Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: General Space: Structures and Features
Published

Astronomers conduct first search for forming planets with new space telescope      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Planets form in disks of dust and gas called protoplanetary disks that whirl around a central protostar during its final assembly.

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Published

Persistent hiccups in a far-off galaxy draw astronomers to new black hole behavior      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Astronomers have found that a previously quiet black hole, which sits at the center of a galaxy about 800 million light years away, has suddenly erupted, giving off plumes of gas every 8.5 days before settling back to its normal, quiet state.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Scientists extract genetic secrets from 4,000-year-old teeth to illuminate the impact of changing human diets over the centuries      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have recovered remarkably preserved microbiomes from two teeth dating back 4,000 years, found in an Irish limestone cave. Genetic analyses of these microbiomes reveal major changes in the oral microenvironment from the Bronze Age to today. The teeth both belonged to the same male individual and also provided a snapshot of his oral health.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

New enzymatic cocktail can kill tuberculosis-causing mycobacteria      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An enzymatic cocktail can kill a variety of mycobacterial species of bacteria, including those that cause tuberculosis.

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Published

Astronomers unveil strong magnetic fields spiraling at the edge of Milky Way's central black hole      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new image from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration has uncovered strong and organized magnetic fields spiraling from the edge of the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). Seen in polarized light for the first time, this new view of the monster lurking at the heart of the Milky Way Galaxy has revealed a magnetic field structure strikingly similar to that of the black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy, suggesting that strong magnetic fields may be common to all black holes.

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Published

Old immune systems revitalized in mouse study, improving vaccine response      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Those with aging immune systems struggle to fight off novel viruses and respond weakly to vaccination. Researchers were able to revitalize the immune system in mice.

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Published

'Cosmic cannibals' expel jets into space at 40 percent the speed of light      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Astronomers have measured the speed of fast-moving jets in space, crucial to star formation and the distribution of elements needed for life. The jets of matter, expelled by stars deemed 'cosmic cannibals', were measured to travel at over one-third of the speed of light -- thanks to a groundbreaking new experiment.

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Published

Sleeping supermassive black holes awakened briefly by shredded stars      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Astronomers have concluded that an obscure class of galaxies known as Compact Symmetric Objects, or CSOs, are not young as previously thought but rather lead relatively short lives.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

New testing approach improves detection of rare but emerging Powassan virus spread by deer ticks      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have come up with a new, more accurate method for detecting in ticks the emerging Powassan virus, which can cause life-threatening neuroinvasive disease, including encephalitis and meningitis.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Silicon spikes take out 96% of virus particles      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international research team has designed and manufactured a virus-killing surface that could help control disease spread in hospitals, labs and other high-risk environments.

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Published

Tiniest 'starquake' ever detected      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An orange dwarf star has yielded the tiniest 'starquakes' ever recorded, measured by an international team of scientists.

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New roadmap to prevent pandemics centers on protecting biodiversity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international team of 25 scientists has proposed a roadmap for how to prevent the next pandemic by conserving natural areas and promoting biodiversity, thereby providing animals with enough food, safe havens and distance to limit contact and the transfer of pathogens to humans.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Novel electrochemical sensor detects dangerous bacteria      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a novel sensor for the detection of bacteria. It is based on a chip with an innovative surface coating. This ensures that only very specific microorganisms adhere to the sensor -- such as certain pathogens. The larger the number of organisms, the stronger the electric signal generated by the chip. In this way, the sensor is able not only to detect dangerous bacteria with a high level of sensitivity but also to determine their concentration.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

GPT-4 for identifying cell types in single cells matches and sometimes outperforms expert methods      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

GPT-4 can accurately interpret types of cells important for the analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing -- a sequencing process fundamental to interpreting cell types -- with high consistency compared to that of time-consuming manual annotation by human experts of gene information.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Breakthrough antibiotic shows promise against obstinate mycobacterial infections      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of scientists has developed a novel antibiotic named COE-PNH2 that is capable of combating hard-to-treat mycobacterial lung infections. Such infections, which are notorious for resisting conventional treatment, pose a serious health threat, especially to the elderly and those with underlying conditions.

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Astronomers discover 49 new galaxies in under three hours      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New work aimed to study the star-forming gas in a single radio galaxy. Although the team didn't find any star-forming gas in the galaxy they were studying, they instead discovered other galaxies while inspecting the data. In total, the gas of 49 galaxies was detected.

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Published

Researchers discover evolutionary 'tipping point' in fungi      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have found a 'tipping point' in the evolution of fungi that throttles their growth and sculpts their shapes. The findings demonstrate how small changes in environmental factors can lead to huge changes in evolutionary outcomes.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Natural recycling at the origin of life      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

How was complex life able to develop on the inhospitable early Earth? At the beginning there must have been ribonucleic acid (RNA) to carry the first genetic information. To build up complexity in their sequences, these biomolecules need to release water. On the early Earth, which was largely covered in seawater, that was not so easy to do.