Highlights
Organic Chemistry
Small molecule, big possibilities
19 November 2013An inventive technique transforms a common reagent into a multifunctional tool for pharmaceutical synthesis
Soil Bacteria
Palm oil waste put to work
19 November 2013A recently isolated bacterial strain converts waste from palm oil production into industrially useful lactic acid
DNA
Picking out productive partnerships
19 November 2013A computational approach reveals a myriad of protein pairs that combine to regulate gene activity
Nanostructures
Solar cells step up
19 November 2013Specially designed nanostructured materials can increase the light-absorbing efficiency of solar cells
Thin Films
Getting smarter with water
19 November 2013Understanding how hydration affects color-changing windows that optimize solar energy transmission can boost their efficiency and durability
Holograms
Holograms set for greatness
5 November 2013A new technique that combines optical plates to manipulate laser light improves the quality of holograms
Developmental Biology
Unlocking a secret of stem cell stability
5 November 2013Proper embryonic development depends on a signaling pathway that helps to preserve stem cell ‘immaturity’
Acid-tolerant Bacteria
Workhorse bacteria deliver in an acidic environment
5 November 2013A technique that simultaneously modifies multiple genes in fermentation bacteria could aid lactic acid production for industry
A*STAR Institute For Infocomm Research (A*STAR I²R)
Following the brain’s lead
5 November 2013When designed to process sound based on familiar patterns, sound recognition by computers becomes more robust
Genetics
Different regions, different genetic risk factors
5 November 2013A genetic study of Chinese patients reveals a prevalent risk factor for certain blood cancers not detected in European patients
Plasmonics
Nanostructures filter light to order
5 November 2013Arrays of nanoscale pillars made to reflect light of a selected color could find application as optical filters in digital cameras
Polymers
Charged up and ready to connect
22 October 2013An innovative strategy produces positively and negatively charged polymer chains ideal for generating multifunctional coatings
Anti-reflective Coating
Minuscule bumps improve an anti-reflective coating
22 October 2013An anti-reflective film that mimics a moth’s eye is durable and highly effective, overcoming some of the main barriers to commercialization
