The built environment contributes to global carbon dioxide emissions with carbon-emitting building materials and construction processes. While achieving carbon-neutral construction is not feasible with conventional construction methods, microbial-based construction processes were suggested over three decades ago to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. With time, questions regarding scaling, predictability, and the applicability of microbial growth and biomass production emerged and still needed to be resolved to allow manufacturing. Within this opinion, we will discuss what can be achieved not to ‘grow a building’ per se but to ‘grow environmentally friendly biocement’. Elaborate pathways leading to the formation of cementitious materials by genetically manipulatable microorganisms have been described so far, providing options to enhance the suitability of these pathways for construction with synthetic biology and bioconvergence. These processes can also be combined with additional beneficial properties of cement-producing organisms, such as antimicrobial properties and carbon fixation by photosynthesis. Therefore, while we cannot yet ‘grow a building’, we can grow and design biocement for the construction industry.

The crystal structure of danofloxacin mesylate has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data and optimized using density functional theory techniques. Danofloxacin mesylate crystallizes in space group P1 (#1) with a = 6.77474(8), b = 12.4973(4), c = 12.82826(28) Å, α = 84.8709(29), β = 87.7501(10), γ = 74.9916(4)°, V = 1044.723(11) Å3, and Z = 2. The protonation of the danofloxacin cations was established by the analysis of potential intermolecular interactions and differs from that expected from isolated-cation calculations. The crystal structure consists of alternating layers of cations and anions parallel to the ac-plane. There is parallel stacking of the oxoquinoline rings along the a-axis. The expected N–H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the cations and anions are not present. Each cation makes an N–H⋯O hydrogen bond with the other cation, resulting in zig-zag chains along the a-axis. Both cations have strong intramolecular O–H⋯O hydrogen bonds. There are several C–H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the danofloxacin cations and mesylate anions. The powder pattern has been submitted to ICDD® for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File™ (PDF®).

A new polymorphic form of sodium selenite pentahydrate is reported in this contribution. We determined its crystal structure from laboratory powder diffraction data recorded at room temperature. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system P21/n with Z = 4. The lattice parameters are a = 15.01473(16) Å, b = 7.03125(7) Å, c = 8.13336(10) Å, β = 98.4458(10)°, and V = 849.345(16) Å3. The crystal structure exhibits a layered structure with isolated 1D chains running along the b-axis.

The biotechnology design (biodesign) enterprise is reshaping our relationship with nature and requires broad public engagement for innovative and ethical development. However, current biodesign programs are often limited to formal education settings such as universities, community colleges, and high schools. To grow deeper networks with and among communities that are often excluded, we need new approaches and learning spaces. These must expand the diversity of voices that frame biodesign questions and drive when, where, and how we practice biotechnology design. Through our work, we have found that community-based biodesign spaces (informal learning spaces) can empower multidirectional and multigenerational knowledge exchange and advance a more diverse, inclusive, and innovative biodesign enterprise. In this article, we illustrate the benefits of a biodesign education ecosystem through case studies of three learning spaces: (1) a community bio laboratory, (2) an educational summer camp, and (3) an art-based maker space. This informal educational ecosystem brings together artists, educators, activists, and researchers to elevate ancestral science knowledge, creativity, play, and storytelling as central to biodesign education. While each is important independently, emergent power comes from connections between community biotechnology design spaces. By highlighting successful approaches used across these spaces, our three case studies show how diverse community engagement can sustain a vibrant biodesign ecosystem. Our findings can inform existing biodesign approaches and broaden their impact to grow a more innovative, relevant, and accountable biodesign enterprise.

We prove that certain differential operators of the form $ DLD $ with $ L $ hypergeometric and $ D=z\frac{\partial }{dz} $ are of Picard–Fuchs type. We give closed hypergeometric expressions for minors of the biextension period matrices that arise from certain rank 4 weight 3 Calabi–Yau motives presumed to be of analytic rank 1. We compare their values numerically to the first derivative of the $ L $-functions of the respective motives at $ s=2 $.

Synchrotron powder diffraction data is presented for a series of relatively phase-pure smectite clay mineral standards obtained from the Clay Minerals Society. Rietveld refinement using a model for turbostratic disorder was performed to estimate the lattice parameters and mineral impurities in the smectite standards. Bragg reflection lists and raw data have been provided for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File.

X-ray powder diffraction data, unit-cell parameters, and space group for the barium copper iodate, Ba2Cu(IO3)6, are reported [a = 7.48540(15) Å, b = 7.51753(19) Å, c = 7.64259(17) Å, α = 98.8823(7)°, β = 95.0749(7)°, γ = 97.6297(7)°, V = 418.528(9) Å3, Z = 1, and space group P$\bar{1}$]. All measured lines are indexed and are consistent with the corresponding space group. The single-crystal diffraction data of Ba2Cu(IO3)6 are also reported [a = 7.493(3) Å, b = 7.521(6) Å, c = 7.644(5) Å, α = 98.855(18)°, β = 95.060(16)°, γ = 97.62(2)°, V = 419.3(5) Å3, Z = 1, and space group P$\bar{1}$]. The crystal structure of Ba2Cu(IO3)6 features isolated [Cu(IO3)6]4− anionic clusters separated by Ba2+ cations. The experimental powder diffraction pattern matches well with the simulated pattern derived from the single crystal data.

With the increasing need for architectural sustainability, biodesign offers a new approach to incorporating living organisms in building materials. Bacteria hold a range of biological activities that impact their environment, and which could enable the solidification of inorganic materials; this has already been seen with microbially-induced carbonate precipitation that strengthens bonds between sand particles. This paper describes the novel development of an additive co-fabrication manufacturing process, demonstrating an interdisciplinary approach of architecture and microbiology. Specifically, the activity of a biological deposition (i.e., cyanobacterial calcium carbonate precipitation) and its integration with that of a robotic deposition (i.e., a sand-based biomixture) within an architectural biofabrication workflow. Two bacterial strains were successfully grown in potential sand-based construction materials. Microbiological protocols, such as optical density and fluorescence measurements, were then applied to identify parameters, for harvesting light through photosynthesis and harnessing it to the sedimentation of calcium carbonate. Assessments of the proposed mechanical delivery system and printing properties enabled the outlining of a suitable robotic deposition system for sand-based mixtures. Through examinations of these microbiological and mechanical protocols, this paper outlines design strategies and tradeoffs for an integrated workflow, that corresponds with both the biological (micro) and architectural (macro) scales.