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Categories: Biology: Developmental, Geoscience: Earthquakes
Published Surprising discovery of low-noise genes



While engaging in cell division research, researchers made a surprisingly quiet discovery. When cells express RNA, there is always some fluctuation, or noise, in how much RNA is produced. The scientists found several genes whose noise dips below a previously established threshold, known as the noise floor, during expression.
Published The 'unknome': A database of human genes we know almost nothing about



Researchers hope that a new, publicly available database they have created will shrink, not grow, over time. That's because it is a compendium of the thousands of understudied proteins encoded by genes in the human genome, whose existence is known but whose functions are mostly not.
Published Mineralization of bone matrix regulates tumor cell growth



Tumor cells are known to be fickle sleeper agents, often lying dormant in distant tissues for years before reactivating and forming metastasis. Numerous factors have been studied to understand why the activation occurs, from cells and molecules to other components in the so-called tissue microenvironment.
Published Astonishing complexity of bacterial circadian clocks



Bacteria make up more than 10% of all living things but until recently we had little realization that, as in humans, soil bacteria have internal clocks that synchronize their activities with the 24-hour cycles of day and night on Earth. New research shows just how complex and sophisticated these bacterial circadian clocks are, clearing the way for an exciting new phase of study.
Published Parasites of viruses drive superbug evolution



Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism by which bacteria share their genetic material through virus parasites. The insights could help scientists to better understand how bacteria rapidly adapt and evolve, and how they become more virulent and resistant to antibiotics.
Published Study finds a surprising new role for a major immune regulator



The immune regulatory protein STING has a previously unknown function: acting as an ion channel that allows protons to leak into cells. This discovery makes it the first human immune sensor that can translate danger signals into ion flow.
Published DNA tilts and stretches underlie differences in mutation rates across genomes



Researchers have changed the way to look at DNA. They show that DNA is much more than a linear sequence of building blocks; it has a 3D structure that influences the variation of human genome-wide mutation rates meaningfully and consistently, and this is likely conserved among species.
Published Fiber optic cables detect and characterize earthquakes



The same fiber optic networks that provide internet can simultaneously act as earthquake sensors, as demonstrated in a new study.
Published Scientists develop gene-editing technology that eliminates EV-A71 RNA viruses



A team of scientists has made an important breakthrough in the fight against RNA viruses that cause human diseases and pandemics.
Published Organoids revolutionize research on respiratory infections



In a breakthrough for bioengineering, researchers have developed organoids that can model the human respiratory tract. The organoids, called AirGels, allow them to uncover the mechanism by which antibiotic-resistant pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa infect the respiratory tract.
Published California's winter waves may be increasing under climate change



A new study uses nearly a century of data to show that the average heights of winter waves along the California coast have increased as climate change has heated up the planet.
Published How flies develop sight: Scientists use single-cell sequencing to identify cell types in the visual system



Researchers have discovered new cell types in the visual system of flies, made possible by their creation of a tool that finds and labels neurons during development. The study combines single-cell sequencing data with a novel algorithm to identify pairs of genes that point to previously unknown cells in the brains of fruit flies.
Published How to distinguish slow and fast earthquakes



Slow earthquakes are slow-slip phenomena that last many days or months, and you barely notice them. In 2007, researchers proposed how the magnitude and duration of earthquakes vary, which can help differentiate slow and fast earthquakes. Seismologists now bolster the proposed relation with more data. They suggest the presence of a speed limit to slow earthquakes and reveal physical processes that differentiate slow and fast earthquakes. Since slow earthquakes could indicate future fast earthquakes, monitoring and understanding them helps accurately forecast devastating earthquakes and tsunamis.
Published Scientists discover secret of virgin birth, and switch on the ability in female flies



Scientists have pinpointed a genetic cause for virgin birth for the first time, and once switched on the ability is passed down through generations of females.
Published Cell biology: How cellular powerhouses call for help when under stress



Originally, the powerhouses of higher cells, the mitochondria, were independent organisms. Researchers have investigated to what extent their metabolism has blended with that of their host cells in the course of evolution, using the example of a mitochondrial stress response. They have discovered that mitochondria send two different biochemical signals. These are processed together in the cell and trigger a support mechanism to restore cellular balance (homeostasis).
Published Alternative cellular 'fuels' boost immunity



A metabolic by-product that is more prevalent during fasting may supercharge immune cells as they fight infection and disease, reports an early stage study. The findings may pave the way for future personalized dietary recommendations to augment treatments for infection, cancer and other diseases.
Published Bees and wasps use the same architectural solutions to join large hexagons to small hexagons



Bees and wasps have converged on the same architectural solutions to nest-building problems, according to new research.
Published Researchers develop 'in vivo' RNA-based gene editing model for blood disorders



In a step forward in the development of genetic medicines, researchers have developed a proof-of-concept model for delivering gene editing tools to treat blood disorders, allowing for the modification of diseased blood cells directly within the body. If translated into the clinic, this approach could expand access and reduce the cost of gene therapies for blood disorders, many of which currently require patients receive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.
Published Fast electrical signals mapped in plants with new bioelectronic technology



What happens inside the carnivorous plant Venus Flytrap when it catches an insect? New technology has led to discoveries about the electrical signalling that causes the trap to snap shut. Bioelectronic technology enables advanced research into how plants react to their surroundings, and to stress.
Published Lifespan of aging science's model organism driven by reproductive self-destruction



The lifespan of a small roundworm that has been used as a key model organism in aging research is limited by how it self-sacrifices to feed its young, finds a new study.