Highlights
Information Technology
Gesturing for control
22 May 2012New intelligent algorithms could help robots to quickly recognize and respond to human gestures
T-cells
Lose some, gain some
22 May 2012Calicneurin inhibitors, used clinically as immunosuppressive drugs, are shown to confer a growth advantage to myeloid cells
Optics
Beam me up
22 May 2012‘Tractor beams’ of light that pull objects towards them are no longer science fiction
Cancer Biology
All tumor cells are not created equal
22 May 2012The identification of a molecular pathway essential for the development and maintenance of tumor-initiating cells may prove invaluable to cancer treatment
Microfluidics
Creating chaos
8 May 2012A new microfluidic device can operate as a mixer or a valve, improving the efficiency of micro-scale laboratory apparatus
Immunology
Guiding the immune response
8 May 2012Uric acid released from dying cells is a key driver of autoimmune diseases
Gold
Joined at the hip
8 May 2012Hybrid 'Janus' nanoparticles made from gold and titania have high catalytic activity and extraordinary durability
Data Storage
A bit of progress
8 May 2012A modified approach to fabrication of magnetic memory elements may lead to a new generation of stable, ultra-high-capacity hard drives
Biology
Switching to neurons
8 May 2012Researchers identify a genetic switch that controls differentiation of embryonic stem cells into neural cells
Computing
Order in chaos
24 April 2012A combination of random protein movements and the elasticity inside muscles helps to maintain a steady force during skeletal muscle contraction
Biomimetic Structures
A cement for clever bones
24 April 2012A new type of bone cement is unlikely to cause infection as it contains porous silica particles that slowly release antibiotics into the body
Zebrafish
Fishy fingers
24 April 2012Mutant zebrafish provide a model for an emerging class of human diseases
Materials
Perfecting the defect
24 April 2012Simulations of defects inside copper point the way to making stronger metals
