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UC Santa Barbara

How Custom-Built Enzymes Were Designed for a Key Chemical Reaction (A) These lab-designed enzymes (called de novo proteins) have several benefits: they work with both natural and synthetic helpers (cofactors), handle harsh solvents and high heat, are small, tolerate different chemicals, and can evolve in test tubes or live cells. (B) The enzyme was made to perform a reaction called cyclopropanation on styrene, producing four possible products—two "trans" and two "cis" versions. (C–F) The design process: (C) The team started with a protein called MPP1 and trimmed its end to fit the target molecule. (D) They redesigned the protein’s sequence to create a new version, PNC1. (E) Crystal imaging showed a small part didn’t match the original design. (F) They used a modeling tool (MASTER) to fix the structure, reinserted the target molecule, and created an improved version, PNC2.

Custom Enzymes Built From Scratch Outperform Nature

Categories Health, Technology

(A) Embryonic tissues elongate via convergent extension, where cell polarization directs active stresses, driving rearrangements (T1 transitions). (B) Fluctuating stresses fluidize tissues, enabling morphogenesis. (C) Key cell processes—force production, polarization, and adhesion—are modeled in robotic units: actomyosin as motorized gears, chemoreceptors as photodiodes, and cadherins as rolling magnets. Polarity conventions differ from biology. (D) Photos of two robotic units (top and isometric views), showing gear rotation and applied forces. Scale bar: 5 cm.

Shape-Shifting Robot Swarms Can Flow Like Liquid, Support Human Weight

Categories Life & Non-humans, Technology

brain network illustration

Researchers propose the next platform for brain-inspired computing

Categories Brain & Behavior, Technology

A brain dissolving

Scientists Uncover Potential Ways to Prevent Spread of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Categories Brain & Behavior, Health

Comet in sky

A prehistoric cosmic airburst preceded the advent of agriculture in Middle East

Categories Earth, Energy & Environment, Space

I smell ... Covid.

Dogs can detect COVID-19 infections faster and more accurately than conventional technology, demonstrating readiness for mainstream medical applications

Categories Health, Life & Non-humans

The day’s catch Photo Credit: MICHAEL GURVEN

Too much food tied to brain aging

Categories Brain & Behavior, Health

A Sunny Outlook for Solar

Categories Earth, Energy & Environment, Technology

Ancient disaster destroyed Biblical city Tall el-Hammam

Categories Social Sciences, Space

Researchers propose a scheme that treats carbon emissions like financial debt

Categories Earth, Energy & Environment, Social Sciences

Camera traps document wildlife’s return to Gorongosa National Park

Categories Life & Non-humans

Metasurface design methods can make LED light act more like lasers

Categories Physics & Mathematics, Technology

How maize became a key food source in Central America 4,700 years ago

Categories Earth, Energy & Environment, Social Sciences

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