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Aug 7, 2023

New Role Uncovered for the Signaling Protein STING

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, electronics

STING (short for stimulator of interferon genes) is considered one of the major factors that triggers the immune response in the context of infection, autoimmunity, and cancer. The signaling protein turns on genes involved in cell defense. Now, a team of MIT and Harvard Medical School researchers has discovered that STING can also act as an ion channel that allows protons to leak out of an organelle known as the Golgi body. This makes it the first human immune sensor that can translate danger signals into ion flow.

The findings are published in the journal Science in an article titled, “Human STING is a proton channel.”

“Proton leakage from organelles is a common signal for noncanonical light chain 3B (LC3B) lipidation and inflammasome activation, processes induced upon stimulator of interferon genes (STING) activation,” wrote the researchers. “On the basis of structural analysis, we hypothesized that human STING is a proton channel. Indeed, we found that STING activation induced a pH increase in the Golgi and that STING reconstituted in liposomes enabled transmembrane proton transport.”

Aug 7, 2023

This drug might let us regrow lost teeth. It’s heading to human trials

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

A drug that causes animals to grow new teeth is heading to clinical trials. If it proves safe and effective in people, it could one day allow us to regenerate teeth lost to injury, disease, or old age.

The challenge: 17% of Americans will lose all of their teeth by the time they’re 65, and the vast majority of us will lose at least some teeth as we get older.

While dentures or implants can replace these lost teeth, one can feel less-than-natural, and the other requires surgery.

Aug 7, 2023

How Would Room-Temperature Superconductors Change Quantum Computing?

Posted by in categories: computing, quantum physics

The write in their paper on the invention: “The LK-99 has many possibilities for various applications such as magnet, motor, cable, levitation train, power cable, qubit for a quantum computer, THz Antennas, etc. We believe that our new development will be a brand-new historical event that opens a new era for humankind.”

It’s important to note that while room-temperature superconducting advances may clear some of the scalability hurdles, warm temperatures still impact quantum errors.

That being said, and while scientists are still trying to verify this work, how will it affect quantum computing? If at all?

Aug 7, 2023

This tiny fusion reactor is made out of commercially available parts

Posted by in category: nuclear energy

😗😁 year 2022.


Nuclear startup Avalanche Energy has modest funding, a skeleton crew, a pocket-sized prototype — and grand ambitions.

Aug 7, 2023

Feeding bacteria seaweed to make compostable plastic

Posted by in category: sustainability

Bioprocess engineer Jesús E. Rodríguez’s team dreams of replacing all synthetic plastics with biodegradable products.

Aug 7, 2023

AI will be at the center of the next financial crisis, SEC chief Gary Gensler says

Posted by in categories: finance, robotics/AI

The regulatory chairman told Dealbook that people piling into the most dominant AI models will raise risks for a crash.

Aug 7, 2023

What if Germany stopped making cars?

Posted by in categories: business, transportation

Imagine Volkswagen goes the way of Nokia | Business.

Aug 7, 2023

D-Wave and Davidson Technologies Introduce New Innovations to Advance National Defense Efforts

Posted by in categories: business, computing, engineering, quantum physics, space

Collaboration yields new solutions that tackle complex challenges in defense and aerospace sectors

Companies to showcase live demonstration of quantum-hybrid application at Space & Missile Defense Symposium

BURNABY, British Columbia, PALO ALTO, Calif. & HUNTSVILLE, Ala., August 7, 2023 —(BUSINESS WIRE)— D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), a leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services, and Davidson Technologies, Inc., a technology services company that provides innovative engineering, technical and management solutions for the Department of Defense, aerospace and commercial customers, today announced progress in their collaboration to create solutions that advance national defense efforts. In support of the companies’ joint presence at this week’s Space and Missile Defense Symposium, D-Wave and Davidson Technologies revealed that together they have built two applications, focused on interceptor assignment and optimized radar scheduling.

Aug 7, 2023

New 4D metamaterial could advance quantum computing

Posted by in categories: computing, quantum physics

Akinbostanci/iStock.

The University of Missouri scientists have developed a new form of metamaterial based on the method of a 4D synthetic dimension.

Aug 7, 2023

CAR T Cells Could Change the Face of Autoimmune Therapy

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics

Cellular therapies like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells could represent a promising new avenue by which to treat autoimmune diseases, according to a recent review article. The authors cautioned, however, that most of the research testing CAR-based therapies has been in very early-stage trials.

CAR T cells are human cells that have been genetically modified to express a synthetic receptor, The cells have been used successfully as a therapy in several types of cancer, such as large B-cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma.


Manipulating T cells to target cancer cells has worked to treat some cancers. Researchers are investigating whether the same approach might be used to curb the dysregulated immune response that underlies autoimmune disease.

Continue reading “CAR T Cells Could Change the Face of Autoimmune Therapy” »