Editor’s note: as we develop the instruments that Away Teams use on Astrobiology expeditions, compactness and functionality will be of paramount importance. Having exceptionally compact imaging systems such as this […]
Nanotechnology & SynBio
Posted inCommercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Space Stations, Status Report
Desiccated Cyanobacteria Serve As Efficient Plasmid DNA Carrier In Space Flight
Effective transport of biological systems as cargo during space travel is a critical requirement to use synthetic biology and biomanufacturing in outer space.
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Lab On A Chip’ Genetic Test Device Can Identify Viruses Within Three Minutes With Top-level Accuracy
A virus diagnosis device that gives lab-quality results within just three minutes has been invented by engineers at the University of Bath, who describe it as the ‘world’s fastest Covid […]
Posted inExploration Gear & Tech, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Detecting Microbes In Space
Editor’s note: this is an excerpt: “From Science Fiction To Science Fact” originally published by the U.S. Department of State
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Reviewing The State Of Biosensors And Lab-on-a-chip Technologies: Opportunities For Extreme Environments And Space Exploration
The space race is entering a new era of exploration, in which the number of robotic and human missions to various places in our solar system is rapidly increasing.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Missions & Hardware, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Electronic Sensor The Size Of A Single Molecule A Potential Game-changer
Australian researchers have developed a molecular-sized, more efficient version of a widely used electronic sensor, in a breakthrough that could bring widespread benefits.
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Missing-link Fold Reveals The Evolutionary Pathway Between RNA Polymerase And Ribosomal Proteins
Numerous molecular machines are required to drive the central dogma of molecular biology. However, the means by which such numerous proteins emerged in the early evolutionary stage of life remains […]
![Nanophotonic lithium niobate waveguides. a, Geometry of a nanophotonic lithium niobate (LiNbO3) waveguide, showing the optical mode profile for the fundamental transverse electric field (TE) mode and a possible poling pattern with spatially variable poling period Λ. The extraordinary crystal axis is oriented along the x-direction to access the highest electro-optic tensor element of LiNbO3. b, Poling periods Λ required for quasi-phase matching of various nonlinear optical processes for waveguides of different (top) width as a function of the fundamental comb’s wavelength. SHG: second harmonic generation; SHG + F: sum-frequency generation of second harmonic and fundamental comb; THG + F: sum-frequency generation of third harmonic and fundamental comb; SHG + SHG: sum-frequency generation of the second harmonic. Higher-order phase matching with three-fold period Λ is indicated (the current fabrication limit only allows for Λ > 2 µm). c, Photograph of a waveguide in operation and scanning electron microscope image of the LiNbO3 on silica (SiO2). d,e,f,g, Examples of waveguide designs showing poling pattern (top), experimentally generated spectra for different input pulse energies provided by a 100 MHz, 80 fs mode-locked laser with central wavelength of 1560 nm (waveguide cross-section and on chip-pulse energy as indicated) and pyChi [57] simulation results (bottom) for a pulse energy of 50 pJ. -- astro-ph.IM](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ultraviolet.png?resize=1200%2C709&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report
Ultraviolet Astronomical Spectrograph Calibration With Laser Frequency Combs From Nanophotonic Waveguides
Astronomical precision spectroscopy underpins searches for life beyond Earth, direct observation of the expanding Universe and constraining the potential variability of physical constants across cosmological scales.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Space Life Science, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Researchers Slow Down And Scan Individual DNA Molecules
Editor’s note: If you are going to investigate genomic information in the field or in a laboratory – the more you know – the more you know. Nanopore technology is […]
Posted inAstropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Space Physiology & Medicine, Status Report
Bacillus Subtilis Engineered For Aerospace Medicine: A Platform For Off-planet Production Of Pharmaceutical Peptides
Biologics, such as pharmaceutical peptides, have notoriously short shelf lives, insufficient for long-duration space flight missions to the Moon or Mars.