Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

The scary, yet promising world of phages, the pathogen's pathogen      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers are unlocking the mystery of how bacteria harness viruses to wipe out the competition. The answers could help spur the development of alternatives to antibiotics.

Biology: Microbiology Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Ingestible microbiome sampling pill technology advances      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Significant progress has been made in the development of a small device, about the size of a vitamin pill, that can be swallowed and passed through the gastrointestinal tract to sample and help identify the full inventory of microbiome bacteria in an individual.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Batteries Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology
Published

A 'liquid battery' advance      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team aims to improve options for renewable energy storage through work on an emerging technology -- liquids for hydrogen storage.

Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Physics: Optics
Published

Scientists adapt astronomy method to unblur microscopy images      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have adapted a class of techniques employed in astronomy to unblur images of far-away galaxies for use in the life sciences, providing biologists with a faster and cheaper way to get clearer and sharper microscopy images.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Uncovering the nature of emergent magnetic monopoles      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To understand the unique physical phenomena associated with the properties of magnetic hedgehogs and antihedgehogs, which behave as virtual magnetic monopoles and antimonopoles respectively, it is essential to study their intrinsic excitations. In a new study, researchers revealed the dynamical nature of collective excitation modes in hedgehog lattices in itinerant chiral magnets. Their findings serve as the foundation for studying the dynamics of emergent magnetic monopoles in magnets.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Nasal microbiota is potential diagnostic biomarker for sepsis      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study shows that analyzing nasal microbiota outperforms gut microbiota analysis to predict sepsis in the ICU.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Microbiology
Published

Study shows role of fathers in seeding the microbiota of newborns and confirms benefits of maternal fecal microbiota transplants      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A mother's contribution to the makeup of a newborn baby's microbiota has been well documented. Now a new article shows the important contributions that fathers make to the composition of microorganisms colonizing a baby's gut as well. Furthermore, the study confirmed that maternal fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) in babies born by caesarean section can help to correct the microbiota disturbances often observed in babies who are not born vaginally.

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

New technique reveals earliest signs of genetic mutations      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Mutations are changes in the molecular 'letters' that make up the DNA code, the blueprint for all living cells. Some of these changes can have little effect, but others can lead to diseases, including cancer. Now, a new study introduces an original technique, called HiDEF-seq, that can accurately detect the early molecular changes in DNA code that precede mutations.

Anthropology: General Archaeology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Origin and spread of malaria      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have reconstructed the evolutionary history and global spread of malaria over the past 5,500 years, identifying trade, warfare, and colonialism as major catalysts for its dispersal.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

3D-printed mini-actuators can move small soft robots, lock them into new shapes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have demonstrated miniature soft hydraulic actuators that can be used to control the deformation and motion of soft robots that are less than a millimeter thick. The researchers have also demonstrated that this technique works with shape memory materials, allowing users to repeatedly lock the soft robots into a desired shape and return to the original shape as needed.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Scientists engineer yellow-seeded camelina with high oil output      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Using tools of modern genetics, plant biochemists have produced a new high-yielding oilseed crop variety -- a yellow-seeded variety of Camelina sativa, a close relative of canola, that accumulates 21.4% more oil than ordinary camelina.

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

Soil bacteria respire more CO2 after sugar-free meals      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers tracked how plant matter moves through bacteria's metabolism. Microbes respire three times as much carbon dioxide (CO2) from non-sugar carbons from lignin compared to sugar from cellulose. Although microbes consume both types of plant matter at the same time, each type enters a different metabolic pathway. Findings could improve predictions of how climate-dependent changes in soil carbon types will affect microbial CO2 production.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Virus-like nanoparticles control the multicellular organization and reproduction of host bacteria      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered that virus-like nanoparticles can promote the multicellular organization and reproduction of host bacteria. These particles, which are evolutionarily related to phages (viruses that infect bacteria), contain an enzyme that helps shape the multicellular architecture and ultimately enhances morphological differentiation.

Anthropology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Geochemistry Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Fossils
Published

Scientists unlock secrets of how archaea, the third domain of life, makes energy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international scientific team has redefined our understanding of archaea, a microbial ancestor to humans from two billion years ago, by showing how they use hydrogen gas. The findings explain how these tiny lifeforms make energy by consuming and producing hydrogen. This simple but dependable strategy has allowed them to thrive in some of Earth's most hostile environments for billions of years.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Technology Physics: General
Published

Semiconductor doping and electronic devices: Heating gallium nitride and magnesium forms superlattice      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A study revealed that a simple thermal reaction of gallium nitride with metallic magnesium results in the formation of a distinctive superlattice structure. This represents the first time researchers have identified the insertion of 2D metal layers into a bulk semiconductor. By carefully observing materials through various cutting-edge characterization techniques, the researchers uncovered new insights into the process of semiconductor doping and elastic strain engineering.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Batteries
Published

Looking for a new battery platform? Focus on the essentials      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In facing life's many challenges, we often opt for complex approaches to finding solutions. Yet, upon closer examination, the answers are often simpler than we expect, rooted in the core "essence" of the issue. This approach was demonstrated by a research team in their publication on addressing the inherent issues of solid-state batteries.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Research
Published

New insights on polymicrobial infections in chronic lung diseases      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Chronic lung diseases are often accelerated and exacerbated by polymicrobial infections. An international study has identified two types of these so-called dysbioses in cystic fibrosis. They display distinct ecology and are also likely to respond differently to treatment.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Microbiology
Published

Breakthrough in creating cyclic peptide opens the way for new antibiotics      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A discovery could speed up efforts to produce new antibiotics in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Brain's structure hangs in 'a delicate balance'      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers examined anatomy of neurons from humans, mice and fruit flies. They discovered that the cellular structure of the brain is at a critical point, poised between two phases. New insights could help design computational models of the brain's complexity.