This week’s publication of the complete genomic sequence of a living marine sponge reveals genes dating back hundreds of millions of years – a result far exceeding the expectations of the scientific world.

Physicists at UC Santa Barbara have created a microscopic device to assist biologists in making very fast molecular measurements that aid the understanding of protein folding. This development may help elucidate biological processes associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Since proteins in the body perform different functions according to their shape, the folding process is considered a key area of study.