A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has come up with a new solution to boost the surveillance of designer drug abuse.
A team of NUS researchers has developed an integrative approach that increases the accuracy of mosquito surveillance and management. The two-pronged strategy boosts accuracy in sampling by including mosquito larvae, and species identification using short DNA sequences.
Wellcome Trust has provided a grant to the National University of Singapore to establish the Asian Clinical Research Network to conduct antimicrobial clinical research to develop the most effective ways to treat and prevent life-threatening drug-resistant infections. This will be the first clinical trial network established in Asia focusing on drug-resistant infections.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore have come up with two new ways to protect quantum communications from attacks - the first is an ultra-secure cryptography protocol, and the other is a first-of-its-kind quantum power limiter device. These two approaches hold promise to ensure information systems used for critical services such as banking and healthcare can hold up any potential future attacks.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore and University of the Ryukyus have recently identified and described a new genus and species of xanthid crab found in Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Named Mabui calculus, it is the first among the 7,800 species of known crabs to have strongly asymmetrical male and female reproductive structures.
NUS and NTU will lead a new Sustainable Tropical Data Centre Testbed to pioneer green and efficient cooling solutions for data centres in the tropics.The S$23 million research programme is supported by key stakeholders in Singapore’s data centre industry.
Researchers from NUS have come up with a way to use one single device – such as a mobile phone or smart watch – to wirelessly power up to 10 wearables on a user. This novel method uses the human body as a medium for transmitting power. Their system can also harvest unused energy from electronics in a typical home or office environment to power the wearables.
A team of researchers from the NUS Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Health Innovation & Technology has developed a novel blood test called ExoSCOPE that could tell doctors whether cancer treatment is working for a patient, within 24 hours after the treatment. This will enable doctors to customise the treatment plan to improve patients’ chances of recovery.
Giving a new spin to conventional chemical synthesis, a team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed a way to automate the production of small molecules suitable for pharmaceutical use. The method can potentially be used for molecules that are typically produced via manual processes, thereby reducing the manpower required.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore have found a way to predict if ovarian cancer patients will be resistant to chemotherapy. By using “automated” microscopy, they identified a protein that indicates the resistance of ovarian cancer cells to platinum chemotherapy. This breakthrough could improve the survival rate of ovarian cancer patients, as other treatments may be administered early.
Researchers from NUS Engineering have developed a new method to increase the rate of an important chemical reaction known as hydrogenation by more than 5 times. Hydrogenation is used in the production of everyday items like plastics, fertilisers, and pharmaceuticals. The NUS team’s novel approach is a more direct and effective method that can lead to higher yields for industries and lower environmental impacts.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore and international energy giant Shell will jointly develop novel processes to use carbon dioxide, a byproduct of industrial processes, to produce fuels and chemicals for the energy industry. This S$4.6 million research programme is supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore, and was formalised by all three parties at a ceremony held on 14 May 2021.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore have created a new class of intelligent materials. It has the structure of a two-dimensional (2D) material, but behaves like an electrolyte – and could be a new way to deliver drugs within the body.
Researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore at the National University of Singapore have found a major molecular “switch” that controls how cells turn their genes on and off. This process ensures the cell correctly and adequately performs its assigned tasks in the body. The research team’s discovery will likely improve the understanding of how normal stem cells function, and could possibly lead to insights into disease.
NUS researchers have taken a waste product from construction sites in Singapore and upcycled it into a raw material for ultra-high-performance concrete. Their method could help reduce the carbon footprint of concrete and also cut the cost of production. This is the first time low-grade waste clay has been used as fillers in concrete.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore have developed a green technique to upcycle metal waste into multi-purpose aerogels. These metal-based aerogels have high thermal and mechanical stability and could potentially be used as light-weight building materials and for growing cells for biomedical purposes.
