Edward H. Egelman, PhD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicines Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, has been a leader in the field of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and he and his colleagues used cryo-EM imaging for this apparently impossible task. “It shows,” he stated, “that the cryo-EM technique has excellent possible in products research.” Credit: Dan Addison, UVA Communications
Edward H. Egelman, PhD, of UVAs Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, has been a leader in the field of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and he and Leticia Beltran, a college student in his lab, utilized cryo-EM imaging for this relatively impossible job. “It demonstrates,” he said, “that the cryo-EM method has excellent potential in products research study.”
Engineering at the Atomic Level
One possible way to understand Littles concept for a superconductor is to customize lattices of carbon nanotubes. These are hollow cylinders of carbon so small they should be determined in nanometers– billionths of a meter. There was a huge challenge: controlling chemical reactions along the nanotubes so that the lattice might be put together as specifically as needed and function as meant.
They took DNA, the hereditary material that tells living cells how to operate, and utilized it to assist a chemical reaction that would conquer the great barrier to Littles superconductor. The outcome was a lattice of carbon nanotubes assembled specifically as needed for Littles room-temperature superconductor.
” This work shows that ordered carbon nanotube adjustment can be achieved by taking benefit of DNA-sequence control over the spacing between nearby response websites,” Egelman said.
For now, the lattice they built has actually not been tested for superconductivity. Nevertheless, it provides proof of principle and has great potential for the future, the researchers state. “While cryo-EM has actually emerged as the primary method in biology for identifying the atomic structures of protein assemblies, it has actually had much less effect therefore far in materials science,” stated Egelman, whose prior work caused his induction in the National Academy of Sciences, one of the greatest honors a researcher can get.
Egelman and his partners say their DNA-guided technique to lattice building could have a wide array of helpful research study applications, particularly in physics. But it also verifies the possibility of building Littles room-temperature superconductor. The researchers work, combined with other developments in superconductors in the last few years, might eventually change innovation as we understand it and lead to a far more “Star Trek” future.
” While we often think of biology utilizing tools and strategies from physics, our work shows that the methods being established in biology can in fact be applied to problems in physics and engineering,” Egelman stated. “This is what is so exciting about science: not being able to forecast where our work will lead.”
Findings Published
The scientists have actually published their findings in the journal Science. The team included Zhiwei Lin, Leticia Beltran, Zeus A. De los Santos, Yinong Li, Tehseen Adel, Jeffrey A Fagan, Angela Hight Walker, Egelman and Ming Zheng.
Reference: “DNA-guided lattice remodeling of carbon nanotubes” by Zhiwei Lin, Leticia C. Beltran, Zeus A. De los Santos, Yinong Li, Tehseen Adel, Jeffrey A Fagan, Angela R. Hight Walker, Edward H. Egelman and Ming Zheng, 28 July 2022, Science.DOI: 10.1126/ science.abo4628.
The work was supported by the Department of Commerces National Institute of Standards and Technology and by National Institutes of Health grant GM122510, as well as by an NRC postdoctoral fellowship.
In DNA, scientists discover an option to building a superconductor that could transform innovation.
Could let computers operate at warp speed, save energy, and even make trains fly.
Researchers have actually utilized DNA to get rid of an almost overwhelming obstacle to engineering materials that will revolutionize electronic devices. Published in the journal Science on July 28, the work was performed by scientists at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and their collaborators.
One possible result of these crafted materials could be superconductors, which have absolutely no electrical resistance, enabling electrons to flow unimpeded. Development of a superconductor that might be utilized widely at typical pressures and space temperature– rather of at low or very high temperature levels, as is now possible– might lead to lots of technological marvels.
One such superconductor was very first proposed by Stanford physicist William A. Little more than 50 years back. Scientists have spent years attempting to make it work.
Development of a superconductor that might be used commonly at regular pressures and room temperature level– rather of at low or exceptionally high temperatures, as is now possible– could lead to many technological wonders. One possible way to recognize Littles idea for a superconductor is to customize lattices of carbon nanotubes. They took DNA, the hereditary material that tells living cells how to run, and utilized it to guide a chemical response that would overcome the terrific barrier to Littles superconductor. The result was a lattice of carbon nanotubes put together particularly as required for Littles room-temperature superconductor.
The scientists work, combined with other breakthroughs in superconductors in current years, could eventually change innovation as we know it and lead to a much more “Star Trek” future.
