Nanotechnology & SynBio Archives

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Icy Worlds, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Biosignature Detection And MinION Sequencing Of Antarctic Cryptoendoliths After Exposure To Mars Simulation Conditions

by Keith CowingJanuary 3, 2024January 3, 2024

In the search for life in our Solar System, Mars remains a promising target based on its proximity and similarity to Earth. When Mars transitioned from a warmer, wetter climate […]

Representative Raman and nanoSIMS data collected in this study Across all panels data from two representative cells, “1” and “2”, are noted. Representative nanoSIMS isotopic images of are shown in Panel A, with pixel counts labeled on the x and y axes. From left to right, the pixel intensity in each panel corresponds to direct ion counts for 1 H- , 2 H- , and the fractional abundance of deuterium (2 F), respectively. The top row shows cells grown in 0% 2 H2O (natural abundance); the bottom row displays cells grown in 50 at. % 2 H2O. Representative single-cell fitted Raman spectra are shown in Panel B, with the characteristic C-H band between 2800 and 3000 cm-1 clearly visible. For cells grown in deuterated media (Cell 2), the C-D band emerges between 2040 and 2300 cm-1. Panel C displays a typical micrograph captured through a confocal Raman microspectroscope. The scale bar represents 2µm. Cells in all panels represent T. hydrogeniphilus. The yellow boxes in the top-left facet of Panel A, and Panel C, represent a correlated region imaged with nanoSIMS and Raman (reflected light), respectively. -- biorxiv.org

Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Exploration Gear & Tech, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: Quantitative Measurement Of Microbial Growth Rate With Raman Microspectroscopy

by Keith CowingDecember 28, 2023December 28, 2023

Rates of microbial activity and growth are fundamental to understanding environmental geochemistry and ecology.

Random interactions reproduce the aggregate diversity observed in simple interaction maps. For each value of affinity and asymmetry, we show a randomly drawn interaction map (bottom left matrix, with the color scale of Fig. 3), a snapshot of the result of the simulated annealing, and the aggregate category, as in Fig. 2. Here and in the following, the lattice has 30 × 30 sites, and there are 100 particles. -- physics.bio-ph

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

How Do Particles With Complex Interactions Self-assemble?

by Keith CowingDecember 28, 2023

In living cells, proteins self-assemble into large functional structures based on specific interactions between molecularly complex patches.

Robust air microbiome assessments through nanopore shotgun sequencing

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Life Support Systems, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Panspermia, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Space Life Science, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: Air Monitoring By Nanopore Sequencing

by Keith CowingDecember 26, 2023December 26, 2023

Editor’s note: Upon entering a spacecraft or arriving on a new, inhabited world, you would probably like to have your tricorder to have the ability to do a quick assay […]

Artist’s impression of swarm passing by Proxima Centauri and Proxima b. The swarm’s extent is ∼10 larger than the planet’s, yet the ∼5000-km spacing is such that one or more probes will come close to or even impact the planet (flare on limb). It should be possible to do transmission spectroscopy with such swarms. Green 432/539-nm beams are coms to Earth; red 12,000-nm laser beacons are for intra-swarm probe-to-probe coms. Conceptual artwork courtesy of Michel Lamontagne, P.Eng. -- astro-ph.IM

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Cubesats and smallsats, Missions & Hardware, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Proxima Centauri, Status Report

Swarming Proxima Centauri: Optical Communication Over Interstellar Distances

by Keith CowingDecember 22, 2023December 22, 2023

Interstellar communications are achievable with gram-scale spacecraft using swarm techniques introduced herein if an adequate energy source, clocks and a suitable communications protocol exist.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirming the elemental composition of the nanobelt materials. Dashed lines denote peaks related specifically to oxygen, silicon, carbon, and calcium -- University of Sussex

Commercial & Private Sector, Life Support Systems, Mars, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release

Research Takes Us A Step Closer To Sustaining Human Life On Mars

by Keith CowingDecember 22, 2023December 22, 2023

Researchers at the University of Sussex have discovered the transformative potential of Martian nanomaterials, potentially opening the door to sustainable habitation on the red planet.

The first human knee meniscus successfully 3D bioprinted in orbit using the BioFabrication Facility. NASA

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Microgravity, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations

Offworld Biotech: 3D Bioprinting On The International Space Station

by Keith CowingDecember 21, 2023December 21, 2023

Imagine someone needs a heart transplant and scientists take cells from that person to create an entire new heart for them. Research on the International Space Station is helping to […]

Like adding new letters to an existing language’s alphabet to expand its vocabulary, adding new synthetic nucleotides to the genetic alphabet could expand the possibilities of synthetic biology. This image shows a rendering of RNA polymerase (center) and a synthetic nucleotide (lower right). CREDIT UC San Diego Health Sciences

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Enzymes Can’t Tell Artificial DNA From The Real Thing

by Keith CowingDecember 15, 2023December 15, 2023

The genetic alphabet contains just four letters, referring to the four nucleotides, the biochemical building blocks that comprise all DNA.

NASA astronauts (from left) Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara pose for a portrait while working inside the Destiny laboratory module. larger image

Commercial & Private Sector, Gravitational Biology, Microgravity, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Space Stations, Status Report

Offworld Life Science: Botany, Biology, Medicine, BioPrinting On ISS

by Keith CowingDecember 11, 2023December 11, 2023

Space botany, human research, and bioprinting were the dominant science topics aboard the International Space Station on Thursday. The Expedition 70 septet also focused on lab hardware and cargo operations […]

Cell-free Protein Synthesis Aboard ISS -- biorxiv.org

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microgravity, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Space Life Science, Space Stations, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Validation Of Cell-free Protein Synthesis Aboard The International Space Station

by Keith CowingDecember 9, 2023December 9, 2023

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a rapidly maturing in vitro gene expression platform that can be used to transcribe and translate nucleic acids at the point of need, enabling on-demand […]

Nanotechnology & SynBio

Biosignature Detection And MinION Sequencing Of Antarctic Cryptoendoliths After Exposure To Mars Simulation Conditions

Tricorder Tech: Quantitative Measurement Of Microbial Growth Rate With Raman Microspectroscopy

How Do Particles With Complex Interactions Self-assemble?

Tricorder Tech: Air Monitoring By Nanopore Sequencing

Swarming Proxima Centauri: Optical Communication Over Interstellar Distances

Research Takes Us A Step Closer To Sustaining Human Life On Mars

Offworld Biotech: 3D Bioprinting On The International Space Station

Enzymes Can’t Tell Artificial DNA From The Real Thing

Offworld Life Science: Botany, Biology, Medicine, BioPrinting On ISS

Validation Of Cell-free Protein Synthesis Aboard The International Space Station

Stellar Flares Rather Than High Tint As Possible Cause For the Missing Methane In Young Exoplanets: The Case Study of V1298-Tau b

Functional Profiling Of Spacecraft Cleanroom Microbiomes Through Genome‑wide Phenotype Predictions

pyEDITH: The Coronagraphic Exposure Time Calculator For The Habitable Worlds Observatory

Impacts Of Correlated Noise On Retrievals Of Exo-Earth Atmospheres

Slysh Haloes: The Waste Heat Of Cold Computing As A Submillimetre Technosignature