Researchers from the NUS Department of Materials Science and Engineering have created a solar-powered, fully automated device called ‘SmartFarm’ that is equipped with a moisture-attracting material to absorb air moisture at night when the relative humidity is higher, and releases water when exposed to sunlight in the day for irrigation.
Researchers from Cancer Science Institute of Singapore at NUS and A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore as well as their collaborators have discovered the molecular pathway that interferes with breast cancer drugs, and found an additional drug that will reverse the effect. This discovery could give cancer patients more hope of overcoming the disease.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, will embark on a joint collaboration on smart buildings research. Johnson Controls will commit about S$5 million into this research programme, and teams from both organisations will work together to address industry-wide challenges.
Healthy and cancer cells can look similar under a microscope. One way of differentiating them is by examining the level of acidity, or pH level, inside the cells. Tapping on this distinguishing characteristic, a research team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed a technique that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to determine whether a single cell is healthy or cancerous by analysing its pH. Each cancer test can be completed in under 35 minutes, and single cells can be classified with an accuracy rate of more than 95 per cent.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) announced today that it will be appointing Professor Hans Tjio as the new Dean of its Faculty of Law (NUS Law). Prof Tjio will succeed Professor Simon Chesterman as NUS Law’s 15th Dean with effect from 1 July 2021.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) School of Design and Environment (SDE) becomes the first series of buildings in Singapore, as well as the foremost in the educational sector worldwide to achieve the WELL™ Health-Safety Rating by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).
NUS historian of science Dr John van Wyhe has co-published a groundbreaking new book on Charles Darwin which shows for the first time the extent of his cultural impact over the past 160 years. A decade in the making, this volume demonstrates that Darwin is the most influential scientist who has ever lived, having the most species named after him and he is also the most translated scientist in history.
X-ray imaging is widely used in areas such as healthcare and forensic science, but existing X-ray machines are unable to capture curved three-dimensional (3D) objects at high resolution, and they are also relatively expensive. Now, an international team of researchers led by chemists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has demonstrated a potential solution to overcome these limitations by using nanocrystals that can trap X-rays.
Home owners, especially those staying in noisy districts, can look forward to greater living comfort with a new invention by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) School of Design and Environment (SDE) that reduces outdoor noise and improves indoor ventilation. Called the Acoustic Friendly Ventilation Window (AFVW), this novel system cuts environment noise levels by 26 decibels (dB), which is approximately more than a fourfold reduction in terms of a human’s perception of loudness. It can also achieve four times better ventilation than an open conventional window.
Scientists from the National University of Singapore have discovered how a protein called Tip60 plays a vital role in the renewal of blood cells in the body. Without it, the stem cells that make new blood suffer catastrophic damage. This discovery could lead to better treatments for life-threatening blood-related diseases like leukemia.
Researchers from NUS Engineering have developed a new electrical socket system that can manage the energy consumption of an entire building in real-time. This invention has the potential to optimise energy use on a large scale, and advance Singapore’s Smart Nation agenda.
Researchers from NUS Engineering have developed a new aerogel that autonomously absorbs water from the atmosphere and then releases it effortlessly without any external power source. This invention is a promising solution for sustainable, freshwater production.
A team of scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS), led by Dr Polly Leilei Chen from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS, has discovered a previously unknown mechanism of cancer formation, the understanding of which may lead to more effective treatment. They discover that doing nothing to the DNA code of the COPA gene can promote cancer.
Good news for those who need a cuppa to start the day. Food scientists from the National University of Singapore have created new probiotic coffee and tea drinks that are packed with over 1 billion units of gut-friendly live probiotics. These non-dairy and plant-based beverages can be stored chilled or at room temperature for more than 14 weeks.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore created a novel film that is very effective in evaporating sweat from our skin. Promising applications include shoe insoles and linings, as well as underarm pads for sweat absorption.
