ytterbium – Shamskm: A site to exchange knowledge and solutions

Bright Future for Protein Nanoprobes

By Guest PostMay 2, 2014Sciencealexis ostrowski, berkeley lab, biology, brighter future, bruce cohen, building blocks, daniel gargas, doe, elektronische fussfessel, emory chan, erbium, fluorescent, free asymmetric, future, gewaltdelikte, heterocontact, james schuck, joerg kinzig, laboratory, mexican men, mexico murder rate, molecular foundry, nanocrystals, photobleach, polly myer, single molecules, sodium yttrium fluoride, ytterbium

Berkeley Lab Researchers Discover New Rules for Single-Particle Imaging with Light-Emitting Nanocrystals

The term a “brighter future” might be a cliché, but in the case of ultra-small probes for lighting up individual proteins, it is now most appropriate. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have discovered surprising new rules for creating ultra-bright light-emitting crystals that are less than 10 nanometers in diameter. These ultra-tiny but ultra-bright nanoprobes should be a big asset for biological imaging, especially deep-tissue optical imaging of neurons in the brain.

Working at the Molecular Foundry, a DOE national nanoscience center hosted at Berkeley Lab, a multidisciplinary team of researchers led by James Schuck and Bruce Cohen, both with Berkeley Lab’s Materials Sciences Division, used advanced single-particle characterization and theoretical modeling to study what are known as “upconverting nanoparticles” or UCNPs. Upconversion is the process by which a molecule absorbs two or more photons at a lower energy and emits them at higher energies. The research team determined that the rules governing the design of UCNP probes for ensembles of molecules do not apply to UCNP probes designed for single-molecules. (more…)

For metals of the smartphone age, no Plan B

By Guest PostDecember 5, 2013Science, Technologybarbara reck, best substitute materials, cardiovascular imaging, catalyst, chromium, comprehensive analysis, copper, dysprosium, ermelinda harper, europium, flat panel displays, laser technologies, lead, lifecycle of metals, manganese, metals, modern products, no plan b, numerical rating, periodic table, permanent magnets, platinum group metal, rare earth elements, rees, rhodium, smartphone age, solar energy systems, solar panels, thallium, thomas e graedel, thulium, vehicle emissions, yale study, ytterbium, yttrium

Many of the metals needed to feed the surging global demand for high-tech products, from smart phones to solar panels, cannot be replaced, leaving some markets vulnerable if resources become scarce, according to a new Yale study.

In a comprehensive analysis, a team of researchers from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES) evaluated how all 62 metals or metalloids on the periodic table of elements are used in consumer products, and the extent to which each of those metals could be replaced if reserves dwindle or supplies become unreliable. (more…)

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Bright Future for Protein Nanoprobes

For metals of the smartphone age, no Plan B