Tag: biotechnology
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Redefining Heart Transplants
Written by Anthea Choi, this article discusses the success story of Australia’s first Totally Artificial Heart and how it helps those waiting on the transplant list.
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Could locusts be the future of bomb detection? The “surprisingly simple” brain mechanism behind locust scent recognition
Lily Sharratt-Davidson explores how researchers attempting to bioengineer bomb-sniffing locusts have discovered that the insect’s sense of smell is governed by an arithmetic neuron mechanism. For several years now a team at Washington University in St. Louis has been researching the odour sensing system of locusts, with the aim of bioengineering locusts that are able…
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Electricity from bacteria: the future of clean energy?
Elle Bethune discusses how bacteria can power batteries, and how these can be used for clean energy on Earth and finding life in space. Clean energy has become a hot topic in science, and for good reason. While most of us have heard of wind, solar or even geothermal energy as alternatives to fossil fuels,…
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Bacteria in space: why biological life support systems are the future of space travel
One of the greatest challenges limiting our ability to send astronauts on long-haul missions is the need for constant resupply of essential materials from Earth. Any manned spaceflight needs to carry enough food, water and oxygen to sustain a crew for the duration of the mission, but there is only so much weight a single…
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Scalable artificial photosynthesis device can produce fuel from sunlight, CO2 and water
A new device developed by a team in Cambridge marks a breakthrough in artificial photosynthesis technology, due to its efficiency and scalability. It converts sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and formic acid. Utilising the greatest renewable energy source available to us – the sun – this technology does not require electricity to power…