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Categories: Biology: Evolutionary, Engineering: Graphene
Published Recyclable mobile phone batteries a step closer with rust-busting invention
(via sciencedaily.com) Mobile phone batteries with a lifetime up to three times longer than today's technology could be a reality thanks to a recent innovation.
Published DNA from domesticated chickens is tainting genomes of wild red junglefowl, study finds
(via sciencedaily.com) The red junglefowl -- the wild ancestor of the chicken -- is losing its genetic diversity by interbreeding with domesticated birds, according to a new study.
Published Electronic nose: Sensing the odor molecules on graphene surface layered with self-assembled peptides
(via sciencedaily.com) Graphene-based olfactory sensors that can detect odor molecules based on the design of peptide sequences were recently demonstrated. The findings indicated that graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) functionalized with designable peptides can be used to develop electronic devices that mimic olfactory receptors and emulate the sense of smell by selectively detecting odor molecules.
Published Plague trackers: Researchers cover thousands of years in a quest to understand the elusive origins of the Black Death
(via sciencedaily.com) Seeking to better understand more about the origins and movement of bubonic plague, in ancient and contemporary times, researchers have completed a painstaking granular examination of hundreds of modern and ancient genome sequences, creating the largest analysis of its kind.
Published Black-legged tick genome deciphered
(via sciencedaily.com) Scientists have deciphered a comprehensive, continuous genome for a parasite responsible for transmitting Lyme disease and other serious infections to hundreds of thousands of Americans yearly. With their newly described genome for the black-legged tick, or deer tick, the researchers identified thousands of novel genes and new protein functions, including proteins associated with tick immunity, disease transmission and developmental stages.
Published Madagascar mouse lemur retroviruses are diverse and surprisingly similar to ones found in polar bears or domestic sheep
(via sciencedaily.com) Madagascar is home to a unique biodiversity with a large number of endemic species, among those many lemur species, including the mouse lemurs. This diversity is also found in their retroviruses. Biologists analyzed the mouse lemur genome and identified viruses of two classes that represent ancient infections of the mouse lemur germline. The viruses now behave similarly to lemur genes and are thus called endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). It was surprising that some of the identified retroviruses are closely related to viruses found in other, very different mammals such as polar bears or domestic sheep. This suggests an intriguing and complex pattern of host switching of retroviruses, much more complex than previously thought.
Published How crocs can go hours without air: Crocodilian hemoglobin
(via sciencedaily.com) The crocodilian edition of hemoglobins -- the scuba tanks of the blood -- work so well that crocs can go hours without air. The hyper-efficiency of that adaptation has led some biologists to wonder why, of all the jawed vertebrates, crocodilians were the lone group to hit on such an optimal solution to making the most of a breath. After resurrecting the hemoglobin of ancient crocodilian ancestors, a team may have an answer.
Published Researchers' discovery of five new deep-sea squat lobster species calls for revision of current classification
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers describe five new deep-sea squat lobster species. Combining molecular data and microCT their findings show a wider species distribution range and shallower genetic diversity, calling for a revision of the current classification of squat lobsters.
Published Discovery of a new form of carbon called Long-range Ordered Porous Carbon (LOPC)
(via sciencedaily.com) The most well-known forms of carbon include graphite and diamond, but there are other more exotic nanoscale allotropes of carbon as well. These include graphene and fullerenes, which are sp2 hybridized carbon with zero (flat-shaped) or positive (sphere-shaped) curvatures. Researchers now report the discovery of a new form of carbon formed by heating fullerenes with lithium nitride.
Published Humidity may be the key to super-lubricity 'switch'
(via sciencedaily.com) A material state known as super-lubricity, where friction between two contacting surfaces nearly vanishes, is a phenomenon that materials researchers have studied for years due to the potential for reducing the energy cost and wear and tear on devices, two major drawbacks of friction. However, there are times when friction is needed within the same device, and the ability to turn super-lubricity on and off would be a boon for multiple practical engineering applications.
Published It would take 23 million years for evolution to replace Madagascar's endangered mammals
(via sciencedaily.com) 90% of the plants and animals on Madagascar are found nowhere else on Earth, but this treasure trove of evolution is under serious threat due to habitat loss, over-hunting, and climate change. In this study, researchers examined how long it took Madagascar's unique modern mammal species to emerge and estimated how long it would take for a similarly complex set of new mammal species to evolve in their place if the endangered ones went extinct: 23 million years, far longer than scientists have found for any other island.
Published Chlamydiae expand our view on how intracellular bacteria evolve
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source All chlamydiae today live inside the cells of hosts ranging from amoeba to animals. A team of scientists found that the ancestor of chlamydiae likely already lived inside host cells, but that chlamydiae infecting amoeba evolved later in ways unexpected for intracellular bacteria. The study is an important step for understanding the emergence and evolution of endosymbiotic bacteria, including human pathogens.
Published Urban lizards share genomic markers not found in forest-dwellers
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Lizards living in different cities have parallel genomic markers when compared to neighboring forest lizards, according to a new study. The genetic variations linked to urbanization underlie physical differences in the urban lizards, including longer limbs and larger toe pads that show how these lizards have evolved to adapt to city environments.
Published Smallpox has plagued humans since ancient Egyptian times, new evidence confirms
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Smallpox was once one of humanity's most devastating diseases, but its origin is shrouded in mystery. For years, scientific estimates of when the smallpox virus first emerged have been at odds with historical records. Now, a new study reveals that the virus dates back 2,000 years further than scientists have previously shown, verifying historical sources and confirming for the first time that the disease has plagued human societies since ancient times.
Published How evolution works
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source What genetic changes are responsible for the evolution of phenotypic traits? This question is not always easy to answer. A newly developed method now makes the search much easier.
Published Researchers discover new process to create freestanding membranes of 'smart' materials
(via sciencedaily.com) A team has developed a new method for making nano-membranes of 'smart' materials, which will allow scientists to harness their unique properties for use in devices such as sensors and flexible electronics.
Published Human brain organoids implanted into mouse cortex respond to visual stimuli for first time
(via sciencedaily.com) A team of engineers and neuroscientists has demonstrated for the first time that human brain organoids implanted in mice have established functional connectivity to the animals' cortex and responded to external sensory stimuli. The implanted organoids reacted to visual stimuli in the same way as surrounding tissues, an observation that researchers were able to make in real time over several months thanks to an innovative experimental setup that combines transparent graphene microelectrode arrays and two-photon imaging.
Published At the edge of graphene-based electronics
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers developed a new graphene-based nanoelectronics platform compatible with conventional microelectronics manufacturing, paving the way for a successor to silicon.
Published Lucky find! How science behind epidemics helped physicists to develop state-of-the-art conductive paint
(via sciencedaily.com) Scientists demonstrate how a highly conductive paint coating that they have developed mimics the network spread of a virus through a process called 'explosive percolation' -- a mathematical process which can also be applied to population growth, financial systems and computer networks, but which has not been seen before in materials systems. The finding was a serendipitous development as well as a scientific first for the researchers.
Published A shield for 2D materials that adds vibrations to reduce vibration problems
(via sciencedaily.com) A new study demonstrates a new, counterintuitive way to protect atomically-thin electronics -- adding vibrations, to reduce vibrations. By squeezing a liquid-metal gallium droplet, graphene devices are painted with a protective coating of gallium-oxide that can cover millimeter-wide scales, making it potentially applicable for industrial large-scale fabrication. The new technique improves device performance as well as protecting 2D materials from thermal vibration in neighboring materials.