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| Sharks may be closer to the city than you think, new study finds Posted: 16 Jun 2022 04:47 PM PDT The world's coastlines are rapidly urbanizing, but how this increased human presence may impact species living in the ocean is not fully understood. Scientists tracked the movements of three shark species, bull, nurse and great hammerhead, in relation to the city of Miami. Given the chemical, light, and noise pollution emanating from the coastal metropolis, researchers expected sharks to avoid areas close to the city, but that's not what they found. |
| Understanding learning by inference Posted: 16 Jun 2022 12:25 PM PDT Both humans and other animals are good at learning by inference, using information we do have to figure out things we cannot observe directly. New research shows how our brains achieve this by constructing cognitive maps. |
| Soy sauce's salt-enhancing peptides Posted: 16 Jun 2022 12:24 PM PDT Soy sauce deepens the flavor of soup stocks, gives stir-fried rice its sweet-salty glaze and makes a plate of dumplings absolutely enjoyable. But what exactly makes this complex, salty, umami sauce so tasty? Now, researchers have discovered the proteins and other compounds that give soy sauce its distinctive flavors and they say that proteins and peptides help make it salty. |
| Largest study of domestic cat DNA identifies disease-causing variants in new breeds Posted: 16 Jun 2022 11:27 AM PDT Thirteen genetic variants associated with disease in cats are present in more pedigreed breeds than previously thought, according to the largest ever DNA-based study of domestic cats. However, these variants are declining in frequency in breeds that are regularly screened for the genetic markers. |
| Posted: 16 Jun 2022 11:27 AM PDT A new population of polar bears documented on the southeast coast of Greenland use glacier ice to survive despite limited access to sea ice. This small, genetically distinct group of polar bears could be important to the future of the species in a warming world. |
| To treat or to tolerate (pathogens), that is the question Posted: 16 Jun 2022 10:52 AM PDT Scientists have used Xenopus laevis tadpoles to tease out the genetic and biological mechanisms that enhance disease tolerance, and have identified drugs that can keep the tadpoles alive even in the presence of lethal bacteria. Many of the same mechanisms are also found in mammals, suggesting that humans and other animals could one day be treated for disease by increasing their tolerance to pathogens rather than killing the pathogens themselves. |
| Off-season cattle grazing to help control fire danger from invasive cheatgrass Posted: 16 Jun 2022 10:52 AM PDT Cheatgrass, an invasive annual grass that has invaded Nevada rangelands, is responsible for much of the increasing wildfire danger in the Intermountain West. However, scientists have discovered that fire danger can be reduced through the application of targeted cattle grazing in the dormant growing season by attracting the cattle with stations containing protein feed supplements. |
| 100,000-year-old polar bear genome reveals ancient hybridization with brown bears Posted: 16 Jun 2022 09:16 AM PDT An analysis of ancient DNA from a 100,000-year-old polar bear has revealed that extensive hybridization between polar bears and brown bears occurred during the last warm interglacial period in the Pleistocene, leaving a surprising amount of polar bear ancestry in the genomes of all living brown bears. |
| Posted: 16 Jun 2022 09:15 AM PDT Researchers have identified and reconstructed the first ancient genome of E. coli, using fragments extracted from the gallstone of a 16th century mummy. |
| New solution for stem cell manufacturing Posted: 16 Jun 2022 07:19 AM PDT Researchers have developed a unique 3D printed system for harvesting stem cells from bioreactors. |
| Olive trees were first domesticated 7,000 years ago, study finds Posted: 16 Jun 2022 07:19 AM PDT A new study has unraveled the earliest evidence for domestication of a fruit tree, researchers report. The researchers analyzed remnants of charcoal from the Chalcolithic site of Tel Zaf in the Jordan Valley and determined that they came from olive trees. Since the olive did not grow naturally in the Jordan Valley, this means that the inhabitants planted the tree intentionally about 7,000 years ago. |
| Wildfire smoke exposure negatively impacts dairy cow health Posted: 16 Jun 2022 07:19 AM PDT Increasing frequency and size of wildfires in the United States over the past several decades affect everything from human life and health to air quality, biodiversity, and land use. The US dairy industry is not exempt from these effects. The Western states, where wildfires are especially prevalent, are home to more than two million dairy cows that produce more than 25% of the nation's milk. A new report examines how dairy cattle in the Western United States may be affected by unique air pollutants from wildfire smoke. |
