Laden...
ScienceDaily: Top Environment News |
| Posted: 17 Nov 2021 06:15 PM PST A group of proteins in plant cells plays a vastly more important role in regulation of photosynthesis than once thought, according to new research. The research is an important step towards fully understanding photosynthesis regulation and increasing CO2 uptake in plants to benefit the climate. |
| Genetic changes in Bronze Age southern Iberia Posted: 17 Nov 2021 01:14 PM PST The third millennium BCE brought about substantial transformations that are visible in the cultures of Bronze Age Europeans. A new study documents the arrival of new genetic ancestry to southern Iberia, concomitant with the rise of the Early Bronze Age El Argar culture around 2,200 BCE. |
| 'Volcanic winter' likely contributed to ecological catastrophe 250 million years ago Posted: 17 Nov 2021 01:14 PM PST A team of scientists has identified an additional force that likely contributed to a mass extinction event 250 million years ago. Its analysis of minerals in southern China indicate that volcano eruptions produced a 'volcanic winter' that drastically lowered earth's temperatures -- a change that added to the environmental effects resulting from other phenomena at the time. |
| Posted: 17 Nov 2021 01:14 PM PST A clinical trial has found people prefer receiving information on the 5:2 diet than standard GP weight management advice despite both interventions achieving similar modest weight loss results. |
| Shape-morphing microrobots deliver drugs to cancer cells Posted: 17 Nov 2021 07:38 AM PST Chemotherapy successfully treats many forms of cancer, but the side effects can wreak havoc on the rest of the body. Delivering drugs directly to cancer cells could help reduce these unpleasant symptoms. Now, in a proof-of-concept study, researchers have made fish-shaped microrobots that are guided with magnets to cancer cells, where a pH change triggers them to open their mouths and release their chemotherapy cargo. |
| Posted: 17 Nov 2021 07:01 AM PST Acetogens are a group of bacteria that can metabolise formate. For example, they form acetic acid -- an important basic chemical. If these bacteria were manipulated to produce ethanol or lactic acid, a comprehensive circular economy for the greenhouse gas CO2 could be realised. To ensure that the process is sustainable, the CO2 is extracted directly from the air and converted to formate using renewable energy. To find out how exactly formate can be utilised by the Acetobacterium woodii (short: A. woodii), a team led by Stefan Pflügl from the Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering at TU Wien investigated how the bacterium metabolises various substrates -- including formate. Furthermore, the researchers used a metabolic model to study how A. woodii could be genetically modified to produce substances other than acetic acid. |
| There may be more bird species in the tropics than we know Posted: 17 Nov 2021 07:01 AM PST Study of a perky little bird suggests there may be far more avian species in the tropics than those identified so far. After a genetic study of the White-crowned Manakin, scientists say it's not just one species and one of the main drivers of its diversity is the South American landscape and its history of change. |
| Perceptual links between sound and shape may unlock origins of spoken words Posted: 17 Nov 2021 07:01 AM PST Most people around the world agree that the made-up word 'bouba' sounds round in shape, and the made-up word 'kiki' sounds pointy -- a discovery that may help to explain how spoken languages develop, according to a new study. Language scientists have discovered that this effect exists independently of the language that a person speaks or the writing system that they use, and it could be a clue to the origins of spoken words. |
| Posted: 17 Nov 2021 07:01 AM PST Recycling carbon dioxide, especially through conversion to methane, is compelling while anthropogenic CO2 emissions are still rising. A useful process for this transformation is photothermal methanation, in which CO2 and hydrogen are catalytically converted into CH4 and water upon irradiation with sunlight. A team of researchers has now reported the synthesis of a highly active, stable, nickel–carbon catalyst for this reaction. |
| New approach could overcome fungal resistance to current treatments Posted: 17 Nov 2021 07:00 AM PST Current medications aren't particularly effective against fungi. The situation is becoming more challenging because these organisms are developing resistance to antimicrobial treatments, just as bacteria are. Now, researchers report that they have identified compounds that tackle these infections in a new way -- by interfering with fungal enzymes required for fatty acid synthesis -- potentially opening the door to better therapies. |
| A wild strawberry aroma for foods from a fungus growing on fruit waste Posted: 17 Nov 2021 07:00 AM PST The wild strawberry is even more highly prized than its store-bought cousin because of its intense aroma and uniquely sweet taste. However, they're hard to find in the wild, so some companies make synthetic versions of this flavor. Now, researchers have come up with a naturally derived wild strawberry aroma by having an edible fungus make it from waste from black currant juice production. |
