Showing 20 articles starting at article 841
< Previous 20 articles Next 20 articles >
Categories: Biology: Botany, Space: General
Published Matter comprises of 31% of the total amount of matter and energy in the universe


One of the most interesting and important questions in cosmology is, 'How much matter exists in the universe?' An international team has now succeeded in measuring the total amount of matter for the second time. The team determined that matter makes up 31% of the total amount of matter and energy in the universe, with the remainder consisting of dark energy.
Published Discovery of two potential Polar Ring galaxies suggests these stunning rare clusters might be more common than previously believed


These new detections suggest polar ring galaxies might be more common than previously believed.
Published Nature's great survivors: Flowering plants survived the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs



A new study by researchers from the University of Bath (UK) and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico) shows that flowering plants escaped relatively unscathed from the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Whilst they suffered some species loss, the devastating event helped flowering plants become the dominant type of plant today.
Published Disease-resistant rice and wheat plants may modulate disease susceptibility in their neighbors



Growing several plant varieties in the same field for disease resistance is a longstanding agricultural practice, but can have unpredictable results. A study suggests that plant-to-plant interactions may confer disease immunity in both wheat and rice.
Published Dark matter halos measured around ancient quasars


At the center of every galaxy is a supermassive black hole. Beyond a certain size, these become active, emitting huge amounts of radiation, and are then called quasars. It is thought these are activated by the presence of massive dark matter halos (DMH) surrounding the galaxy, directing matter towards the center, feeding the black hole. A team has now surveyed hundreds of ancient quasars and found this behavior is very consistent throughout history. This is surprising, as many large-scale processes show variation throughout the life of the universe, so the mechanism of quasar activation could have implications for the evolution of the entire universe.
Published Auxin signaling pathway controls root hair formation for nitrogen uptake



Root hairs represent a low-cost strategy to enhance nutrient uptake because they can significantly increase the nutrient-acquiring surface of plant roots. While primary and lateral roots are stimulated to elongate when plants grow under mild nitrogen deficiency, the existence of such a foraging response for root hairs and its underlying regulatory mechanism remain elusive. Now, researchers have revealed a framework composed of specific molecular players meditating auxin synthesis, transport and signaling that triggers root hair elongation for nitrogen acquisition.
Published The universe caught suppressing cosmic structure growth


As the universe evolves, scientists expect large cosmic structures to grow at a certain rate: dense regions such as galaxy clusters would grow denser, while the void of space would grow emptier.
Published Water world? Methane, carbon dioxide in atmosphere of massive exoplanet


A new investigation with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope into K2-18 b, an exoplanet 8.6 times as massive as Earth, has revealed the presence of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide. Webb's discovery adds to recent studies suggesting that K2-18 b could be a Hycean exoplanet, one which has the potential to possess a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surface.
Published New insights into neutrino interactions



Elusive fundamental particles called neutrinos are predicted to interact unexpectedly with photons under extreme conditions.
Published Contours that kill: Geometry influences prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants



Researchers have shown that the shape, size, and geometry of carnivorous pitcher plants determines the type of prey they trap.
Published Study hints at the existence of the closest black holes to Earth in the Hyades star cluster


A new article hints at the existence of several black holes in the Hyades cluster -- the closest open cluster to our solar system -- which would make them the closest black holes to Earth ever detected.
Published Bees struggle to find flowers because of air pollution



A new study has found that air pollution is preventing pollinators finding flowers because it degrades the scent.
Published Artificial intelligence could help build pollen jigsaw of present and ancient flora



An emerging system which combines rapid imaging with artificial intelligence could help scientists build a comprehensive picture of present and historic environmental change -- by swiftly and accurately analyzing pollen.
Published How to prevent biofilms in space



In experiments aboard the International Space Station, a surface treatment developed engineers prevented the growth of microbial biofims. These films can damage equipment and potentially cause illness.
Published Ravenous black hole consumes three Earths'-worth of star every time it passes


Massive burst of X-rays detected by astronomers indicates material three times the mass of Earth burning up in a black hole. They observed a star like our own Sun being eaten away every time it orbits close. First time a Sun-like star being repeatedly disrupted by a low mass black hole has been seen, opening the possibility of a range of star and black hole combinations to be discovered.
Published New cosmological constraints on the nature of dark matter


New research has revealed the distribution of dark matter in never before seen detail, down to a scale of 30,000 light-years. The observed distribution fluctuations provide better constraints on the nature of dark matter.
Published Capturing carbon in savannas: New research examines role of grasses for controlling climate change


New research shows that, in addition to trees, humble grasses also play an essential role in capturing carbon.
Published On the track of elusive neutrinos


Scientists have been able to show that the CRES method is suitable for determining the neutrino mass and has already set an upper limit for this fundamental quantity in a first measurement -- an important milestone has thus been reached.
Published How does the social behavior of wheat plants influence grain production?



Researchers have investigated how the behavior of an individual wheat plant under limiting light conditions influences the performance of the whole community. They assessed morphological and biomass phenotypes of single plants grown in mixtures under sunlight and a simulated canopy shade, and the relevance of these phenotypes for the monoculture community in the field.
Published Switching from harmful to helpful fungi



Mold and diseases caused by fungi can greatly impact the shelf life of fruit and vegetables. However, some fungi benefit their hosts by aiding plant survival. Colletotrichum tofieldiae (Ct) is a root mold which typically supports continued plant development even when the plant is starved of phosphorus, an important nutrient for photosynthesis and growth. Researchers studied a unique pathogenic strain of the fungi, called Ct3, which conversely inhibits plant growth.