Highlights
A*STAR Genome Institute Of Singapore (A*STAR GIS)
Lighting up neural stem cells
23 October 2012The screening of thousands of fluorescent molecules has revealed a specific label for neural stem cells
Data Storage
Going with the grain
23 October 2012Reducing information stored in magnetic thin films to the physical size of single grains could improve computer hard drives
A*STAR Institute Of Materials Research And Engineering (A*STAR IMRE)
Bringing crystals into line
23 October 2012The temperature-controlled alignment of tiny crystals could help harness their collective properties for nanotechnology applications
Self-assembly
Aim for the stars
23 October 2012Glucose–amine rings turn star-shaped fluorescent dyes into powerful probes for imaging cancer cells in three dimensions
Organic Synthesis
The sweetest melting pot
23 October 2012A ‘one-pot’ industrial process for manufacturing high yields of an artificial sweetener under mild conditions proves successful
Catalysts
Putting cyanide to work
9 October 2012Industrial-scale chemistry could benefit from a robust new catalyst that selectively generates amino acid precursors from cyanide at room temperature
Ferroelectrics
Visible progress
9 October 2012A thin film made of graphene and a charge-inducing polymer shows promise as a replacement for transparent electrical conductors in displays
Nanoparticles
Making gold economical for sensing
9 October 2012Gold nanocluster arrays developed at A*STAR are well suited for commercial applications of a high-performance sensing technique
Biotin
Picking out partners
9 October 2012An intracellular labeling technique allows scientists to monitor interactions between proteins in their natural environment
Graphene
A patterned template for molecular packing
9 October 2012Simulations of atomic-scale processes show how to trap and pack molecules in patterned graphene sheets that may have molecular storage applications
Plasmonics
Growth lamps for nanoparticles
9 October 2012Illuminating silver nanoparticles with narrow-bandwidth light makes them grow uniformly, improving their potential for imaging and sensing applications
Stem Cells
Building up stem cell production
25 September 2012A three-dimensional fiber scaffold promotes large-scale stem cell proliferation and differentiation to levels suitable for tissue transplants
Alternative Fuels
Optimizing water splitting
25 September 2012Computer simulations of a metal–sulfide alloy unlock the secrets to designing solar-powered catalysts that generate hydrogen fuel from water