| Artificial intelligence successfully predicts protein interactions Posted: 16 Nov 2021 02:51 PM PST Researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) and evolutionary analysis to produce 3D models of eukaryotic protein interactions. The study identified more than 100 probable protein complexes for the first time and provided structural models for more than 700 previously uncharacterized ones. Insights into the ways pairs or groups of proteins fit together to carry out cellular processes could lead to a wealth of new drug targets. |
| Research in mice shows how diet alters immune system function through a gut microbe Posted: 16 Nov 2021 02:50 PM PST Research in mice demonstrates how diet alters a gut microbe molecule that, in turn, prompts immune cells to downregulate inflammation. The study elucidates molecular mechanism behind long-standing belief that diet, microbiota, and immunity influence one another in myriad ways. If affirmed in larger animals and humans, the findings could inform the design of small-molecule drugs that regulate immune response to treat inflammatory conditions |
| Finding the missing piece in global oil life-cycle assessment Posted: 16 Nov 2021 02:50 PM PST New research offers a closer look at the relationship between decreasing demand for oil and a resilient, varied oil market -- and the carbon footprint associated with both. |
| New screening process could lead to next-generation therapeutics for a broad spectrum of diseases Posted: 16 Nov 2021 02:50 PM PST Researchers have developed a high-throughput screen methodology to identify compounds affect a key G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) rhodopsin (Rh). GPCRs mediate many important physiological functions and are considered to be one of the most effective therapeutic targets for a broad spectrum of diseases, ranging from diabetes to immune system disorders. |
| Posted: 16 Nov 2021 12:23 PM PST Researchers have revealed a striking pattern following a functional screen of extracts from plants collected in Muir Woods National Monument, in coastal redwood forest land in California. They found plants with a long history of use by Native Americans as topical analgesics, were often also used as gastrointestinal aids. |
| Seismic shockwave pattern may be redirecting earthquake damage Posted: 16 Nov 2021 11:48 AM PST According to physics, seismic waves from earthquakes should travel in a four-leaf clover pattern, but in the real world they behave more like ripples in a pond. New research has found the pattern hidden among low-frequency seismic waves, the kind that can topple buildings. The study looked at small earthquakes in northern Oklahoma and could change the way scientists think about potential damage from earthquakes. |
| Game theory and economics show how to steer evolution in a better direction Posted: 16 Nov 2021 11:48 AM PST Human behavior drives the evolution of biological organisms in ways that can profoundly adversely impact human welfare. Understanding people's incentives when they do so is essential to identify policies and other strategies to improve evolutionary outcomes. In a new study, researchers bring the tools of economics and game theory to evolution management. |
| Synthetic biology yields easy-to-use underwater adhesives Posted: 16 Nov 2021 10:17 AM PST Researchers have used synthetic biology to bring together the best of spider silk and mussel foot protein in a biocompatible adhesive. |
| Unique fossil: Seeds sprouting from an amber-encased pine cone Posted: 16 Nov 2021 10:17 AM PST New research has uncovered the first fossil evidence of a rare botanical condition known as precocious germination in which seeds sprout before leaving the fruit. |
| Making solar energy even more sustainable with light-powered technology Posted: 16 Nov 2021 10:17 AM PST Scientists have identified a new process using coordination materials that can accelerate the use of low-cost, Earth-abundant materials with the potential to transform the energy sector by replacing silicone-based solar panels. |
| Climate changed abruptly at tipping points in past Posted: 16 Nov 2021 08:14 AM PST Climate scientists identify abrupt transitions in climate records that may have been caused by the climate system crossing a tipping point. They devised a statistical method to determine whether these transitions are simply noise or evidence of a more significant change. Their method is less error-prone than previous methods, since it doesn't rely on human determination. It also allows comparing different records consistently and can identify important events that may have been overlooked in older studies. |
| Swapping spit helps ants share metabolic labor Posted: 16 Nov 2021 08:13 AM PST Ant colonies use fluids passed mouth-to-mouth to create a colony-wide metabolism, shows a new study. |
| Air pollution decrease in India during COVID-19 lockdown not as high as originally thought Posted: 16 Nov 2021 08:13 AM PST Observational data shows air pollution in India decreased drastically in the first COVID-19 lockdown when emissions from vehicles naturally declined, but researchers say those numbers only tell part of the story -- blue skies and an absence of visible smog can be deceiving and hide pollutants that could potentially cause health issues. |
| Microtissue system allows study of deadly lung disease Posted: 16 Nov 2021 08:13 AM PST Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and rising air pollution levels, incidence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is anticipated to rise, urgently increasing the need for strong model systems. Researchers describe a 3D cell culturing platform that allows study of lung fibroblasts and their microenvironment. The platform enables measurement of cell behaviors and microenvironment changes involved in the disease progression of IPF, and the platform's size and simplicity make it suitable for use in high-throughput drug screening protocols. |
