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☆ Scientists create tiny living robots from human cells
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Scientists have created tiny living robots from human cells that can move around in a lab dish and may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue, according to a new study. The scientists used adult human cells from the trachea, or windpipe, from anonymous donors of different ages and sexes. Earlier studies had also shown that the cells can form organoids — clumps of cells widely used for research. “Nothing happened on day one, day two, day four or five, but as biology usually does, around day seven, there was a rapid transition,” she said. They are not made from human embryos, research that is tightly restricted, or genetically modified in any way, he said.

Persons: Harvard University’s, ”, Michael Levin, Vannevar Bush, “, Levin, Gizem Gumuskaya, Gumuskaya, Falk Tauber, Tufts University Tauber Organizations: CNN —, Tufts University, Harvard, Harvard University’s Wyss, Tufts ’ School of Arts & Sciences, Tufts, Freiburg Center, Interactive Materials, Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg Locations: “, Germany, —

☆ The climate crisis may cause this tiny, ancient species to go extinct
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

And despite the fact that this ancient plant is one of the fastest-evolving species of moss known to science, it may not survive the climate crisis. The researchers embarked on multiple expeditions in the Himalayas to study Takakia moss. As the local temperature average increased each year, the population of Takakia moss decreased by 1.6% annually, the study authors noted. Takakia may die because of climate change, but the other mosses will survive, even if we humans cannot. Takakia may die because of climate change, but the other mosses will survive, even if we humans cannot.

Persons: ”, Ralf Reski, Ruoyang Hu, “, Takakia, ” Reski, Yikun, ” Hu, don’t Organizations: CNN, University of Freiburg, Capital Normal University, “ Locations: Tibetan, Japan, United States, Germany, Takakia, China, Tibet

☆ Medieval monks' observations of the moon reveal unexpected
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Medieval observations of the moon are helping present-day researchers study a mysterious cluster of volcanic eruptions on Earth. Monks, and other scribes from the era, made detailed descriptions of lunar eclipses, when the moon is fully in Earth’s shadow. Guillet believes medieval manuscripts contain an important source of information about a string of large but little-understood volcanic eruptions on Earth. These dates correspond with five major volcanic eruptions identified from traces of volcanic ash found in polar ice cores — in 1108, 1171, 1230, 1257 and 1276. “These eruptions were significantly more powerful than some of the most well-known volcanic eruptions in recent history,” Guillet said.

Researchers from the University of Freiburg created an artificial muscle from natural proteins. According to the press release, it can contract autonomously by changing pH and temperature. Natural proteins improve biocompatibility for use in implants and other prosthetics. German researchers have now managed to create a synthetic muscle entirely from natural proteins, according to a press release from the University of Freiburg. Natural proteins had been used to make artificial muscles before.

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