably quantify hydrogen peroxide concentrations in the extracellular environment.
Bayreuth researchers develop a rapid test to detect quality and authenticity of olive oil
Extra virgin olive oil is extracted from cold-pressed, high-quality olives and is one of the most popular foods in Europe. However, inferior counterfeits are coming onto the market in increasing number.
A research team led by Prof. Dr. Stephan Schwarzinger at the University of Bayreuth has now developed a highly effective rapid test against this food fraud. Within one hour, the quality and authenticity of olive oils on the market can be clearly determined and counterfeits detected. Information on origin can also be checked for plausibility.
Image Credit: Vadim Sadovski/Shutterstock.com
On Earth, dust particles eventually settle on a surface, where they can get sucked up by a vacuum cleaner or wiped up with a cloth. This does not happen on the International Space Station (ISS). Dust is common on the ISS, however, the tiny particles do not settle on a surface: they simply drift in the air.
In a recent study, researchers cataloged various on-board particulate matter found in two used vacuum bags from the ISS using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), and single-particle multi-element inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (sp-ICP).
This Exoplanet May Be Our Best Chance of Seeing The Atmosphere of an Alien World
4 MARCH 2021
An exoplanet just 26 light-years away looks like the one of the best we ve found yet for peering into the atmospheres of alien worlds.
Named Gliese 486 b, the exoplanet is a rocky world that astronomers think could be similar to Venus - rocky, hot, and possibly sporting an atmosphere (although it would be a lot thinner than Venus ). And it meets all the criteria that we look for when trying to find exoplanetary atmospheres to probe with the next generation of telescopes.
Not only is it nearby, it passes between us and its star, a relatively cool, calm red dwarf, which will allow its atmosphere to be back-lit. It s also right in the temperature sweet spot for spectroscopy, to analyze the atmospheric composition.