NUS researchers invented DeepKey, a new anti-counterfeiting technology that performs reliable AI-based authentication under extreme environmental conditions. It is suitable for tagging high-value products such as vaccines, drugs, jewelry and electronics.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore have invented a portable tent-like shield to prevent the spread of saliva and aerosols generated during dental procedures. These procedures would otherwise put dentists at a high risk of exposure to COVID-19 and other critical infectious diseases.
A research team from NUS Engineering has developed a new range of strain sensors that are 10 times more sensitive when measuring minute movements. These sensors are ultra-thin, battery-free and can transmit data wirelessly, making them attractive for a wide range of applications such as precision manufacturing, soft robotic rehabilitation glove and robotic surgery.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore have utilised a ground-breaking AI platform to find an optimal combination of available therapies against COVID-19. The research team identified the drug combination from over 530,000 possibilities within two weeks, cutting down the number of tests typically needed by hundreds of thousands.
Researchers from NUS have discovered a new strain of bacterium that can remove both nitrogen and phosphorous from sewage wastewater. Their findings offer a simpler, cheaper and greener method of wastewater treatment.
By analysing minute vibrations on common items caused by sound waves, a potential attacker can use a robot vacuum cleaner to retrieve audio data and capture private and sensitive information
Engineers from NUS have devised a method to convert natural gas into a non-explosive solid form known as gas hydrates, which can be easily stored and transported. Using a novel, low-toxicity additive mixture, the conversion can be completed in just 15 minutes – the fastest time ever reported.
A research team led by Associate Professor Alfredo Franco-Obregón from the National University of Singapore's Institute for Health Innovation and Technology has shown how a molecule found in muscles responds to weak magnetic fields. This responsiveness could be used to stimulate muscle recovery.
Two original pages from the handwritten draft of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, along with rare letters, and never-before-seen reading notes have been added to Darwin Online. This scholarly portal dedicated to naturalist Charles Darwin was founded by Dr John van Wyhe from the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Department of Biological Sciences, and Tembusu College.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) School of Design and Environment 4 (SDE4) is the first building in Southeast Asia to be awarded the stringent Zero Energy Certification by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), one of the world’s most prestigious sustainability organisations.
Researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore at the National University of Singapore found that little-known genes called “onco-requisite factors” can enlist other genes to assist them in helping cancer cells proliferate. The gene produces an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase that recruits other enzymes to supply cancer cells with energy for growth. As such, depriving cells of aldehyde dehydrogenase may be a possible way to treat cancer.
Known as Tactile Resistive Annularly Cracked E-Skin (TRACE), this novel sensor material developed by the National University of Singapore researchers is five times better than conventional soft materials, and could be used in wearable health technology devices, or in robotics to perceive surface texture.
Researchers from NUS Engineering have developed a novel conversion approach that marries chemical and biological processes to produce high-value amino acids such as L-DOPA and L-Proline from low-cost, abundant waste material like crustacean shells and sawdust.
When the air outside is bad, office workers are more likely to order food delivery than go out for lunch, which in turn increases plastic waste from food packaging, according to a study by researchers from the National University of Singapore.
An international team, led by the scientists from the National University of Singapore, has developed a solution to uniformly switch memristors. This innovation addresses a long-standing problem in the field of organic and molecular electronics.
A research team from the National University of Singapore has developed a smart suit that is wirelessly powered by a smartphone for easy and accurate real-time monitoring of data such as posture, body temperature and gait.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore developed a technique of using pineapple leaf fibres to create ultra-light, biodegradable aerogels. These versatile aerogels can be used for food preservation, wastewater treatment, oil absorbing as well as heat and sound insulation.
The novel STAR assay developed by NUS researchers can be used to rapidly determine telomere dysregulation in cancers and age-related diseases in clinical settings. This helps clinicians to make faster diagnosis and plan targeted treatments for patients.
A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore led by Professor Lim Chwee Teck has invented a smart gaming glove that allows users to mimic a variety of in-game controls using simple hand gestures. The glove can also be used for hand rehabilitation and robotic control.