| Can a parasitic wasp save your fruit crops? Posted: 16 Jun 2022 07:19 AM PDT Researchers developed a toolkit for investigating the molecular mechanisms governing the parasitic nature of the wasp species Asobara japonica. They first used DNA and RNA-sequencing-based techniques to identify genes controlling the wasp's body color, as well as the putative toxic components in its venom. They used RNA interference to block expression of the body color gene, darkening its appearance. Future experiments will use this technique to better understand the venom components' functions. |
| Scientists fail to locate once-common CA bumble bees Posted: 16 Jun 2022 07:19 AM PDT Several species of California bumble bees have gone missing in the first statewide census of the fuzzy pollinators in 40 years. |
| Dynamic rearrangement and autophagic degradation of the mitochondria during plant spermiogenesis Posted: 16 Jun 2022 07:19 AM PDT Researchers have reported that in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, the number of mitochondria in the spermatozoid (sperm) is controlled by autophagy during spermiogenesis. |
| Nanochannels light the way towards new medicine Posted: 16 Jun 2022 07:19 AM PDT To develop new drugs and vaccines, detailed knowledge about nature's smallest biological building blocks -- the biomolecules -- is required. Researchers are now presenting a groundbreaking microscopy technique that allows proteins, DNA and other tiny biological particles to be studied in their natural state in a completely new way. |
| Plastic pollution in ocean may harbor novel antibiotics Posted: 15 Jun 2022 06:13 PM PDT Plastic pollution in the ocean, which can support microbial communities, may serve as a source for novel antibiotics, according to a new student-led study conducted in collaboration with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. |
| Biotechnology platforms enable fast, customizable vaccine production Posted: 15 Jun 2022 06:13 PM PDT An examination of the COVID-related transition to biotechnology platform-based techniques for vaccine development concludes that such smart manufacturing techniques could in the future be applied to other viruses, potentially allowing vaccine development to keep pace with constantly evolving pathogens. |
| Giving metal to microbes could reduce greenhouse gas Posted: 15 Jun 2022 04:21 PM PDT Collaborative research finds a lack of available metals may be responsible for more nitrous oxide than previously thought. |
| Co-existing mangrove-coral habitats have a new global classification system Posted: 15 Jun 2022 11:57 AM PDT By coexisting more closely with mangroves, tropical coral species may have found an alternative habitat where they can thrive in the face of climate change. |
| Dog-assisted interventions lead to lower stress levels in children Posted: 15 Jun 2022 11:21 AM PDT Dog-assisted interventions can lead to significantly lower stress in children both with and without special needs, according to a new study using salivary cortisol levels. |
| Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:08 AM PDT Scientists gained new insights into RNA-mediated regulation of proteins (riboregulation) and its role in controlling cell growth, and most importantly how undifferentiated cells (embryonic stem cells) transform into specialised cells (e.g., liver cells). They discovered this while studying how mRNA molecules bind to and regulate ENO1, an enzyme involved in glucose metabolism. This contrasts to most previous studies, which focused on how proteins regulate RNA, this one shows that an RNA regulates a protein. This new perspective on riboregulation may represent a more widespread and meaningful principle of biological control. |
| AI reveals scale of eelgrass vulnerability to warming, disease Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:08 AM PDT A combination of ecological field methods and cutting-edge artificial intelligence has helped an interdisciplinary research group detect eelgrass wasting disease at nearly three dozen sites along a 1,700-mile stretch of the West Coast, from San Diego to southern Alaska. |
| Researchers discover crocodile species that likely preyed on human ancestors Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:08 AM PDT Researchers have discovered two new species of crocodiles that roamed parts of Africa between 18 million and 15 million years ago and preyed on human ancestors. The giant dwarf crocodile species, called Kinyang, mysteriously disappeared, possibly due to changes in the climate. |
