Nanotechnology Archives - Page 11 of 13 - Astrobiology

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 1H-, 2H- , and the fractional abundance of deuterium (2F), respectively. The top row shows cells grown in 0% 2H2O (natural abundance); the bottom row displays cells grown in 50 at. % 2H2O. 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

Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Offworld Life Science Instrumentation: Single-cell Measurement Of Microbial Growth Rate With Raman Microspectroscopy

by Keith CowingJanuary 8, 2024January 8, 2024

Rates of microbial activity and growth are fundamental to understanding environmental geochemistry and ecology. However, measuring the heterogeneity of microbial activity at the single-cell level, especially within complex populations and […]

MinION DNA sequencer - Nanopore

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.

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.

a Overall structure of E.coli RNA polymerase EC. αI, αII, β′, β and ω subunit of RNAP were colored in green, cyan, gray, yellow, and red, respectively. RNA, template strand DNA (TS), non-template strand DNA (NTS) are shown in red, blue and dark green, respectively. b Model and map of three unnatural base pairs; dB:STP, dB:UTP and dS:BTP are shown with Cryo-EM density maps. c Active site of three UBP EC structures. Bridge helix (BH) is colored in green. UBP in +1 position were colored yellow. Other parts of the structures are colored white. The nitrogen, oxygen, phosphate, and carbon atoms of the base pair at i + 1 position are colored in blue, red, orange, and yellow, respectively. -- Nature Communications

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Expanding The Natural Genetic Code – Implications For SynBio And Origin Of Life?

by Keith CowingDecember 19, 2023January 10, 2026

Editor’s note: The genetic code of all life (with a few minor exceptions) on our home world is based on a genomic code consisting of 4 standard nucleotides. It is […]

The Materials Project at Berkeley Lab gives researchers access to crucial information on diverse materials. This image shows the structures of 12 compounds in the Materials Project database. CREDIT Jenny Nuss/Berkeley Lab

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release

Google DeepMind Adds Nearly 400,000 New Compounds To Berkeley Lab’s Materials Project

by Keith CowingDecember 2, 2023December 2, 2023

Editor’s note: As we expand outward from Earth to other worlds we are almost certainly going to encounter things we did not expect to find – things that are unlikely […]

UCSC's David Deamer and Mark Akeson won the Golden Goose award for the invention of nanopore sequencing, a transformational technology for reading DNA and RNA. Here, Deamer holds the MinION, a portable device for nanopore sequencing. (photo by Nick Gonzales)

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Space Life Science, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: UCSC Astrobiologist David Deamer And Mark Akeson Honored For Invention Of Nanopore Sequencing

by Keith CowingNovember 28, 2023January 4, 2025

[In September 2023] two UC Santa Cruz researchers were honored at the Library of Congress for the invention of nanopore sequencing, which became a new and revolutionary method to read […]

Hybrid biological transistors change their electronic behavior in response to gases and other molecules in the environment. CREDIT Fio Omenetto, Tufts University

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: Hybrid Transistors Set The Stage For Integration Of Biology And Microelectronics

by Keith CowingNovember 23, 2023November 22, 2023

Your phone may have more than 15 billion tiny transistors packed into its microprocessor chips. The transistors are made of silicon, metals like gold and copper, and insulators that together […]

Chip scale, ultrafast mode-locked laser based on nanophotonic lithium niobate. CREDIT Alireza Marandi

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: High-performance Ultrafast Lasers That Fit On A Fingertip

by Keith CowingNovember 10, 2023November 10, 2023

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 […]