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Categories: Biology: General, Mathematics: Puzzles
Published Plants that survived dinosaur extinction pulled nitrogen from air



Ancient cycad lineages that survived the extinction of the dinosaurs may have done so by relying on symbiotic bacteria in their roots to fix atmospheric nitrogen. The finding came from an effort to understand ancient atmospheres, but became an insight into plant evolution instead.
Published How bacteria recognize viral invasion and activate immune defenses



Bacteria have an array of strategies to counter viral invasion, but how they first spot a stranger in their midst has long been a mystery.
Published Multiple evolutionary trajectories in aquatic crocodiles



In the geological past, several groups of crocodiles evolved towards a morphology adapted to marine life. However, the extent of these adaptations and their evolutionary trajectories remained unknown. An exhaustive study of their morphology has now shed light on the evolutionary mechanisms at work, thanks to three-dimensional reconstructions.
Published Pseudoscorpions of Israel: Two new family records discovered



A recent study has unveiled two previously undiscovered families of Pseudoscorpions in Israel. Positioned at the convergence of three continents, Israel's distinct biodiversity has undergone systematic revision, resulting in an updated checklist featuring 61 pseudoscorpion species across 28 genera and fourteen families. This pioneering research includes the introduction of the first illustrated identification key, based on morphological characters, accompanied by distribution maps. Notably, the study highlights the discovery of two new family records in Israel -- Syarinidae and Cheiridiidae -- both with a cosmopolitan distribution, including in the Mediterranean region. The findings significantly enhance our comprehension of regional biodiversity, offering crucial resources for forthcoming ecological, taxonomical and conservation endeavors. Furthermore, several undescribed species identified in this paper will be comprehensively described in separate publications, further advancing the field of pseudoscorpion taxonomy.
Published New scientific study reveals the crucial role of herbivorous fishes and sea urchins in restoring Caribbean coral reefs



A new study presents crucial findings on the feeding preferences of herbivorous fishes and the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in Little Cayman. The study sheds new light on the dynamics of these herbivores and their impact on the resilience of Caribbean coral reefs.
Published Surveilling wetlands for infectious bird flu -- and finding it



Recently, morning omelets and holiday dinners have gotten more expensive. One likely cause is bird flu, outbreaks of which led to the deaths of millions of chickens and turkeys from infection or culling in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and which still demands rigorous monitoring of wild populations. Now, researchers have developed a method that detected infectious bird flu virus in wetlands frequented by waterfowl.
Published Colliding ribosomes activate RNA repair



Researchers discover how ribosomes contribute to the recognition and removal of RNA crosslinking damage.
Published Unexpected discovery opens bioengineering opportunities for human and plant health



An unexpected genetic discovery in wheat has led to opportunities for metabolic engineering of versatile compounds with potential to improve its nutritional qualities and resilience to disease.
Published Genetic discovery promises high-iron vegetables and cereals



A genetic breakthrough has opened new opportunities for iron-fortified vegetables and cereal crops to help address the global health issue of anemia.
Published Novel C. diff structures are required for infection, offer new therapeutic targets



Newly discovered iron storage 'ferrosomes' inside the bacterium C. diff -- the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections -- are important for infection in an animal model and could offer new targets for antibacterial drugs. They also represent a rare demonstration of a membrane-bound structure inside a pathogenic bacterium, upsetting the biological dogma that bacteria do not contain organelles.
Published New deep learning AI tool helps ecologists monitor rare birds through their songs



Researchers have developed a new deep learning AI tool that generates life-like birdsongs to train bird identification tools, helping ecologists to monitor rare species in the wild.
Published Previously unknown luminescence revealed in ten deep sea species and an order of sea cucumbers



Researchers present evidence of previously unknown luminosity in 10 deep-sea species, suggesting underestimated diversity. These new discoveries include a member of the order Molpadia, which was previously thought not to be luminescent. The authors stress the importance of considering the ecological role of bioluminesence and the need for conservation.
Published Dangerous bee virus less deadly in at least one US forest



Researchers have found that the deadly deformed wing virus (DMV) in bees may have evolved to be less deadly in at least one U.S. forest. The findings could have implications for preventing or treating the virus in managed colonies, researchers said.
Published Geese 'keep calm and carry on' after deaths in the flock



Canada geese strengthen existing friendships and forge a few new connections after losing close associates from their flock, new research shows.
Published Non-native species likely to continue spreading in North America, Australia and Europe



Naturalized species, which are not native but have established themselves in new locations, have the potential to spread even further to suitable habitats in many parts of the world, reports a new study.
Published Shedding new light on sugars, the 'dark matter' of cellular biology



Chemists have developed a new tool for detecting interactions between sugars and lectins, a discovery that could help in the fight against diseases like cancer.
Published Forecasting microbiomes for sustainability and health



Microbial communities, or microbiomes, are essential for safeguarding human and environmental health through the most widely used biotechnological process on our planet: biological wastewater treatment. However, the process itself is subject to constant changes, difficult to sustain over long periods of time and emits significant amounts of greenhouse gases.
Published Keep it secret: Cloud data storage security approach taps quantum physics



Distributed cloud storage is a hot topic for security researchers, and a team is now merging quantum physics with mature cryptography and storage techniques to achieve a cost-effective cloud storage solution.
Published How tiny hinges bend the infection-spreading spikes of a coronavirus



Far from being stiff and pointy, a coronavirus's infectious spikes are shaped like chicken drumsticks with the meaty part facing out, and the meaty part can tilt every which way on its slender stalk. A new study suggests that disabling those hinges could block infection.
Published A tale of two proteins: Fundamental research could make growing better crops like clockwork



Rhomboid-like protein 10, or RBL10, is thought to be an enzyme that degrades other proteins in the chloroplast membrane, but its function is largely unknown. Researchers are studying how RBL10 affects photosynthetic membrane lipid metabolism, an essential process in photosynthesis.