| Origins of the Black Death identified Posted: 15 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT The Black Death, the biggest pandemic of our history, was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and lasted in Europe between the years 1346 and 1353. Despite the pandemic's immense demographic and societal impacts, its origins have long been elusive. Now, scientists have obtained and studied ancient Y. pestis genomes that trace the pandemic's origins to Central Asia. |
| Mechanism of expanding bacteria revealed Posted: 15 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT The process that allows bacteria to expand and grow while maintaining the strength of the cell walls has been identified as offering a potential new target for antibiotics. |
| Lager beer, whether it contains alcohol or not, could help men's gut microbes Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT Like wine, beer can have health benefits when consumed in moderation. Non-alcoholic beers have become wildly popular recently, but are these drinks also healthful? In a pilot study, researchers report that compared to their pre-trial microbiome, men who drank either one alcoholic or non-alcoholic lager daily had a more diverse set of gut microbes, which can reduce the risk for some diseases. |
| Moth wing-inspired sound absorbing wallpaper in sight after breakthrough Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT Experts at the University of Bristol have discovered that the scales on moth wings act as excellent sound absorbers even when placed on an artificial surface. |
| Australian bee helps illuminate social evolution: Bridge between flying solo or as a colony Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT Studying the unusual social behavior of an Australian native bee has enabled researchers to obtain a clear understanding of the earliest stages of social evolution. Evidence of how individuals that live a solitary lifestyle can transition to colonial life unlocks a key biological question about evolution, they say. |
| Genetic discovery could spell mosquitoes' death knell Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:28 AM PDT A genetic discovery could turn disease-carrying mosquitoes into insect Peter Pans, preventing them from ever maturing or multiplying. |
| Parasitic worms reveal new insights into the evolution of sex and sex chromosomes Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:28 AM PDT Studying two highly divergent phyla of worms that contain numerous parasites that cause human and livestock diseases, new research sheds light on how sexual reproduction and subsequent great diversity of sex chromosomes might have evolved. |
| A large predator from the Pyrenees Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:28 AM PDT A fossilized lower jaw has led an international team of palaeontologists to discover a new species of predator that once lived in Europe. These large predators belong to a group of carnivores colloquially known as 'bear dogs'. They could weigh around 320 kilograms, appeared 36 million years ago before becoming extinct around 7.5 million years ago. |
| Posted: 14 Jun 2022 01:44 PM PDT While researchers have speculated that the up to 50-foot-long whales choose shallow, coastal locations for lack of predators and warmer and calmer waters, a team of biologists recently uncovered a new potential motive. |
| A warming climate decreases microbial diversity Posted: 14 Jun 2022 01:44 PM PDT Researchers conducted an eight-year experiment that found that climate warming played a predominant role in shaping microbial biodiversity, with significant negative effect. |
| A biological super glue from mistletoe berries? Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:16 AM PDT Researchers suggests that mistletoe viscin's ultra-stiff flexible fibers, which adhere to both skin and cartilage as well as to various synthetic materials, could have a range of applications -- both biomedical and beyond. |
| Research clarifies hazards posed by harmful algal blooms Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:15 AM PDT Research has shed new light on the hazards associated with harmful algal blooms such as one four years ago that fouled drinking water in Oregon's capital city of Salem. |
| Opioid analgesic fentanyl may cause autism-like behavior in young mice, study finds Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:15 AM PDT A new study reveals that opioid analgesic fentanyl may induce autism-like behaviors in young male and female mice. The findings indicate that reduced expression of the gene Grin2b in the anterior cingulate cortex of the brain following fentanyl treatment accounts for the autism-like behavior in the mice. However, there is no current evidence that fentanyl is associated with a similar effect in humans. The outcomes of the animal study are not an indication to avoid fentanyl in clinical use. |
