Ancient microbes linked to evolution of human immune proteins
When you become infected with a virus, some of the first weapons your body deploys to fight it are those passed down to us from our microbial ancestors billions of years ago. According to new research from The University of Texas at Austin, two key e.....»»
A fossil first: Scientists find 1.5-million-year-old footprints of two different species of human ancestors at same spot
More than a million years ago, on a hot savanna teeming with wildlife near the shore of what would someday become Lake Turkana in Kenya, two completely different species of hominins may have passed each other as they scavenged for food......»»
Scientists reveal structural link for initiation of protein synthesis in bacteria
Within a cell, DNA carries the genetic code for building proteins. To build proteins, the cell makes a copy of DNA, called mRNA. Then, another molecule called a ribosome reads the mRNA, translating it into protein. But this step has been a visual mys.....»»
Bio-inspired droplet-based systems herald a new era in biocompatible devices
Oxford University researchers have made a significant step toward realizing a form of "biological electricity" that could be used in a variety of bioengineering and biomedical applications, including communication with living human cells. The work wa.....»»
Archaeologists discover 4,000-year-old canals used to fish by predecessors of ancient Maya
Long before the ancient Maya built temples, their predecessors were already altering the landscape of Central America's Yucatan peninsula......»»
Air pollution from fires linked to 1.5 million deaths a year
Air pollution caused by fires is linked to more than 1.5 million deaths a year worldwide, the vast majority occurring in developing countries, a major new study said on Thursday......»»
Scientists discover shared genetic foundations between musical rhythm and human language
In a study published Nov. 21 in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, researchers have uncovered significant genetic connections between human language abilities and musical rhythm skills, providing new insights into the biological underpinnings of the.....»»
Effects of extreme weather events on soil microbes shed light on climate change risks
New research has revealed how tiny soil microbes are impacted by extreme weather events, offering new insights into the risks posed by climate change......»»
Researchers identify two fungal enzymes that hijack the immune system of plants to colonize roots
In nature, plant roots are always colonized by fungi. This interaction can be either mutualistic, benefiting both the plant and the fungus, or pathogenic, where the fungus harms the host plant. A research group led by Professor Dr. Alga Zuccaro at th.....»»
Five fairness flaws the UN"s new plastics treaty must change
The UN's new plastics treaty is about to be finalized—marking a crucial opportunity to form an international agreement to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. Plastic waste is ubiquitous—damaging human health and livelihoods, as well as ecosystem.....»»
Scientists synthesize unsymmetrical ureas using non-phosgene method
Unsymmetrical ureas can form multiple stable hydrogen bonds with proteins. Since drugs containing urea functional groups display unique biological activities when interacting with their targets, they play an important role in drug development and med.....»»
Falcons exposed to heavy metals are a red flag for environmental health
Exposure to heavy metals compromises immune functions and reduces reproductive success in the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), according to a new paper by researchers working with the Sbarro Health Research Organization (SHRO) at Temple Universit.....»»
Is there enough land on Earth to fight climate change and feed the world?
Capping global warming at 1.5°C is a tall order. Achieving that goal will not only require a massive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, but also a substantial reallocation of land to support that effort and sustain the bios.....»»
Black Friday, the economic environment and the evolution of America"s retail holiday
On November 29, American shoppers will rush to malls and retail stores for the day known as "Black Friday," the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Falling annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the event generates billions of dollar.....»»
Fallen ancient civilizations show us why we must not ignore climate warnings
In 1177BC, Amurapi, the last king of Ugarit in modern-day Syria, wrote in cuneiform on baked clay to the Hittite emperor Suppiluliuma II: "My father behold, the enemy's ships have come; my cities were burned, and they did evil things in my country.".....»»
Brains grew faster as humans evolved, study finds
Modern humans, Neanderthals, and other recent relatives on our human family tree evolved bigger brains much more rapidly than earlier species, a new study of human brain evolution has found......»»
Fruit fly study offers new insights into sperm evolution
Sperm are the most diverse and rapidly evolving cell type. Why sperm have undergone such dramatic evolution is a mystery that has stumped biologists for more than a century......»»
Study finds opposing effects of short-term and continuous noise on western bluebird parental care
Research led by Kerstin Ozkan and published in PeerJ has uncovered the complex and contrasting effects of human-generated noise on Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) parental behavior, raising critical questions about how anthropogenic noise affects.....»»
Ultrawide binary objects in the Kuiper belt may not have come from the earliest solar system, research suggests
Trying to understand the makeup and evolution of the solar system's Kuiper belt has kept researchers busy since it was hypothesized soon after the discovery of Pluto in 1930. In particular, binary pairs of objects there are useful as indicators since.....»»
Biodiversity is not a luxury: Study explores the connection between wealth and ecosystem health
A new study suggests that a more complex understanding of how wealth and biodiversity are linked may help communities with little wealth achieve the levels of diversity typically associated with more affluent areas......»»
Spin-powered crystals dramatically improve water splitting process for clean hydrogen production
Water splitting—breaking water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen—is a promising pathway to sustainable energy. However, this process has long been challenged by the slow chemical kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction that make hydrogen produ.....»»