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Monday, July 22, 2013

Chemically induced pluripotent stem cells

Scientists have been able to reprogram the mature human stem cells, using only the chemical compound (without genetic manipulation).

A new method of obtaining cells are as versatile as embryonic stem cells, reduces the risk of developing cancer or of mutations that can occur as a result of stem cell therapies, "reprogrammed" with the introduction of additional genes.

Since then, in 2006, it was announced the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells ( iPSCs ), scientists have sought to reduce the number of additional genes required for such cells. But it is always required at least one encoding a protein Oct-4 .

Fourth domain for a new form of life

The famous anecdote "On board the space station discovered a giant virus that infected Soviet cosmonaut" may be not so absurd: Biologists have discovered a virus of such size that they have no right to believe in it.

Initially called it simply - NLF, a new form of life (New Life Form). Strange body, a dedicated French microbiologist from sea water samples, pick up off the coast of Chile, infects the simplest - amoebas. Soon, the same body showed up and in Australia.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Student Engineers Spark Zero-Gravity Fires on Weightless Wild Ride

Gravity, we have defied you. Seven university student teams from across the United States escaped the pull of Earth's gravity — if only for a few seconds — on a NASA microgravity flight to see how fire, liquids and magnets behave in weightlessness.

The students flew with NASA's Microgravity University Program Friday (July 19) aboard a Zero Gravity Corporation Boeing 727 jet modified to fly up and down on a parabolic path to create up to 30 seconds of zero gravity, moon gravity or Martian gravity on the downswing followed by periods of "hypergravity" (twice Earth's pull) on the way back up.