Meenakshi Prabhune

Bioinspired small molecules combat viral threats by targeting a common feature in enveloped viruses, making them useful against a wide range of viruses.

Behind every successful scientist, there is another scientist.

A new staining method enabled cellular resolution at the organism level.

Some scientists strive to separate work from life, while some prefer to mix them.

ABOVE: As the AI flood gates open, biology is experiencing a surge of new applications. From synthetic proteins to cell mapping, researchers are using AI to improve precision medicines. © istock.com, FRANKRAMSPOTT, BEST CONTENT PRODUCTION GROUP, MARINA DEKHNIK, JACKIE NIAM, NOBI_PRIZUE, PHONGSAK SANGKHAMANEE; DESIGNED BY ASHLEIGH CAMPSALL In the early 1990s, protein biologists invested in solving a challenge that had riddled them for decades. The protein folding problem centered on the idea tha…

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ABOVE: © istock.com, satoshi takahata Once upon a time, circa 2700 BC in China, empress Xi Ling Shi was enjoying her afternoon tea under a mulberry tree, when a silkworm cocoon fell from the tree into her tea. She noticed that on contact with the hot beverage, the cocoon unraveled into a long silky thread. This happy accident inspired her to acquire these threads in abundance and fashion them into an elegant fabric. So goes the legend, according to the writings of Confucius, about the discover…

Humans have used natural resources for garment production for thousands of years. While synthetic fabrics have dominated the textile industry in the last century, synthetic biologists are determined to harness natural proteins to sustainably produce better materials. Consequent advances in the production of relevant recombinant proteins at scale is changing the face of textile and personal care sectors. MODIFIED FROM © ISTOCK. COM, BLUERINGMEDIA, MILATOO, ANASTASIYA SHMAKOVA; BOLT THREA…

Leveraging the versatility of stem cells allows researchers to advance science across multiple disciplines.

About 50 years ago, biologists set out to solve the protein-folding problem. The road to the Nobel victory has been arduous but full of small wins along the way.