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Categories: Biology: Microbiology, Geoscience: Earth Science
Published Bugs that help bugs: How environmental microbes boost fruit fly reproduction



A research group found that in female fruit flies, microorganisms enhance reproductive function, boosting the number of cells that form eggs and the number of mature eggs. This is done by controlling the release of hormones to speed up cell division in the ovaries, and limiting programmed cell death. These findings could improve reproductive medicine and could aid the development of new methods to enhance fertility.
Published Researchers solve mystery behind DnaA protein's role in DNA replication initiation



Scientists have uncovered how DnaA, the master key to DNA replication, opens the door to bacterial growth. This breakthroughpaves the way for new antibiotics to combat the rising tide of antibiotic resistance.
Published New insights revealed on tissue-dependent roles of JAK signaling in inflammation



Researchers have gained a deeper understanding of the nuanced roles of JAK inhibitors, or modulators, in inflammation across various cell types and tissues.
Published How researchers are 'CReATiNG' synthetic chromosomes faster and cheaper



A new technique to clone and reassemble DNA, dubbed CReATiNG, could simplify and lower the cost to make synthetic chromosomes. Potential applications are numerous, including pharmaceutical production, biofuel generation, cancer therapies, and environmental cleanup using modified organisms. The method adds a powerful, versatile tool to the burgeoning field of synthetic biology.
Published Discovery: Plants use 'Trojan horse' to fight mold invasions



Scientists have discovered that plants send tiny, innocuous-seeming lipid 'bubbles' filled with RNA across enemy lines, into the cells of the aggressive mold. Once inside, different types of RNA come out to suppress the infectious cells that sucked them in.
Published Unveiling ancient secrets: 3D preservation of trilobite soft tissues sheds light on convergent evolution of defensive enrollment



Researchers describe unusual trilobite fossils prepared as thin sections showing the 3D soft tissues during enrollment. The study reveals the soft undersides of enrolled trilobites and the evolutionary mechanism that allows arthropods to enroll their bodies for protection from predators and adverse environmental conditions.
Published Shedding light on the microbiome and kidney stones



A new study has found changes in the microbiome in multiple locations in the body are linked to the formation of kidney stones.
Published A trillion scents, one nose



A research team has uncovered a previously undetected mechanism in mice -- starring the genetic molecule RNA -- that could explain how each sensory cell, or neuron, in mammalian noses becomes tailored to detect a specific odor chemical.
Published Cells of the future: A key to reprogramming cell identities



The intricate process of duplicating genetic information, referred to as DNA replication, lies at the heart of the transmission of life from one cell to another and from one organism to the next. This happens by not just simply copying the genetic information; a well-orchestrated sequence of molecular events has to happen at the right time. Scientists have recently uncovered a fascinating aspect of this process known as 'replication timing' (RT) and how special this is when life commences.
Published Scientists uncover link between the ocean's weather and global climate



Scientists outline the first direct evidence linking seemingly random weather systems in the ocean with climate on a global scale. The team's work creates a promising framework for better understanding the climate system.
Published Multitasking microbes: Scientists engineer bacteria to make two valuable products from plant fiber



Researchers have engineered bacteria that can produce two chemical products at the same time from underutilized plant fiber. And unlike humans, these multitasking microbes can do both things equally well. The discovery could help make biofuels more sustainable and commercially viable.
Published The evolutionary timeline of diminished boric acid and urea transportation in aquaporin 10



Aquaporin (Aqp) 10 water channels in humans allow the free passage of water, glycerol, urea, and boric acid across cells. However, Aqp10.2b in pufferfishes allows only the passage of water and glycerol and not urea and boric acid. Researchers sought to understand the evolutionary timeline that resulted in the variable substrate selection mechanisms among Aqp10s. Their results indicate that Aqp10.2 in ray-finned fishes may have reduced or lost urea and boric acid permeabilities through evolution.
Published Single-celled protists in the guts of animals thrive without the 'powerhouse of the cell'



Almost all eukaryotic organisms, from plants and animals to fungi, can't survive without mitochondria -- the 'powerhouses of the cell,' which generate chemical energy using oxygen. However, a new study finds that multiple members of the oxymonads, a group of single-celled protists that live inside the guts of termites and other animals, have evolved to live quite happily without them.
Published Low economic growth can help keep climate change within the 1.5 °C threshold



A new study shows that economic growth rates make a big difference when it comes to prospects for limiting global warming to 1.5 °C, as per the Paris Agreement. A recent study shows that pursuing higher economic growth may jeopardize the Paris goals and leave no viable pathways for humanity to stabilize the climate. On the contrary, slower growth rates make it more feasible to achieve the Paris goals.
Published Genetic sequencing uncovers unexpected source of pathogens in floodwaters



Researchers report that local rivers and streams were the source of the Salmonella enterica contamination along coastal North Carolina after Hurricane Florence in 2018 -- not the previously suspected high number of pig farms in the region.
Published Genetics of host plants determine what microorganisms they attract



Plants often develop communities with microorganisms in their roots, which influences plant health and development. Although the recruitment of these microbes is dictated by several factors, it is unclear whether the genetic variation in the host plants plays a role.
Published A new weapon against the super tough C diff bacteria



In a phase-one human clinical trial, a pharmacist researcher has demonstrated that a new antibiotic, called Omadacycline, may be a promising tool in combating the superbug known as C diff which causes an infection often picked up in hospitals.
Published Gentle x-ray imaging of small living specimens



Researchers all over Germany have developed a new system for X-ray imaging, which is suited for both living specimens and sensitive materials. The system records images of micrometer resolution at a minimum radiation dose. In a pilot study, the researchers tested their method on living parasitic wasps and observed them for more than 30 minutes.
Published Mesopotamian bricks unveil the strength of Earth's ancient magnetic field



Ancient bricks inscribed with the names of Mesopotamian kings have yielded important insights into a mysterious anomaly in Earth's magnetic field 3,000 years ago, according to a new study.
Published Little bacterium may make big impact on rare-earth processing



A tiny, hard-working bacterium -- which weighs one-trillionth of a gram -- may soon have a large influence on processing rare earth elements in an eco-friendly way.