Exposure to the air pollution known as fine particulate matter is associated with an increased risk of having a cluster of multiple chronic diseases, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal Plos Global Public Health by Kai Hu of University of St. Andrews, UK, and colleagues.

We explore the significance of device connectivity as the fundamental element in implementing lab automation strategies and future-proofing laboratory operations. Through expert perspectives, we explain how device connectivity standards, such as LADS and SiLA, unify device driver development, improve data management, and promote efficient and effective lab execution workflows.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego, in collaboration with Australian colleagues, have developed bacteria that can detect tumor DNA within a live organism. This breakthrough showed the potential of using the newly designed “Cellular Assay for Targeted CRISPR-discriminated Horizontal gene transfer” system to identify the presence of cancer in the colons of mice.

A team of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC found that exposure to a mixture of synthetic chemicals found widely in the environment alters several critical biological processes, including the metabolism of fats and amino acids, in both children and young adults. The disruption of these biological processes is connected to an increased risk of a very broad range of diseases.

Ginger has a reputation for stimulating the immune system. New results from the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich now support this thesis. In laboratory tests, small amounts of a pungent ginger constituent put white blood cells on heightened alert.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has recently introduced its Dynaspin Single-Use Centrifuge system. Offering a single-use solution for large-scale cell culture harvesting, the firm’s innovation is also capable of reducing the usage of traditional depth filtration to develop a more cost-efficient solution in a shorter span of time.

A study has revealed that the cerebrospinal fluid immune system in our brain and spinal fluid becomes dysregulated as we age and that people suffering from cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s disease have a drastically altered CSF immune system as compared to healthy individuals.

Polyethylene has a number of advantageous properties, but biodegradability is not one of them. A team of researchers has now developed a plastic which has similar thermoplastic properties to polyethylene but is also biodegradable.

Researchers have reported a chitosan-based coating that helps to keep avocados fresh for a longer period of time. They have also developed an imaging technique which helps to predict the shelf life of these fruits.

Ørsted and the world leader in nature conservation WWF have entered into a global partnership to advance offshore wind deployment for improving ocean biodiversity. The partnership will also drive a fundamental change in the way integrated action is being taken on climate and biodiversity.