Microorganisms often assemble natural products similar to industrial assembly lines. Certain enzymes, non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) play a key role in this process. Biotechnologists at Goethe University have now been able to discover how these enzymes interact with each other. This brings them one step closer to their goal of engineering the production of such peptide natural products.

The Ion Rocket from Biochromato visualizes hidden compounds in samples. The device generates a temperature gradient from ambient up to as high as 600°C over several minutes. This allows compounds in samples to be sublimated, vaporized, or pyrolized according to their volatility, and then introduced into the DART gas stream.

Chemical engineering researchers have developed a new catalyst that significantly increases yield in styrene manufacturing, while simultaneously reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

About half a year before the start of Analytica Vietnam, the trade fair for laboratory technology, analysis, biotechnology and diagnostics in Ho Chi Minh City is in greater demand than ever before, the organizers announce. By the end of October, about 60 % more exhibitors than in the same period of 2016 have registered for the spin-off of Analytica in Munich, which will take place from April 03 to 05, 2019, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (Secc).

The UK-based specialists in DNA and RNA analysis, PCR Biosystems, have launched a range of Iso Fast Bst Polymerase reagents for rapid, robust and sensitive DNA and RNA amplification.

Researchers from Itmo University and St. Petersburg Academic University developed a new technology for marking authentic goods. Manufacturers will be able to label electronics, drugs, jewelry, and other products with invisible images that can only be seen with special equipment.

The laboratory vacuum pump Lab Vac by Piab uses compressed air provided by a standard compressed air system to generate a vacuum. The vacuum can be provided to 11 mmHg absolute, making it ideal for all common laboratory applications such as vacuum filtration, rotary evaporation, degassing, gel drying, etc.

Physicists from Itmo University have discovered an accessible method that makes it possible to use transparent materials for solar cells while preserving their efficiency. The new technology is based on the method of doping — the modification of properties of materials by way of adding impurities — but without the use of expensive special-purpose equipment.

Asynt has published a case study describing how the Frosyn Cooling Station has enabled John Bower’s Group at the University of Liverpool, UK, to reproducibly conduct low temperature enantioselective catalytic reactions, over an extended period of time.

A species of seed-feeding fly is critically damaging the seed production of multiple orchid species, a group of Japanese researchers revealed. If the damage caused by this fly is occurring long-term and across Japan, these already-endangered orchid species could become unable to reproduce using seeds, and their dwindling numbers will take a large hit.