Bacteria encode hidden genes outside their genome; do we?
Since the genetic code was first deciphered in the 1960s, our genes have seemed like an open book. By reading and decoding our chromosomes as linear strings of letters, like sentences in a novel, we can identify the genes in our genome and learn why.....»»
How bacteria actively use passive physics to make biofilms
When we think about bacteria, we may imagine single cells swimming in solution. However, similarly to humans, bacterial cells often socialize, using surfaces to coalesce into complex heterogeneous communities called biofilms. Within a group, bacteria.....»»
The olive tree"s blueprint: Key insights into high-quality oil production
A pivotal study has decoded the genetic basis of olive oil production, revealing a key regulatory mechanism that shapes oil biosynthesis. By mapping the olive tree's genome and metabolic pathways, researchers have identified how MYC2, a critical tran.....»»
Biogeochemistry scientists from around the world publish position paper on tackling "hidden" phosphorus
As the world tries to mitigate agriculture's effect on the environment, much of the story can be found in soil, which stores and cycles nutrient elements of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus......»»
Genomic analysis confirms the uniqueness of Iberian red deer in Europe
A genome study of more than 700 European red deer has identified four distribution areas on the continent (Norway, Scotland, Spain and Central Europe), each with their own genetic characteristics that need to be preserved.....»»
International team decodes the genome of the Greenland shark
The Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus), an elusive dweller of the depths of the northern Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean, is the world's longest-living vertebrate, with an estimated lifespan of about 400 years......»»
Astronomers discover a long-hidden small black hole in an unusually evolved binary system
Chinese researchers have discovered a promising mass-gap black hole using radial velocity and astrometry methods. The study was published online in Nature Astronomy on Sept. 10, and was conducted by a team led by Dr. Wang Song, an associate researche.....»»
How the oceans" most abundant bacteria impact global nutrient flows
If you were to collect all the organisms from the ocean surface down to 200 meters, you'd find that SAR11 bacteria, though invisible to the naked eye, would make up a fifth of the total biomass. These bacteria, also known as Pelagibacterales, have ev.....»»
Century-old experiment secures beer and whiskey"s future
Thanks to an experiment started before the Great Depression, researchers have pinpointed the genes behind the remarkable adaptability of barley, a key ingredient in beer and whiskey. These insights could ensure the crop's continued survival amidst ra.....»»
Researchers sequence the genome of the spur-thighed tortoise
Like many threatened land turtle species, the spur-thighed tortoise had no complete genome. Now for the first time, researchers from the Ecology departments at Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) and the University of Alicante (UA) have succe.....»»
Researchers identify new tools for anti-Acinetobacter drug development and AMR preparedness
University of Liverpool researchers have engineered a library of strains that can be used to develop new antibacterial compounds to help address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria......»»
Crispr-Enhanced Viruses Are Being Deployed Against UTIs
With antibiotics losing their effectiveness, one company is turning to gene editing and bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—to combat infections......»»
Researchers find live fungi, bacteria and viruses high in the Earth"s atmosphere
A team of climate, health and atmospheric specialists in Spain and Japan has found abundant live fungi, bacteria and viruses high in the Earth's atmosphere. In their study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group co.....»»
Researchers bend DNA strands with light, revealing a new way to study the genome
With the flick of a light, researchers have found a way to rearrange life's basic tapestry, bending DNA strands back on themselves to reveal the material nature of the genome......»»
New multispectral analysis of Voynich manuscript reveals hidden details
Handwriting suggests Prague doctor named Johannes Marcus Marci tried to decode in 1640. Enlarge / Medieval scholar Lisa Fagin Davis examined multispectral images of 10 pages from the Voynich manuscript. (credit: Lisa Fagin Davis).....»»
Silver nanoparticles and a new sensing method can fight back against antibiotic-resistant biofilms
From safeguarding our food supply to preventing hospital infections, the battle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a growing challenge. Some bacteria can form biofilms, thick aggregates of millions of individual cells surrounded by protective m.....»»
How context-specific factors control gene activity
Every cell in our body contains the same DNA, yet liver cells are different from brain cells, and skin cells differ from muscle cells. What determines these differences? It all comes down to gene regulation; essentially how and when genes are turned.....»»
AI cybersecurity needs to be as multi-layered as the system it’s protecting
Cybercriminals are beginning to take advantage of the new malicious options that large language models (LLMs) offer them. LLMs make it possible to upload documents with hidden instructions that are executed by connected system components. This is a b.....»»
Hidden, compact galaxies in the distant universe—searching for the secrets behind the little red dots
Astronomers exploring the faraway universe with the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's most powerful telescope, have found a class of galaxies that challenges even the most skillful creatures in mimicry—like the mimic octopus. This creature can imp.....»»
This cyberpunk detective game is one of 2024’s best hidden gems
There are a lot of games you may have overlooked this year, but don't sleep on the cyberpunk thrills of Nobody Wants to Die......»»
Solving the side effect problem of siRNA drugs for genetic disease treatment
Small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs are a class of therapeutic agents that silence specific genes associated with inherited diseases. However, siRNA drugs have challenges because siRNAs often silence genes other than the target ones, causing side eff.....»»