On The Radar

The pick of the news in science

Da Vinci uncovered  by X-ray technique

Many have gazed at the Mona Lisa, wondering what's behind that enigmatic smile. But now a team of scientists in France has taken it to a new level – by using X-ray fluorescence to scrutinise the faces in several works by Leonardo Da Vinci.

The analytical technique allowed the researchers to non-invasively determine the composition and thickness of layers used in the sfumato, a painting technique used by Da Vinci to create a more life-like form.

Their findings, published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, have shed new light on the artist's technique, including the use of thin layers of glaze – just one to two microns thick.

‘Leaky’ gut enzyme  identified at UCD

Irish scientists have helped to pinpoint an enzyme that influences gut “leakiness”.

The international research published in Gastroenterologycentred on a model of inflammatory bowel disease and found that intestinal barrier function improves in the absence of an oxygen-sensing enzyme, PHD1.

Also, tissue from patients with severe IBD showed increased levels of the molecule.

“Inflammatory bowel disease is a condition in need of new and improved therapeutic options. Our current results indicate that targeting the PHD1 enzyme may represent one such approach,” said researcher Prof Cormac Taylor from the Conway Institute at University College Dublin.

“The fear among the Irish scientific community was that the huge gains made since PRTLI began in 1998, and SFI in 2000, would be lost. Now that the PRTLI funds are in place, the picture looks clearer and a lot brighter

Irish science journalist Seán Duke writing in the Science magazine blog ScienceInsider following the announcement of €359 million investment under PRTLI cycle five to fund research and infrastructure in Ireland between 2011 and 2016