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Published

Unlocking supernova stardust secrets      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research has discovered a rare dust particle trapped in an ancient extra-terrestrial meteorite that was formed by a star other than our sun.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Connecting the dots to shape growth forces      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Branching patterns are prevalent in our natural environment and the human body, such as in the lungs and kidneys. For example, specific genes that express growth factor proteins are known to influence the development of the lungs' complex branches. Researchers have unveiled a regulatory system linking signal, force, and shape in mouse lung structure development. The team recognized that the signal protein ERK plays an active role in causing growing lung tissue to curve.

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

ALMA finds new molecular signposts in starburst galaxy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The ALMA radio telescope has detected more than 100 molecular species, including many indicative of different star formation and evolution processes, in a galaxy where stars are forming much more actively than in the Milky Way. This is far more molecules than were found in previous studies. Now the team will try to apply this knowledge to other galaxies.

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.

Offbeat: General Offbeat: Space Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: General Space: Structures and Features
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.

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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.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
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.

Offbeat: General Offbeat: Space Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: General Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
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.

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.

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Published

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.

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

Two of the Milky Way's earliest building blocks identified      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Astronomers have identified what could be two of the Milky Way's earliest building blocks: Named 'Shakti' and 'Shiva', these appear to be the remnants of two galaxies that merged between 12 and 13 billion years ago with an early version of the Milky Way, contributing to our home galaxy's initial growth. The new find is the astronomical equivalent of archeologists identifying traces of an initial settlement that grew into a large present-day city.

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

As we age, our cells are less likely to express longer genes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Aging may be less about specific 'aging genes' and more about how long a gene is. Many of the changes associated with aging could be occurring due to decreased expression of long genes, say researchers. A decline in the expression of long genes with age has been observed in a wide range of animals, from worms to humans, in various human cell and tissue types, and also in individuals with neurodegenerative disease. Mouse experiments show that the phenomenon can be mitigated via known anti-aging factors, including dietary restriction.

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

Research finds a direct communication path between the lungs and the brain      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research finds a direct communication path between the lungs and the brain which may change the way we treat respiratory infections and chronic conditions. The lungs are using the same sensors and neurons in the pain pathway to let the brain know there's an infection. The brain then prompts the symptoms associated with sickness. Findings indicate we may have to treat the nervous system as well as the infection.

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Published

Scientists find one of the most ancient stars that formed in another galaxy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The first generation of stars transformed the universe. Inside their cores, simple hydrogen and helium fused into a rainbow of elements. When these stars died, they exploded and sent these new elements across the universe. The iron running in your veins and the calcium in your teeth and the sodium powering your thoughts were all born in the heart of a long-dead star.

Offbeat: General Offbeat: Space Space: Astrophysics Space: General Space: Structures and Features
Published

Quantum tornado provides gateway to understanding black holes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have created a giant quantum vortex to mimic a black hole in superfluid helium that has allowed them to see in greater detail how analogue black holes behave and interact with their surroundings.

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

Astrophysicist's research could provide a hint in the search for dark matter      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Dark matter is one of science's greatest mysteries. Although it is believed to make up about 85 percent of the cosmos, scientists know very little about its fundamental nature. Research provides some of the most stringent constraints on the nature of dark matter yet. It also revealed a small hint of a signal that, if real, could be confirmed in the next decade or so.

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Published

Decoding the Easter Bunny -- an eastern Finnish brown hare to represent the standard for the species' genome      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Biologists have published a chromosomally assembled reference genome for the European brown hare. The genome consists of 2.9 billion base pairs, which form 23 autosomal chromosomes, and X and Y sex chromosomes. The timing of the genome release is very appropriate as the brown hare also represents the original Easter Bunny familiar from European folklore.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Animals Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Genes identified that allow bacteria to thrive despite toxic heavy metal in soil      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Some soil bacteria can acquire sets of genes that enable them to pump the heavy metal nickel out of their systems, a study has found. This enables the bacteria to not only thrive in otherwise toxic soils but help plants grow there as well. A research team pinpointed a set of genes in wild soil bacteria that allows them to do this in serpentine soils which have naturally high concentrations of toxic nickel. The genetic discovery could help inform future bioremediation efforts that seek to return plants to polluted soils.