Biomaterials

Summaries of newsworthy papers: Medicine: Making clinical diagnoses affordable; Geoscience: Nitrogen and climate; Genetics: Variants associated with asthma; Geoscience: Carbon emissions from hydroelectric reservoirs; Nature: Attractive improvements in data recording; Immunology: Tolerance inducer; Chemical Biology: Mussels stick to it

Scientists at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), the world’s first bioengineering and nanotechnology research institute, have developed a new genetic engineering technique that promises safer stem cell therapy for cancer patients

Synthetic cell membranes invented at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), may improve the way we identify and develop drugs by speeding up and reducing the cost of the drug screening process.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University will, through its partnership with Sichuan University in establishing China's first Training Institute on Disaster Management and Reconstruction, bring in its programmes and expertise to support the reconstruction and sustainable development of Sichuan province.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include: Slip on the Peru megathrust; Elite model for HIV; The ozone hole 25 years on; Magnetic field within the Earth's core; The cause of sproutin; An ultralow-noise amplifier for quantum applications; Bend me, shape me

Summaries of newsworthy papers: An exoplanet's atmosphere probed from the ground, ‘Missing DNA’ link to obesity, Smells like a human, Protein marks malarial proteins for export, Signalling pathway crucial for cancer stem-cell survival, The quantum glow of photosynthesis, A more complex role for RAF inhibitors

Summaries of newsworthy papers An ocean of magma, Symptomless deer produce infectious faeces, The rise of oxygen, Data sharing, Source-sink mechanism aids embryonic patterning, Ultrathin catalysts made to order and Save our spuds!

Assoc. Prof. Iwasaki was part of the team that generated the 24 hour "biological clock" in a test tube. "Biological clocks" are internal, and are said to regulate our sleeping and daily rhythms. The concept first appeared in Germany at the start of the 20th century. He elaborates more on his current research.

USM has signed 8 agreements with national and international corporations to further promote research. This includes commercialization of research, nanotechnology information transfer, biotechnology research, new products for the construction industry, clinical mass spectrometry services for the region and more.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Neuroscience: Building a picture of sight, Biomaterials: Know your hydrogel onions, Information processing: Quantum interface and Where have all the midges gone?

Treating wheat seeds with lasers can help them grow into plants that are resistant to ultraviolet radiation and drought.