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Categories: Biology: Microbiology, Geoscience: Geography

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The word 'drought' typically conjures images of parched soil, dust-swept prairies, depleted reservoirs, and dry creek beds, all the result of weeks or seasons of persistently dry atmospheric conditions. In the sun-soaked islands in the Caribbean, however, drought conditions can occur much more rapidly, with warning signs appearing too late for mediation strategies to limit agriculture losses or prevent stresses on infrastructure systems that provide clean water to communities.

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Positive tipping points must be triggered if we are to avoid the severe consequences of damaging Earth system tipping points, researchers say.

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In their rapid characterization of the magnitude 6.8 Al Haouz earthquake in Morocco, researchers suggest that the earthquake ruptured roughly 25 kilometers deep beneath the surface.

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An international team of scientists led by geneticists and disease biologists has used ancient DNA to trace the evolution of Marek's Disease Virus (MDV). This global pathogen causes fatal infections in unvaccinated chickens and costs the poultry industry over $1 billion per year. The findings show how viruses evolve to become more virulent and could lead to the development of better ways to treat viral infections.

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New study demonstrates that diverse communities of resident bacteria can protect the human gut from disease-causing microorganisms. However, this protective effect is lost when only single species of gut bacteria are present. The researchers found that protective communities block the growth of harmful pathogens by consuming nutrients that the pathogen needs.

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Drones flying along miles of rivers in the steep, mountainous terrain of central Taiwan and mapping the rock properties have revealed new clues about how water helps shape mountains over geological time.

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An effective HIV vaccine may need to prompt strong responses from immune cells called CD8+ T cells to protect people from acquiring HIV, according to a new study. The study findings draw comparisons between the immune system activity of past HIV vaccine study participants and people with HIV who naturally keep the virus from replicating even in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The latter individuals are often called 'long-term non-progressors' or 'elite controllers' (LTNPs/ECs).

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Researchers have developed a theoretical framework that can reproduce and predict the patterns associated with gastrulation in a chicken embryo.   

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In a study of lab-engineered cells, researchers identify how the immune system neutralizes the herpesvirus. The research maps, for the first time, the maneuvers used by virus and host in the cell nucleus, a poorly understood terrain of host-pathogen interaction. The findings could inform the design of new treatments for herpes and other viruses that replicate in the same way.  

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Researchers have determined the structure of the most common material in our genomes. New treatments for autoimmune diseases, cancer and neurodegeneration may follow.

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New research has identified key, naturally occurring biochemical components of a novel therapeutic food that is aimed at repairing malnourished children's underdeveloped gut microbiomes. The study also has identified the important bacterial strains that process these biochemical components. The findings may help guide treatment with a current food formulation and enable creation of new, more effective formulations in the future.

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Researchers have come one step closer to unlocking the potential of synthetic DNA, which could help scientists develop never-before-seen proteins in the lab.

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Protein-splitting enzymes play an important role in many physiological processes. Such proteases are generally present in an inactive state, only becoming activated under certain conditions. Some are linked to diseases like infections or cancer, making it important to have methods that can selectively detect active proteases. Scientists have introduced a new class of protease-activity sensors: gold nanoparticles equipped with peptide DNA.

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Even in the precipitation-heavy Pacific Northwest, more frequent heatwaves are threatening a key source of water supply. A Washington State University study that intended to look at snow melting under a single, extreme event, the 2021 'heat dome,' instead revealed an alarming, longer-term rising trend of successive heatwaves melting snowpack earlier in the year. From temperature records spanning from 1940 to 2021, springtime heatwaves in the region have doubled in frequency, intensity or both since the mid-1990s. The findings have implications for many areas worldwide that are dependent on snow-capped mountains to provide summer water since heatwaves have been on the rise globally.

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Strong precipitation may cause natural disasters, such as floodings or landslides. Global climate models are required to forecast the frequency of these extreme events, which is expected to change as a result of climate change. Researchers have now developed a first method based on artificial intelligence (AI), by means of which the precision of coarse precipitation fields generated by global climate models can be increased. The researchers succeeded in improving spatial resolution of precipitation fields from 32 to two kilometers and temporal resolution from one hour to ten minutes. This higher resolution is required to better forecast the more frequent occurrence of heavy local precipitation and the resulting natural disasters in future.

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Infection with the stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori could increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease: In people over the age of 50, the risk following a symptomatic infection can be an average of 11 percent higher, and even more about ten years after the infection, at 24 percent greater risk.

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A previously mysterious small RNA molecule in mice is found to play a crucial role in gene expression, and may be the first identified member of a new class of regulatory RNAs.

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Scientists have revealed a never-before-seen phenomenon in a protein: Alone, the enzyme processes DNA and RNA but, when bound to another protein as part of a defense system, interacts with a completely different type of compound to help bacteria commit suicide.

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The global surge in electric vehicle sales has prompted an Australian university to explore how it could offer free or nominal EV charging facilities to staff and students by optimizing its solar PV system and minimizing workplace electricity costs.

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Putting even elderly, obese flies on a restricted calorie diet extends their lifespan markedly, suggesting obese humans might get similar benefits from cutting calories, even at advanced age.