Researchers have developed a system the size of a household fridge that can synthesize a variety of pharmaceuticals in short periods of time, including an antihistamine, an antidepressant, a common local anesthetic, and a central nervous system depressant.
Researchers have now determined the structure of the Zika virus, a critical advance in the development of vaccines and treatments. The team also identified regions within the Zika virus structure where it differs from other flaviviruses and identified a potential target for antiviral treatments.
A near-atomic level map of Zika virus shows its structure to be largely similar to that of dengue virus and other flaviviruses, but with a notable difference in one key surface protein. The variation in the Zika envelope (E) glycoproteins may provide clues to better understand how Zika virus enters human cells and suggests ways to combat the virus with drugs or vaccines aimed at the newly detailed region.
What happens when you rest a chopped ping pong ball on your finger and look at it from above? Experimental psychologists have shown that our visual system fills in the bottom part of the ball, even though we know it’s missing. This makes our finger feel unusually short, as if to compensate for the ‘complete’ ball. The findings indicate that the completion is due to our visual system, not our imagination.
Adolescents with severe alcohol and other drug problems have a low regard for others, as indicated by higher rates of driving under the influence and having unprotected sex with a history of sexually transmitted disease, research shows. The findings also showed that they are less likely to volunteer their time helping others, an activity that she has been shown to help adult alcoholics stay sober.
For at least some groups of ‘emerging adults,’ sleep problems are a predictor of chronic pain and worsening pain severity over time, suggests a study.
Scientists have tracked how microscopic organisms called cyanobacteria make use of internal protein ‘machines’ to boost their ability to convert carbon dioxide into sugar during photosynthesis.
