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Categories: Anthropology: General, Biology: Microbiology

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Anthropology: General Archaeology: General
Published

Rare Samoan discovery offers clues to origins of inequality      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The origins of hierarchical society in Samoa and wider Polynesia have likely been uncovered by a new study led by archaeologists.

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

How cells boost gene expression      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The function of non-coding RNA in the cell has long been a mystery to researchers. Unlike coding RNA, non-coding RNA does not produce proteins -- yet it exists in large quantities. A research team has now discovered an important function of antisense RNA (asRNA): the researchers found that asRNA acts as a 'superhighway' in cell transport and thus accelerates gene expression.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Simple test for flu could improve diagnosis and surveillance      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Fewer than one percent of people who get the flu every year get tested, in part because most tests require trained personnel and expensive equipment. Now researchers have developed a low-cost paper strip test that could allow more patients to find out which type of flu they have and get the right treatment. The test uses CRISPR to distinguish between the two main types of seasonal flu, influenza A and B, as well as seasonal flu subtypes H1N1 and H3N2. It can also identify strains that resist antiviral treatment, and with further work, could potentially detect swine and avian flu strains, including H5N1, which is currently infecting cattle.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Cannabis use tied to increased risk of severe COVID-19      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study shows that people with COVID-19 who used cannabis were more likely to be hospitalized and require intensive care than those who did not use the drug.

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

How to make aging a 'fairer game' for all wormkind      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered a new fundamental mechanism governing the rules of ageing in worms. The researchers were able to manipulate the mechanism through genetic interventions which dramatically extend not just the lifespan of the worms, but also their health-span. In other words, trading weak, frail old age with vigorous golden years -- all without altering their diet, environment or other external factors.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Animals
Published

Wild yeasts from Patagonia could yield new flavors of lagers      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New strains of yeast for brewing lager beers, created by hybridizing wild strains of yeast from Patagonia with brewer's yeast, can yield novel flavors and aromas, researchers report.

Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Trees
Published

Wooden surfaces may have natural antiviral properties      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Viruses, including the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, can get passed from person to person via contaminated surfaces. But can some surfaces reduce the risk of this type of transmission without the help of household disinfectants? Wood has natural antiviral properties that can reduce the time viruses persist on its surface -- and some species of wood are more effective than others at reducing infectivity.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Blessing in disguise: Mycoviruses enhance fungicide effectiveness against plant pathogens      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers discovered that mycoviruses, or oomycete viruses, can increase the sensitivity of plant pathogenic oomycete to fungicides like metalaxyl. Their findings suggest greater potential for mycoviruses in biocontrol and contributing to sustainable agriculture.

Anthropology: Cultures Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General
Published

Origins of cumulative culture in human evolution      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Cumulative culture -- the accumulation of technological modifications and improvements over generations -- allowed humans to adapt to a diversity of environments and challenges. But, it is unclear when cumulative culture first developed during hominin evolution. A new study concludes that humans began to rapidly accumulate technological knowledge through social learning around 600,000 years ago.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Treating the gut-brain connection with B vitamins to treat Parkinson's Disease      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A study has revealed a link between gut microbiota and Parkinson's disease. The researchers discovered a decrease in bacterial genes related to the synthesis of vitamins B2 and B7. The lack of these genes was associated with reduced intestinal short-chain fatty acids and polyamines, agents that maintain the intestinal barrier and prevent the leakage of toxins into the blood that can then access the brain. Using B vitamin therapy to address these deficiencies may restore the barrier and treat Parkinson's disease.

Anthropology: General
Published

Direct evidence found for dairy consumption in the Pyrenees in the earliest stages of the Neolithic      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A study on the remains of the Chaves and Puyascada caves, both located in the province of Huesca, Spain, yields the first direct proof of the consumption and processing of dairy products in the Pyrenees already at the start of the Neolithic period, approximately 7,500 years ago, as well as the consumption of pig. The results lead to doubts about the belief that these products were first used much later in the Pyrenean mountain range.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

A high-fat diet may fuel anxiety      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research shows when animals are fed a diet high in saturated fat for nine weeks, their gut bacteria change in ways that influence brain chemicals and fuel anxiety.

Biology: Microbiology Computer Science: General
Published

Computable species descriptions: Scientists develop a new computer language to model organismal traits      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Understanding organismal traits and learning how they evolve and adapt to different environments is crucial for biologists and the battle against biodiversity loss. To be truly efficient, however, the researchers need to use huge amounts of data, including physical traits and DNA. Furthermore, those different data types need to be accurately linked to each other, so that computers and next-age AI technology can correctly process it. Currently, this process of accurate linking is extremely difficult and largely inefficient. To solve this problem, researchers created a brand new computer language called Phenoscript.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Marine Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Ecology: Research Ecology: Sea Life
Published

Previously uncharacterized parasite uncovered in fish worldwide      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Using genome reconstruction, scientists unveiled a once 'invisible' fish parasite present in many marine fish world-wide that belongs to the apicomplexans, one of the most important groups of parasites at a clinical level. However, it had gone unnoticed in previous studies. The parasite is geographically and taxonomically widespread in fish species around the planet, with implications for commercial fishing and oceanic food webs.

Anthropology: General Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Sea Life Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Dinosaurs Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Ancient polar sea reptile fossil is oldest ever found in Southern Hemisphere      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international team of scientists has identified the oldest fossil of a sea-going reptile from the Southern Hemisphere -- a nothosaur vertebra found on New Zealand's South Island. 246 million years ago, at the beginning of the Age of Dinosaurs, New Zealand was located on the southern polar coast of a vast super-ocean called Panthalassa. 'The nothosaur found in New Zealand is over 40 million years older than the previously oldest known sauropterygian fossils from the Southern Hemisphere.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Environmental: General Geoscience: Geochemistry Physics: Optics
Published

When bacteria are buckling      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Filamentous cyanobacteria buckle at a certain length when they encounter an obstacle. The results provide an important basis for the use of cyanobacteria in modern biotechnology.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

A new weapon in the battle against antibiotic resistance: Temperature      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have shown in laboratory experiments that an increase in temperature from 37 to 40 degrees Celsius increased the resistance rate for two antimicrobials, while for a third antimicrobial, the higher temperature reduced the resistance rate. If these results can be replicated in human patients, fever control could be a new way to mitigate the emergence of antibiotic resistance.