| Earliest record of wildfires provide insights to Earth's past vegetation and oxygen levels Posted: 14 Jun 2022 09:27 AM PDT While wildfires over recent years have raged across much of the western United States and pose significant hazards to wildlife and local populations, wildfires have been a long-standing part of Earth's systems without the influence of humans for hundreds of millions of years. |
| Right whales' survival rates plummet after severe injury from fishing gear Posted: 14 Jun 2022 09:27 AM PDT Most North Atlantic right whales that are severely injured in fishing gear entanglements die within three years, a study finds. Severely injured whales were up to eight times more likely to die than those with minor injuries, and only 44% of males and 33% of females with severe injuries survived longer than 36 months. Females that did survive had low birth rates and longer intervals between calving. |
| Stem cells unraveled: We're one step closer to making organs in a dish Posted: 14 Jun 2022 09:27 AM PDT Using a mouse model, researchers have deciphered an alternative route that certain cells take to make organs and used that knowledge to exploit a new type of stem cells as a potential source of organs in a dish. |
| Panthers now number one predator of white-tailed deer in Southwest Florida Posted: 14 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT A new study found Florida panthers are the No. 1 cause of mortality for white-tailed deer in Southwest Florida. The researchers set out to get a better picture of what factors most affect the survival of Florida's white-tailed deer, the most popular game species in the state and a key prey species for the Florida panther. |
| Cats' strange reactions to catnip make it a better insect repellent Posted: 14 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT Anyone who has seen a cat experience catnip knows that it makes them go a bit wild -- they rub in it, roll on it, chew it, and lick it aggressively. It is widely accepted that this plant, and its Asian counterpart, silvervine, have intoxicative properties, but this might not be the only reason that cats rub on and chew the plants so enthusiastically. Researchers have found that when cats damage catnip, much higher amounts of strong insect repellents are released, indicating that the cats' behavior protects them from pests. |
| Pioneering study shows climate played crucial role in changing location of ancient coral reefs Posted: 14 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT Prehistoric coral reefs dating back up to 250 million years extended much further away from the Earth's equator than today, new research has revealed. |
| Do our genes determine what we eat? Posted: 14 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT Preliminary findings from a new study involving more than 6,000 adults found that taste-related genes may play a role in determining food choices and could, in turn, influence cardiometabolic health. |
| Most people think their diet is healthier than it is Posted: 14 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT How healthy is your diet? It seems like a simple question, but according to a new study, it's one that most Americans struggle to get right. |
| New processing technique could make potatoes healthier Posted: 14 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT Researchers announced early tests of a new potato processing technique designed to make our bodies digest potato starch more slowly. Laboratory demonstrations show that the approach blocks certain digestive enzymes from reaching the potato starch as quickly, leading to a more controlled release of dietary glucose. |
| Food insecurity and water insecurity go hand-in-hand, study finds Posted: 14 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT In a new 25-country study, researchers report a strong link between water insecurity -- a lack of reliable access to sufficient water -- and food insecurity. |
| Are highly processed foods bad for children? Posted: 14 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT A new study found that children ages 3 to 5 who consumed more ultraprocessed foods had poorer locomotor skills than children who consumed less of these foods. It also showed lower cardiovascular fitness in 12- to 15-year-olds who consumed more ultraprocessed foods. |
| Genes reveal coffee is safe during pregnancy, study suggests Posted: 14 Jun 2022 06:56 AM PDT Researchers have used genetics to analyze coffee drinking behavior, and their findings show limited coffee consumption during pregnancy didn't increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth. |
