Archaea shape microbiomes by using molecular spring-loaded daggers
In a paper published in Science Advances, the Pilhofer Lab (IMBB) together with the Albers Lab from the University of Freiburg describe the structure and function of contractile injection systems from haloarchaea and show how it can structure the loc.....»»
Chemists discover new ways in which single-celled organisms organize their DNA
It has only recently been discovered that single-celled organisms (bacteria and archaea) also have histones—proteins that structure DNA. Now, Leiden Ph.D. candidate Samuel Schwab has found that the histones in these organisms are much more diverse.....»»
Phytoplankton shield ice shelves from summer heat
In spring, stretches of Antarctic sea ice melt to form pockets of open water called polynyas, which make perfect homes for phytoplankton. These marine microbes can become so abundant that they turn the water green......»»
Ads from Hell: How a pizza brand"s marketing reveals NZ"s shifting religious attitudes
Controversial advertising holds a mirror up to society. It can unite us in laughter or outrage, spark debates that shape our beliefs—and sometimes expose our political differences......»»
Moral Judgments May Shift with the Seasons
Certain values carry more weight in spring and autumn than in summer and winter.....»»
AI tools help uncover enzyme mechanisms for lasso peptides
Lasso peptides are natural products made by bacteria. Their unusual lasso shape endows them with remarkable stability, protecting them from extreme conditions. In a new study, published in Nature Chemical Biology, researchers have constructed and tes.....»»
New data science tool greatly speeds up molecular analysis of our environment
A research team led by scientists at the University of California, Riverside, has developed a computational workflow for analyzing large data sets in the field of metabolomics, the study of small molecules found within cells, biofluids, tissues, and.....»»
Personal histories shape how immigrant families transmit their home language to children
According to Statistics Canada, in 2021, 1 in 4 Canadians had at least one mother tongue other than English or French. Many people grow up with their family's heritage languages—like Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish or Arabic—as part of their family's.....»»
How a bacterial pathogen that causes dysentery manipulates molecular activity to assure its survival
Virginia Tech researchers have learned how bacteria manipulate molecules to infect the host organism. Daniel Capelluto and his research team have discovered the mechanism by which the bacterial pathogen Shigella flexneri, the causative agent of dysen.....»»
Double-edged STING: A new pathway involved in aging
A protein called STING, previously shown to control a pathway that contributes to antiviral signaling, also plays an important role in cellular stress clearance and cell survival, according to a new paper published in Molecular Cell......»»
Researchers achieve aluminum molecular ring-based rotaxane and polyrotaxane
Rotaxanes have garnered interest for their unique structures consisting of mechanically interlocked axles and macrocycles. Numerous organic macrocycles have been employed to construct rotaxanes, including crown ether, cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene),.....»»
Research proposes theory to model interplay of personal and social beliefs
The beliefs we hold develop from a complex dance between our internal and external lives. Our personal-level cognition and our relationships with others work in concert to shape our views of the world and influence how likely we are to update those v.....»»
Researchers explore physiological and molecular processes underlying graft healing
Grafting has long been a cornerstone in agriculture and forestry, allowing for the propagation of desirable plant traits and improved resistance to environmental challenges. Despite its widespread application, grafting still encounters obstacles, inc.....»»
Gene-based model predicts when Japan"s cherry buds awake from dormancy
Japan in spring is famous for its cherry blossoms, or sakura, which begin flowering in the southern region of Kyushu and blaze upwards to the remote north of Hokkaido. The most abundant cherry tree cultivar, Somei Yoshino, is the iconic symbol of spr.....»»
Bioengineers create new substrate to study wood-decomposing enzyme
Researchers want to transform the natural and abundant resource wood into useful materials, and central to that is a molecular machine found in fungi that decomposes the complex raw material into its basic components......»»
DNA origami and fluorescent probes can precisely release molecular cargo
In the world of nanotechnology, the development of dynamic systems that respond to molecular signals is becoming increasingly important. The DNA origami technique, whereby DNA is programmed so as to produce functional nanostructures, plays a key role.....»»
Scientists find new epigenetic switch, revealing how genes are regulated in early development
The team of Professor Christof Niehrs at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) in Mainz, Germany, has discovered that a DNA modification called 5-formylcytosine (5fC) functions as an activating epigenetic switch that kick-starts genes in early emb.....»»
Summer 2024 Was the Hottest Ever Measured, Beating Last Year
The year 2024 could easily shape up to be the hottest ever measured, climate scientists say.....»»
Book Review: Powerful Myths Shape a Postapocalyptic World
In a postapocalyptic world on the verge of its next crisis, history gets rewritten.....»»
Pollen affects cloud formation and precipitation patterns, researchers find
Ground-based and satellite observations in the United States show that increased pollen concentrations in spring lead to more cloud ice and more precipitation—even at temperatures between minus 15 and minus 25 degrees Celsius......»»
Do bacteria age?
Any organism that lives, grows and reproduces must also age. People often think of aging in the physical sense—gray hair, slowed movements and wrinkles—but aging fundamentally occurs on a molecular level, inside of cells......»»