College of Science

CORVALLIS, Ore. – An Oregon State University scientist and a team of undergraduate students have uncovered real-time insights into a chemical process linked with Alzheimer’s disease, paving the way toward better drug designs.

The researchers used a molecule measuring technique to observe in a laboratory setting how certain metals can promote the protein clumping that leads to the blocked neural pathways associated with Alzheimer’s.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A long-term analysis shows that a major Oregon reservoir abruptly swapped one type of toxic algae for another midway through the 12-year study period, absent any obvious cause.

The project provides a novel look at harmful algal blooms, or HABs, which pose multiple health risks to people and animals worldwide.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Scientists at Oregon State University have filed a patent on a design for a new magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent with the potential to outperform current agents while being less toxic to patients and more environmentally friendly.

The new material is based on a structure known as a metal-organic framework or MOF, whose development in the 1990s earned this year’s Nobel Prize for chemistry as MOFs’ many possible uses become increasingly apparent.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The “baby boom” of ochre sea stars that followed a population crash a decade ago is enabling the species to recover on the Oregon Coast, according to new research by scientists at Oregon State University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

The study, published in Ecosphere, does not determine whether the boom was triggered by the wasting disease epidemic that pushed ochre sea stars to the brink of extinction in Oregon, or simply a fortunate coincidence.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – New research into antimicrobial peptides, small chains of amino acids able to damage bacterial cells, shows why some peptides are more effective at doing that and also why some cells are more vulnerable.

The findings open the door to designing novel compounds for killing disease-causing organisms that have become resistant to antibiotics. These compounds would represent a major breakthrough against a pervasive global problem, said study co-leader Myriam Cotten of Oregon State University.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University pigment researchers are using a rare mineral discovered in Norway more than a century ago as a road map for creating new yellows, oranges and reds that are vibrant, durable, non-toxic and inexpensive.

The new pigments also carry energy-saving potential: Their ability to reflect heat from the sun means that buildings and vehicles coated in them will require less air conditioning.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Researchers have discovered a way to use ultraviolet rays to precisely adjust the size and shape of silver nanoparticles, tiny but hugely important bits of matter for applications including electronics, environmental monitoring and medical imaging.

In addition, the scientists found a technique for making the silver nanoparticles, whose specific properties depend on how big they are and what form they take, stable in the presence of light and oxygen, helping to ensure consistent performance over time.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Scientists including an Oregon State University chemistry researcher have taken a key step toward next-generation optical computing and memory with the discovery of luminescent nanocrystals that can be quickly toggled from light to dark and back again.