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

Possible alternative to antibiotics produced by bacteria      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Many bacteria produce substances to gain an advantage over competitors in their highly competitive natural environment. Researchers have discovered a new so-called lantibiotic, namely epilancin A37. It is produced by staphylococci that colonize the skin and acts specifically against their main competitors there, the corynebacteria. This specificity is presumably mediated by a very special mechanism of action, which the researchers were able to decipher in detail.

Ecology: General Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

How can forests be reforested in a climate-friendly way?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Europe's forests have already been severely affected by climate change. Thousands of hectares of trees have already died due to drought and bark beetles. Scientists have now investigated which trees can be used for reforestation. Their findings: only a few tree species are fit for the future, such as English oak in the UK. However, mixed forests are important for the survival of forests, otherwise the forest ecosystem as a whole could be weakened.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General
Published

Study reveals cancer vulnerabilities in popular dog breeds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Medium-sized dogs have a higher risk of developing cancer than the very largest or smallest breeds, according to a new study.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Fixin' to be flexitarian: Scrap fish and invasive species can liven up vegetables      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Greening the way we eat needn't mean going vegetarian. A healthy, more realistic solution is to adopt a flexitarian diet where seafoods add umami to 'boring' vegetables. A gastrophysicist puts mathematical equations to work in calculating the umami potential of everything from seaweed and shrimp paste to mussels and mackerel.

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

Study details a common bacterial defense against viral infection      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers report on the molecular assembly of one of the most common anti-phage systems -- from the family of proteins called Gabija -- that is estimated to be used by at least 8.5%, and up to 18%, of all bacteria species on Earth.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Mobile device location data is already used by private companies, so why not for studying human-wildlife interactions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

When did you last go anywhere without your cell phone? From maps and weather apps to social media platforms, we give consent for our phones to trace our footsteps and behavior. These curated mobility data are often used for personalized advertisements. Scientists now argue mobility data can offer so much more -- it is key to understanding human-wildlife interactions for guiding policy decisions on sustainability-related issues and should be free and accessible for research.

Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Energy trades could help resolve Nile conflict      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have shed light on a new, transformative approach that could help resolve a dispute over the Nile river's water resources.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Sea Life
Published

Florida dolphin found with highly pathogenic avian flu      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Report details first-ever finding of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in North American dolphin.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

How geography acts as a structural determinant of health      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In unincorporated communities in the United States-Mexico borderlands, historically and socially marginalized populations become invisible to the healthcare system, showing that geography acts as a structural determinant of health for low-income populations.

Anthropology: Cultures Anthropology: General Archaeology: General Biology: Biochemistry Ecology: Endangered Species Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Fossils
Published

Ancient Maya blessed their ballcourts      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Using environmental DNA analysis, an international team of researchers identified a collection of plants used in ceremonial rituals in the ancient Maya city of Yaxnohcah in Mexico. The plants, known for their religious associations and medicinal properties, were discovered beneath a plaza floor where a ballcourt was built.

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

Surprising evolutionary pattern in yeast study      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Research study reports intriguing findings made through innovative artificial intelligence analysis about yeasts -- small fungi that are key contributors to biotechnology, food production, and human health. These findings on simple yeast organisms not only challenge widely accepted ideas about yeast evolution, but also provides access to an incredibly rich yeast analysis dataset that could have major implications for future evolutionary biology and bioinformatics research for years to come.

Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Scientists capture X-rays from upward positive lightning      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have for the first time recorded X-rays being produced at the beginning of upward positive lightning flashes; an observation that gives important insight into the origins of this rare -- and particularly dangerous -- form of lightning.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Sea Life
Published

Could fishponds help with Hawaii's food sustainability?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Indigenous aquaculture systems in Hawaii, known as loko i'a or fishponds, can increase the amount of fish and fisheries harvested both inside and outside of the pond. Today, aquaculture supplies less than 1% of Hawaii's 70 million pounds of locally available seafood, but revitalization of loko i'a has the potential to significantly increase locally available seafood.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Genetic hope in fight against devastating wheat disease      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Fungal disease Fusarium head blight (FHB) is on the rise due to increasingly humid conditions induced by climate change during the wheat growing season, but a fundamental discovery could help reduce its economic harm.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Recovering phosphorus from sewage sludge ash      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Chemical and heat treatment of sewage sludge can recover phosphorus in a process that could help address the problem of diminishing supplies of phosphorus ores.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

New offshore wind turbines can take away energy from existing ones      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Interactions between wind turbines could reduce power output by 30% in proposed offshore wind farm areas along the East Coast, new research has found. In all, the farms could still meet 60% of the electricity demand of New England.

Biology: Biochemistry
Published

Shoulder surgeons should rethink a common practice, study suggests      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Many surgeons remove the bursa when repairing rotator cuff injuries, but a new animal study suggests that the small tissue helps with healing.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Endangered Species Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Barley plants fine-tune their root microbial communities through sugary secretions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Different types of barley recruit distinct communities of soil microbes to grow around their roots by releasing a custom mix of sugars and other compounds, according to a new study.

Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: General Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by mid-century      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Global biodiversity has declined between 2% and 11% during the 20th century due to land-use change alone, according to a large multi-model study. Projections show climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by the mid-21st century.