Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Genetics
Published

Gene could unlock big wheat yields for a growing population      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A study has discovered molecular pathways regulated by a gene traditionally used to control wheat-flowering behavior could be altered to achieve greater yields.

Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Beach erosion will make Southern California coastal living five times more expensive by 2050, study predicts      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Southern California's iconic sandy coastlines are vanishing at an alarming rate, and it's a warning sign for coastal communities worldwide, new research suggests.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Nature
Published

Escaped GMO canola plants persist long-term, but may be losing their extra genes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Populations of canola plants genetically engineered to be resistant to herbicides can survive outside of farms, but may be gradually losing their engineered genes, reports a new study.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Chemist developing method to recycle more plastics      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To improve recycling rates a professor is working on new ways to separate and recycle mixed plastics.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Biology: Zoology
Published

Exploring diversity in cell division      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Animals and fungi predominantly use two different modes of cell division -- called open and closed mitosis, respectively. A new study has shown that different species of Ichthyosporea -- marine protists that are close relatives of both animals and fungi -- use either open and closed mitosis, closely correlated to whether the species has multinucleate life cycle stages. The study demonstrates the way animals do cell division might have evolved long before animals themselves did and how this is linked to an organism's life cycle.

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

Sweet move: a modified sugar enhances antisense oligonucleotide safety and efficacy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers found that adding a newly developed modified sugar, BNAP-AEO, to gapmer antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) increased their affinity for target RNAs, thus significantly enhancing their gene-silencing effects in vitro and in vivo. The BNAP-AEO modification also decreased gapmer ASO toxicity to the central nervous system (CNS), suggesting that it could improve the clinical application of ASO treatment of CNS disease.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Environmental: General Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

How the 'home' environment influences microbial interactions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study shows that real-world ocean conditions make a huge difference in how viral infection affects host bacteria. The findings indicate it is very important to study cells and virocells under nutrient conditions that more closely resemble what they encounter in nature.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Social networks can influence perception of climate-change risk      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Short but severe episodes of flooding from hurricanes in Texas and Florida triggered a nationwide increase in flood insurance sign-ups depending on how socially connected a county was to the flooded counties.

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

Cement recycling method could help solve one of the world's biggest climate challenges      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a method to produce very low emission concrete at scale -- an innovation that could be transformative in the transition to net zero. The method, which the researchers say is 'an absolute miracle', uses the electrically-powered arc furnaces used for steel recycling to simultaneously recycle cement, the carbon-hungry component of concrete.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Developmental Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

New AI accurately predicts fly behavior      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers trained an AI model to accurately predict male fruit flies' courtship behavior in response to any sight of a female. This breakthrough offers new insight into how the brain processes visual data and may someday pave the way for artificial vision technology.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Extreme temperatures may increase risk of stroke mortality, especially in low-income countries      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Extreme heat and extreme cold are both associated with increased risks of death from ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, according to a new study. The researchers found that the link between extreme temperatures and stroke mortality was stronger in low-income countries than in high-income countries.

Chemistry: General Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earthquakes Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General
Published

'Fossilizing' cracks in infrastructure creates sealing that can even survive earthquakes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a new study, a team of researchers used research on fossilizing techniques to create a new method for sealing cracks and fractures in rocks and bedrock using a 'concretion-forming resin'. This innovative technique has applications in a wide range of industries, from tunnel construction to long-term underground storage of hazardous materials.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Genetics Ecology: Endangered Species Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Roots are a key to drought-tolerant maize      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Maize can grow successfully in very different local conditions. An international study has now demonstrated the important role of the plant root system. The researchers analyzed more than 9,000 varieties in the study and were able to show that their roots varied considerably -- depending on how dry the location is where each variety was cultivated. They were also able to identify an important gene that plays a role in the plant's ability to adapt. This gene could be the key to developing varieties of maize that cope better with climate change.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Zoology Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Cuddled cows who work as therapy animals showed a strong preference for women compared to men, study finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study reveals that cows who are cuddled as therapy animals showed a strong preference for interactions with women when compared to men. In turn, the research, which opens a new era on whether some therapies may be initially stronger based upon gender and not procedure, highlighted that the women also reported greater attachment behaviors towards the steers.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General
Published

Naturally occurring substance in pomegranates can improve treatment of Alzheimer's disease      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A substance naturally occurring in i.a. pomegranates, strawberries and walnuts can improve memory and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, a new study concludes.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Marine Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Nature Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

New insights into the degradation dynamics of organic material in the seafloor      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Many processes in the deep sea are not yet well understood, and the role of microbial communities in particular is often a big unknown. This includes, for example, how organic material that sinks from the water surface to the ocean floor is metabolised -- an important building block for a better understanding of the global carbon cycle.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Sewage overflows linked to increase in gastrointestinal illnesses      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study has found that residents living in the downstream communities that border the Merrimack River are at a substantially increased risk of developing acute gastrointestinal illnesses (AGI) in the four days following large-volume combined sewer overflows (CSOs).