Science News for Kids » bioengineer http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org Publication of the Society for Science & the Public Mon, 20 May 2013 22:47:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 A switch for a living computer http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/scientists-build-a-transistor-from-dna/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/scientists-build-a-transistor-from-dna/#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:38:51 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16600 Scientists used DNA to build biological switches called transcriptors, which act like transistors found on computer chips. Credit: iStockphoto

Scientists build a transistor from DNA]]> Scientists used DNA to build biological switches called transcriptors, which act like transistors found on computer chips. Credit: iStockphoto

Scientists build a transistor from DNA]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/scientists-build-a-transistor-from-dna/feed/ 0 Microscopic caffeine fiends http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/researchers-create-a-bacterium-that-cant-live-or-reproduce-without-caffeine/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/researchers-create-a-bacterium-that-cant-live-or-reproduce-without-caffeine/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:44:37 +0000 Sid Perkins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16503 Scientists tweaked the genes of a bacterium so that it requires caffeine to live and reproduce. Now, they can use this microbe to measure concentrations of caffeine in beverages such as soda, coffee and energy drinks. When the microbes are added to a water-weakened version of one of those drinks, the bacteria grow and the liquid turns cloudy — but only if the drink contained caffeine. In caffeine-free Coke (top left), no cloudiness appears. Credit: Barrick Lab/University of Texas at Austin

Researchers create a bacterium that can’t live or reproduce without a stimulant found in soft drinks, chocolate, coffee and tea]]> Scientists tweaked the genes of a bacterium so that it requires caffeine to live and reproduce. Now, they can use this microbe to measure concentrations of caffeine in beverages such as soda, coffee and energy drinks. When the microbes are added to a water-weakened version of one of those drinks, the bacteria grow and the liquid turns cloudy — but only if the drink contained caffeine. In caffeine-free Coke (top left), no cloudiness appears. Credit: Barrick Lab/University of Texas at Austin

Researchers create a bacterium that can’t live or reproduce without a stimulant found in soft drinks, chocolate, coffee and tea]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/researchers-create-a-bacterium-that-cant-live-or-reproduce-without-caffeine/feed/ 0 Feeling the invisible http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/feeling-the-invisible/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/feeling-the-invisible/#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:51:45 +0000 Sid Perkins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15743 A rat with an infrared-detecting sensor wired into its brain soon learned that it could find water at a door marked with an invisible infrared light. Credit: Thomson et al., Nature Communications (2013)

Sensor wired into a rat’s brain lets it detect light it can’t see]]> A rat with an infrared-detecting sensor wired into its brain soon learned that it could find water at a door marked with an invisible infrared light. Credit: Thomson et al., Nature Communications (2013)

Sensor wired into a rat’s brain lets it detect light it can’t see]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/feeling-the-invisible/feed/ 0