The researchers in this study examined the geometric structure and behaviour of one of the rotavirus's surface proteins, called VP4, which plays a key role in binding on to the surface of a target cell, and breaking through its membrane.

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It is made from a blend of crushed rock, rubber and polyurethane, a synthetic plastic that replaces bitumen as the binding agent and allows even bigger pores in the road surface.

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And because the company uses capsules rather than beads, it can mix them with a binding agent and print its electronic ink on to almost any surface, just as though it were real ink.

ECONOMIST: Showing off

After scanning across the whole surface, having previously compiled a relief map of the surface in the usual way, the researchers were able to draw up a map of the binding sites and pinpoint the positions of the antigens to within two or three nanometres.

ECONOMIST: Microscopy