Cyanide is a sneaky troublemaker. It lurks in places like factories and farms, posing risks to both people and the environment. To tackle this invisible threat, scientists have developed clever tools called fluorescent probes. These are like tiny detectives that light up when they find cyanide, maki
Alzheimer's disease is a big deal. It's the most common type of dementia, and it's tough to diagnose and treat. One of the main problems is that scientists don't have great tools to see what's happening inside the brain. Specifically, they want to track two things: amyloid-β plaques and hypochlorous
Copper is everywhere. It is in the water we drink and the soil we walk on. But too much of it can be harmful. This is why finding ways to measure copper levels accurately is so important. A new method has been created to do just that. It uses a clever trick of light and chemistry to spot copper in o
Fingerprints are everywhere. They are a staple in forensic investigations. Yet, current systems struggle with partial fingerprints. These fragments often lack the necessary details for a positive match. This is where level 3 features come into play. These are the tiny, intricate details within a fin
Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells, but they can also cause trouble when things go wrong. Two key factors that can indicate mitochondrial issues are levels of NAD(P)H and pH. These factors are closely linked to a process called mitochondrial autophagy, which is the cell's way of cleaning up d
Chlorothalonil, often shortened to CHT, is a tough chemical to deal with. It sticks around in the environment for a long time, builds up in living things, and can even seep into our water supplies. This makes it crucial to have a straightforward way to spot it. Most fluorescent probes, which are too
Lipid droplets are tiny fat bubbles inside cells. They are hard to study because they are small and move around a lot. For a long time, scientists have used a tool called Nile Red to see these droplets. It has been useful, but it has some problems. It is not very good at sticking to lipid droplets a
Food safety is a big deal. It's important to know what's in the food we eat. One way to do this is by using special tools to spot certain substances. One of these substances is propyl gallate (PG). It's used to keep food fresh, but too much of it can be bad for health. So, scientists have come up wi
Scientists are working on a new way to see and treat cancer. They are targeting proteins called BRD3 and BRD4, which are found in many types of cancer cells. Right now, doctors mainly use antibodies to spot these proteins. But these antibodies can be pricey and hard to use. Plus, they can't help tre
Imagine being able to peer into the tiny world inside living cells, in real-time, to watch how they work. This is exactly what small-molecule fluorescent probes allow scientists to do. These tiny, glowing tools have changed the game in understanding biological processes. Instead of focusing on old i