| Electronic nose on a drone sniffs out wastewater treatment plant stink Posted: 16 Nov 2021 08:13 AM PST Researchers have engineered a portable electronic nose (e-nose) that's almost as sharp as a human nose at sniffing out the stink of wastewater treatment plants. Coupled with a drone, the lightweight e-nose can measure the concentration of different smells, predict odor intensity, and produce a real-time odor map of the plant for management. |
| Alluring larvae: Competition to attract fish drives species diversity among freshwater mussels Posted: 16 Nov 2021 07:31 AM PST North America's freshwater mussels are both impressively diverse and highly imperiled. Nearly 300 species occur in the United States and Canada, and up to 40 species of the hard-shelled bottom dwellers can be found on a single stretch of a clean, swiftly flowing river. |
| Posted: 16 Nov 2021 07:31 AM PST Researchers have modeled that pollutant emissions from the shipping sector increased significantly in major international seaports during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| A new approach to identify mammals good at learning sounds Posted: 16 Nov 2021 07:31 AM PST Why are some animals good at learning sounds? Did this skill appear when animals started 'faking' their body size by lowering calls? In a new study on a wide range of mammals,researchers revisit this question. Surprisingly, many animals who are skilled vocalists (such as dolphins and seals) actually sound higher than would be expected for their body size. |
| Posted: 16 Nov 2021 07:31 AM PST Scientists are turning to genomics to better understand the epidemiology of malaria and to inform control and elimination interventions and strategies. In the Lake Victoria region of Kenya, malaria burden remains very high despite more than a decade of intense control activities. A team of researchers generated whole Plasmodium falciparum genome sequences from the lake region. Their analyses revealed that malaria parasites from this region appear distinct from other parasites from East Africa, while frequencies of known drug resistance markers were similar to those in other East African parasite populations. |
| Posted: 16 Nov 2021 07:31 AM PST Since 2015, researchers have been tracking emissions from oil and gas wells and report that, over that time, emissions from the region have fallen by half. But more analysis of leak rates shows that the oil and gas industry has a ways to go in stopping methane leaks, which impact the climate and human health and can impose costs on Utah's economy. |
| Solar energy with an' ironclad future' Posted: 16 Nov 2021 07:31 AM PST Solar energy plays an important role in the fight against climate change as a substitute for fossil fuels. Dye-sensitized solar cells promise to be a low-cost supplement to the photovoltaic systems we know today. Their key feature is the dye sensitizers attached to their surface. Researchers continue to improve the performance with sensitizers using iron -- a commonly available and environmentally friendly metal. |
| Diet trumps drugs for anti-aging and good metabolic health Posted: 16 Nov 2021 07:31 AM PST A study comparing the impact of diet versus drugs on the inner workings of our cells has found nutrition has a much stronger impact. |
| Fraternizing vampire bats share 'social microbiomes' Posted: 16 Nov 2021 07:31 AM PST In an unusual study, researchers found that bats that interacted closely with one another shared much more than body heat. |
| Scientists identify second HIV patient whose body appears to have rid itself of the virus Posted: 15 Nov 2021 06:29 PM PST In 2020, an untreated HIV patient was identified with no intact copies of HIV genomes in more than 1.5 billion blood cells analyzed, suggesting the virus had been cleared from the patient's body. Researchers now report a second untreated person living with HIV who had no evidence of intact HIV genomes in more than 1.5 billion blood and tissue cells analyzed. |
| High impact climate events: Better adaptation through earlier prediction Posted: 15 Nov 2021 12:10 PM PST The prediction of high impact climate phenomena can be substantially improved by a new mathematical approach that analyses the connectivity and patterns between geographical locations, scientists say in a new publication. This can potentially save thousands of lives and avoid billions in economic losses. Prediction times for events like El Niño, monsoons, droughts or extreme rainfall could be increased substantially, to a month or in some cases even a year in advance, depending on the type of the event. The new framework can thus become key for improving adaptation to the global warming crisis. |
| Sierra Nevada range should celebrate two birthdays Posted: 15 Nov 2021 06:02 AM PST New research reveals that after its initial formation 100 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada 'died' during volcanic eruptions that blasted lava across much of the American West 40 million to 20 million years ago. Then, tens of millions of years later, the Sierra Nevada mountain range as we know it today was 'reborn.' |
| Posted: 14 Nov 2021 05:17 PM PST In a study with lab-grown mouse cells, researchers say they have found that a protein that helps form a structural network under the surface of the cell's 'command center' -- its nucleus -- is key to ensuring that DNA inside it remains orderly. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
Laden...
Laden...
© 2024
