Inside itching cells
For elderly people, sometimes a small touch or some clothing can cause unbearable itching. Anti-itch creams don’t work against this type of itching, called alloknesis. Scientists have now reported that touch-induced itching is related to the numbers of a special touch receptors called Merkel cells on the skin. They carried out experiments on mice and found that as they become older the number of these cells declined, causing intense itching.
Pest-powered products
Published in Advanced Functional Materials
The invasive bio-fouling pest Styela clava has long, highly crystalline nanocellulose
Using wood pulp and dried pieces of a marine creature, scientists have created a new material which they claim can be used in the manufacture of lightweight vehicles. The invasive bio-fouling pest Styela clava has long, highly crystalline nanocellulose, and by mixing it with ordinary wood pulp the scientists created the new flexible and nontoxic composite material. The researchers say that the new material is sustainable and can be used as a food packaging material, or even find applications in biomedical devices.
The thin spin
A student looks at an exhibit of an atomic structure.
With the rise of the digital era, magnetic storage materials have taken the centrestage. Now researchers from University of Washington have created magnets that are just a few atoms thick, and can revolutionise data storage. The researchers used layers of ultra-thin materials to control the flow of electrons. Though the sheets were only few atoms thick, they were able to block or control the spin of the electrons effectively. The new paper also says that by exploiting the electron spins at each layer this material could help in building a new type of memory storage device.
Immunity and grey hair
Got grey hair? You might want to check your immune system, says a new study. Scientists have now reported that an infection can also be a reason for premature grey hair. The researchers artificially stimulated the immune systems of lab mice and found that it caused a loss in melanocytes (pigment giving cells), and the mice started getting grey fur. Though the researchers are unsure how immune system alters hair colour, they hope that this study might explain why some people get grey hair after viral infections
In your bones
Using advanced techniques like 3D nanoscale imaging and electron microscopy, researchers have demonstrated the structure of mineral crystals in our bones at a nanometre scale. They found that the minerals form curved nanocrystals that are needle-shaped and form twisted platelets that look like ship’s propeller blades. Continuous merging and splitting of these blades gives strength to our bones. Though it is already known that collagen and apatite make up bones, the new study revealed that there are 12 levels of hierarchy in bone formation.
New species
Published in Scientific Reports
The discovered new amphipos species Epimeria frankei (below) and its known related species Epimeria cornigera (above).
Say hello to Epimeria frankei , a new marine species discovered in the North Sea. The amphipod was named in honour of Prof. Heinz-Dieter Franke, a renowned ecologist. The researchers sequenced its entire genome using new molecular biology technologies and identified the species. The paper also describes its sister species Epimeria cornigera, studied using the new techniques. This discovery points out that even today there are many marine species yet to be identified, and molecular tools can come handy in doing so.
