In This Series

An important class of biological molecules—proteins called ionic channels—conduct ions (like Na+ , K+ , Ca2+ , and Cl− ) through a narrow tunnel of fixed charge (‘doping’). Ionic channels control the movement of electric charge and current across biological membranes and so play a role...

A great triumph of computer simulations 40 years ago was to make the liquid state of matter understandable in terms of physical interactions between individual molecules. Prior to the first simulations of liquid argon and liquid water in the 1960's, there was no quantitatively rigorous molecular...

The ability to manipulate and identify the properties of singlebiological molecules with the potential of characterizing biologicalprocesses at the most fundamental levels can significantly facilitaterapid diagnostics and therapeutics. Fabrication of solid-statedevices investigating bacteria,...

The determination of the structure of the KcsA K+ channel fromStreptomyces lividan has made it possible to investigate the functionof a biological channel at the atomic level. Because of its structuralsimilarity with eukaryotic K-channels, investigations of KcsA areexpected to help understand a...

Taking classes in physics always starts with Newtonian mechanics. In reducing the size of the objects considered however the transition into the quantum mechanical regime has to occur. The 'mechanics' of quantum mechanics is best studied in nano-structured semiconductor systems often termed...