Photo Chemistry

  • Nematodes in European Beech 2 - Colbert-Pitts et al 2025 Plant Pathology
    International

    Nasty nematodes

    2025-04-30T09:28:00Z

    Tiny worms are already causing havoc among beech in North-America. New research shows that also European beech is susceptible to this invasive pest, raising concerns for the health of European forests. 

  • algen stressrespons
    International

    Stress-resistant algae

    2025-04-09T13:02:00Z

    Plants have a lot to endure. Burning heat, extreme drought, hungry insects, destructive fungi and so on. Researchers in Göttingen have looked at the response to these stress factors in detail from algae and compared them to land plants.  

  • BW_Niche-Expansion_Colorized82_crop (003)__
    International

    Stem cell switch

    2025-04-02T09:55:00Z

    A single molecular ‘switch’ seems sufficient to activate stem cells. This finding has the potential to significantly improve the efficacy and reliability of cell therapies and bone marrow transplants.   

  • 1_3_300x
    International

    S(tea)ping against metals

    2025-03-06T08:17:00Z

    Some cultures serve a cup of tea with every meal. Recently, researchers at Northwestern University discovered that tea can filter out some of the heavy metals. As well as being tasty, a cup of tea now seems to have another small health benefit.

  • Bubblewrap_1
    International

    Protective bubbles

    2025-03-04T08:06:00Z

    Fatty tissue is an important energy reserve. But it also acts as a super-strength protective ‘bubble wrap’ for fragile parts of the skeleton.

  • SEM of tin on carbon catalyst
    International

    Tiny tin

    2025-02-12T10:16:00Z

    A spectacular image of an electrocatalyst that exhibits spectacular behaviour. During CO2 reduction, this combination of tin particles on a nanotextured carbon support manages to improve its performance. The secret: particle breakdown. 

  • mouse-3labels-compress
    International

    Well marinated

    2025-01-29T10:23:00Z

    Single-cell techniques offer many possibilities, but it is difficult to reach all the cells inside organs. Researchers at MIT have developed a new approach that brings those hard-to-reach parts into brilliant focus. 

  • Low-Res_NatCommButterflyPhoto
    International

    Soft, lightweight and biocompatible

    2025-01-15T13:25:00Z

    A US team has developed an organic electrochemical transistor that is highly biocompatible, reports Nature Communications.

  • pyrenoids_2_Tanner Robison
    International

    Turbocharger for photosynthesis

    2025-01-07T13:42:00Z

    Hornwort, a moss, is capable of highly efficient photosynthesis thanks to a ‘turbocharger’ that allows this tiny plant to concentrate CO2 in its cells.  

  • Leukaemia cells with the BIM variation
    International

    Small variations, serious consequences

    2024-12-18T13:17:00Z

    Genetic variants of the BIM protein increase therapy resistance in leukaemia cells, researchers in Singapore show. Important findings for East Asian populations, where these variants are relatively common.

  • Foto 5. Cochlea (binnenoor) van een muis
    International

    €5 million for better imaging

    2024-12-04T08:47:00Z

    Amsterdam-based Confocal.nl has received a €5 million investment to make its live cell imaging more accessible. As a foretaste of what is possible, they have produced this stunning image of a mouse ear.

  • MK6-5-1B-04
    International

    Creating colours

    2024-12-02T09:35:00Z

    Colour is an intriguing phenomenon, as it is truly in the eye of the beholder. To create that sensation of colour, nanometer-scale particles need to be structured in just the right way.

  • heart-cockles
    International

    Biophotonic ‘windows’ enable symbiosis

    2024-11-27T13:19:00Z

    Several molluscs have developed benificial relationships with symbiotic, photosynthetic algae. Heart cockles boast advanced biophotonic structures in their shells that operate like optic fiber cables to catch and transmit the incoming sunlight.

  • SymmetryCover3d
    International

    The symmetry of bees lies within

    2024-11-13T07:39:00Z

    Nature is full of symmetry, though often only on the outside, but recently an international team discovered that honeybees also build the inside of their nests symmetrically. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, this has practical advantages.

  • EfaecalisCells
    International

    Clumping pests

    2024-10-23T09:50:00Z

    A team from Umeå University in Sweden has been studying how bacteria pass on their resistance genes to each other, resulting in a beautiful picture.

  • Natural-cement
    International

    Zapping sand

    2024-09-25T06:02:00Z

    Turning soft beaches into hard rock. American researchers managed this (at least on lab scale) by exposing sea-soaked sand to a mild electric current.

  • 2024_NatMicrob_Benoit_Laventie-Biozentrum_UniBasel
    International

    Smart intruders

    2024-09-10T09:16:00Z

    By studying the infection of lung organoids, Swiss researchers revealed how a notorious pathogen deploys a Trojan horse-stategy.  

  • Cye5-dye 2
    International

    Organic synthesis goes golden

    2024-08-26T11:55:00Z

    Working with dyes is asking for pretty pictures. While synthesising fluorescent tracers, Maarten van Meerbeek took this picture of a Cy5 dye.

  • Antenne-mier
    International

    Necessary neurons

    2024-08-23T14:54:00Z

    Noses are as diverse as the species they belong to. Ants use antennae to detect and process olfactory signals. But without the Orco protein, the development of the required neurons is halted.  

  • Klebsiella-01_compress_Kleb_oxytoca_MK01_03 - Kopie
    International

    Food fight

    2024-06-26T11:52:00Z

    Harmful bacteria? Don’t be too quick to judge, because sometimes toxins can also be protective.