Showing 20 articles starting at article 741
< Previous 20 articles Next 20 articles >
Categories: Biology: Biotechnology, Offbeat: Earth and Climate
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 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.
Published 'Cooling glass' blasts building heat into space



Researchers aiming to combat rising global temperatures have developed a new 'cooling glass' that can turn down the heat indoors without electricity by drawing on the cold depths of space. The new technology, a microporous glass coating, can lower the temperature of the material beneath it by 3.5 degrees Celsius at noon, and has the potential to reduce a mid-rise apartment building's yearly carbon emissions by 10 percent.
Published Some of today's earthquakes may be aftershocks from quakes in the 1800s



In the 1800s, some of the strongest earthquakes in recorded U.S. history struck North America's continental interior. Almost two centuries later, the central and eastern United States may still be experiencing aftershocks from those events, a new study finds.
Published New discovery on how green algae count cell divisions illuminates key step needed for the evolution of multicellular life



An international research team has made an unexpected discovery of a biased counting mechanism used by the single-celled green alga Chlamydomonas to control cell division.
Published No scientific evidence for cognitively advanced behaviors and symbolism by Homo naledi



A new study casts doubt on claims that Homo naledi, a small-brained hominin dating to between 335-241,000 years ago, deliberately buried their dead and produced rock art in Rising Star Cave, South Africa. Recent articles suggested the recent excavations at the Rising Star Cave system provided evidence of at least three burial features, two in the Dinaledi Chamber and a third in the Hill Antechamber cavity. The group of experts have now called for a deeper dig into the science behind the findings.
Published Yucatán's underwater caves host diverse microbial communities



With help from an experienced underwater cave-diving team, researchers have constructed the most complete map to date of the microbial communities living in the submerged labyrinths beneath Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Researchers found the cave system's microbiome is distinct from the nearby sea, and microbial communities vary between cave systems forming distinct 'neighborhoods.'
Published New work sheds light on inner working of cells



New research provides a deeper understanding of the way components within cells are interconnected. Through cellular visualization using SRS microscopy, researchers have addressed the challenge of attaining clear images of individual processes.
Published Yeast cells can produce drugs for treatment of psychotic disorders



An international team of researchers has demonstrated that genetically engineered yeast cells can produce the natural plant product alstonine, which has shown positive effects in treating schizophrenia.
Published Hummingbirds' unique sideways flutter gets them through small apertures



Hummingbirds are highly maneuverable fliers, flitting forward and backward as they home in on flowers. But in the dense foliage many inhabit, they often encounter gaps that are too narrow for their wingspan. Since they can't bend their wings in flight, how do they get through? Researchers used high-speed cameras to capture their movements, discovering two unique strategies: they sidle through while fluttering, or fold their wings in a tuck and glide.
Published Found at last: Bizarre, egg-laying mammal finally rediscovered after 60 years



A long-beaked echidna named after Sir David Attenborough and last seen by scientists in 1961 has been photographed for the first time in an Indonesian tropical forest. An international team of researchers worked with local communities to deploy over 80 camera traps to film the elusive animal. Besides rediscovering the echidna, the team uncovered a wealth of species completely new to science, including beetles, spiders, and a remarkable tree-dwelling shrimp.
Published Team creates synthetic enzymes to unravel molecular mysteries



A bioengineer has developed synthetic enzymes that can control the behavior of the signaling protein Vg1, which plays a key role in the development of muscle, bone and blood in vertebrate embryos. The team of researchers is using a new approach, called the Synthetic Processing (SynPro) system, in zebrafish to study how Vg1 is formed. By learning the molecular rules of signal formation in a developing animal, researchers aim to engineer mechanisms -- such as giving cells new instructions -- that could play a role in treating or preventing disease.
Published New way to count microbes speeds research, cuts waste, could lead to new antibiotics



Researchers have developed a new way of counting microorganisms that works as much as 36 times faster than conventional methods, cuts plastic use more than 15-fold and substantially decreases the cost and carbon footprint of biomedical research. The technique could revolutionize the way microbiology experiments are conducted, allowing researchers to test potential new antibiotics in a fraction of the time.
Published Scientists use quantum biology, AI to sharpen genome editing tool



Scientists used their expertise in quantum biology, artificial intelligence and bioengineering to improve how CRISPR Cas9 genome editing tools work on organisms like microbes that can be modified to produce renewable fuels and chemicals.
Published Barnacle bends shape to fend off warm-water sea snails on the move



Some barnacles are 'morphing' to protect themselves from predatory warm-water sea snails, which are expanding into their territory due to climate change.
Published A breath of fresh air keeps drug-producing cells alive longer



Researchers have developed a novel device that produces oxygen inside of a 'living pharmacy' implant in order to keep cells alive inside the self-contained device. The device produses oxygen through a smart, energy-efficient version of water splitting. In new experiments, the novel device kept cells (70-80%) alive for close to a month in low oxygen conditions in vitro, or weeks in vivo.
Published First live birth of a chimeric monkey using embryonic stem cell lines



A team of researchers has reported for the first time the live birth of a monkey that contains a high proportion of cells derived from a monkey stem cell line. This 'chimeric' monkey is composed of cells that originate from two genetically distinct embryos of the same species of monkey. This has previously been demonstrated in rats and mice but, until now, has not been possible in other species, including non-human primates.
Published Zen and the art of mitochondrial maintenance: The machinery of death makes a healthier life



While we all aspire for a long lifespan, what is most coveted is a long period of vigor and health, or 'healthspan,' that precedes the inevitable decline of advancing age. Researchers have discovered that instruments of death that cells use to commit suicide when things go wrong contribute to making a longer and healthier life by revitalizing the specialized cellular compartments called mitochondria.
Published Temperature increase triggers viral infection



Researchers have mapped on an atomic level what happens in a virus particle when the temperature is raised.
Published How animals get their stripes and spots



New research helps explain how sharp patterns form on zebras, leopards, tropical fish and other creatures. Their findings could inform the development of new high-tech materials and drugs.