Home NEBinspired® Blog
NEBinspired_Blog_Banner

Welcome to NEB's Science Blog, NEBinspired® -
Sharing our passion for science, one story at a time

NEBinspired is a science blog designed to share inspirational stories about trends in the life sciences, lab tips to help you save time, and life lessons to reflect on. Browse our collection of science stories, or filter to find a topic that you are passionate about. From groundbreaking discoveries to sustainable lab techniques and helpful online tools that will aid your experimental design, we have something for everyone. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, not to worry – simply send us a message about topics you would like to see covered.

Filter by topic


RNase 4 Supports Precise Characterization of mRNA 5´ Cap Structures

Posted on Monday, September 14, 2026 By Iris Martinez, Illustration by Tasha José & Reviewed by Development Scientist Jeremy C. Henderson, Ph.D.

Critical quality attributes (CQAs) of mRNA vaccines, including sequence identity, 5′ capping efficiency, and 3′ poly(A) tail length, require thorough characterization. RNase 4 can be used to digest long mRNA molecules into oligonucleotide fragments that are amenable to analysis by LC-MS, capillary electrophoresis (CE), or denaturing gel-based methods, thereby enabling detailed assessment of mRNA therapeutic safety and content.

Topic: Tips for the lab

Read Blog

U-Bahn "U" sign in Vienna, with NEBinspired logo

Highly Efficient Peptide Binder Discovery Using mRNA Display

Posted on Monday, August 24, 2026 By Nicole Kelesoglu & Illustration by Tasha Jose

In this interview, PeptiFinder Biotech scientists share why mRNA Display is such a powerful platform for peptide therapeutics discovery, where they see this field going, and how enzyme engineering and workflow optimization could further expand the chemical space accessible to mRNA display.

Topic: What is Trending in Science, Tips for the lab

Read Blog Includes audio option

Closeup of helix of peptide "beads"

RNase III Protocol Modification Can Enable Safe dsRNA Removal from IVT Samples

Posted on Monday, July 20, 2026 By Iris Martinez, Illustrations by Tasha José 

High-quality and pure RNA is a requirement for RNA therapeutics to avoid unwanted immune responses, not just a “nice to have.” In vitro transcription can be optimized, but additional cleanup may be needed. Enzymatic removal of dsRNA using RNase III preserves ssRNA integrity when refined using a protocol developed by NEB scientists.

Topic: Tips for the lab

Read Blog

Broken and frayed twisted rope, with NEBinspired logo

Cell-free Protein Synthesis Enables Rapid Single-chain Fragment Production and Analysis

Posted on Thursday, July 9, 2026 By Iris Martinez, Illustrations by Tasha José

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) workflows allow for fast, scalable and cost-effective single-chain antibody fragment production. NEB scientists have outlined approaches to quickly and efficiently screen the discovery and initial characterization of novel antibody fragments with CFPS.

Topic: Tips for the lab

Read Blog Includes audio option

Collage of antibody with scFv fragments, with NEBinspired logo

Growing Plants on the Moon: Plants for Space (P4S) Aims to Transform Food Sustainability in Space and on Earth

Posted on Monday, June 8, 2026 By Iris Martinez, Illustrations by Tasha José

The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space (P4S) is a consortium of international research partners working toward a future where plants support off-Earth habitation and on-Earth sustainability through the production of food, medicine and other materials. In this blog post, research fellow Dr. Marta Peirats-Llobet talks about P4S and the consortium's LEAF project which, in collaboration with NASA, aims to study the impact of the lunar environment on plant growth in a growth chamber.

Topic: Environment and social responsibility, What is Trending in Science

Read Blog

Astronaut in space suit holding a plant

Don’t miss out on our latest NEBinspired blog releases!

Be a part of NEBinspired! Submit your idea to have it featured in our blog.

labconscious