| Unravelling the diversity of the wild house mouse Posted: 14 Jun 2022 06:56 AM PDT Scientists have revealed the genetic structure and diversity, and inferred the population history, of the wild house mouse across Europe and Asia. |
| Gene hunting leads researchers to solve mystery of inhibition of awn elongation in sorghum Posted: 14 Jun 2022 06:46 AM PDT Over the years, the domestication of grasses like wheat, rice, barley, and sorghum for consumption has resulted in certain modifications to their morphology. One such modification is the partial or complete elimination of the 'awns', which are the bristle- or needle-like appendages extending from the tip of the lemma in grass spikelets. The awn protects the grains from animals, promotes seed dispersal, and helps in photosynthesis in grasses like barley and wheat. However, its presence also hinders manual harvesting and reduces its value as livestock feed, explaining its elimination during domestication. |
| Fluorescence microscopy shows how living cells form vesicles to transport cargo like growth factors Posted: 13 Jun 2022 04:34 PM PDT Cells have a clever way called clathrin-mediated endocytosis to transport cargos like growth factors across the cell membrane and into the cell. Researchers used a sophisticated fluorescence microscopy imaging called STAR microscopy to follow clathrin-coated vesicle formation in living cells from initiation to completion, over periods up to 100 seconds. Their study supports the flexible model of clathrin-coated vesicle formation, which includes both the constant-curvature and the flat-to-curved transition pathways. |
| Researchers discover mechanism linking mutations in the 'dark matter' of the genome to cancer Posted: 13 Jun 2022 01:27 PM PDT Many sections of the non-coding region of the human genome play a key role in regulating gene activity. But the relationship between non-coding mutations and cancer risk has been a mystery. New research sheds light on that mystery, providing clues that may link mutations to epigenetic changes, and may point to potential drug targets to reduce risk for people born with certain genetic mutations. |
| Mastodon tusk chemical analysis reveals first evidence of one extinct animal's annual migration Posted: 13 Jun 2022 12:06 PM PDT Around 13,200 years ago, a roving male mastodon died in a bloody mating-season battle with a rival in what today is northeast Indiana, nearly 100 miles from his home territory, according to the first study to document the annual migration of an individual animal from an extinct species. |
| Nanoparticle sensor can distinguish between viral and bacterial pneumonia Posted: 13 Jun 2022 12:06 PM PDT Many different types of bacteria and viruses can cause pneumonia, but there is no easy way to determine which microbe is causing a particular patient's illness. This uncertainty makes it harder for doctors to choose effective treatments because the antibiotics commonly used to treat bacterial pneumonia won't help patients with viral pneumonia. In addition, limiting the use of antibiotics is an important step toward curbing antibiotic resistance. |
| Research sheds light on how bacteria communicate their way to causing infection Posted: 13 Jun 2022 12:06 PM PDT Scientists have identified proteins that prevent a bacterial cell from becoming misguided by its own messaging, allowing it to instead wait for collective communication from its group. |
| Numbers and experience count in mongoose warfare Posted: 13 Jun 2022 12:06 PM PDT Strength in numbers and experienced individuals are both vital in mongoose warfare, new research shows. |
| New inherited retroviruses identified in the koala genome Posted: 13 Jun 2022 12:06 PM PDT Historic virus infections can be traced in vertebrate genomes. For millions of years, these genomes have been repositories for retroviruses that incorporated their code into germline cells and were inherited as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Researchers now provide new findings about retroviral establishment in the koala genome. |
| Bioengineering team develops a remote lab to teach enzyme kinetics Posted: 13 Jun 2022 11:32 AM PDT Researchers demonstrate the implementation of a remote laboratory activity to teach students about enzyme kinetics. |
| How much spring nitrogen to apply? Pre-planting weather may provide a clue Posted: 13 Jun 2022 11:07 AM PDT With the rising cost of nitrogen fertilizer and its impacts on air and water quality, researchers want to help farmers make more informed fertilizer rate decisions. Their latest modeling effort aims to do that by examining the role of pre-growing season weather on soil nitrogen dynamics and end-of-season corn yield. |
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