Enzymes evolved mix-and-match characteristics to shape nitrogen metabolism diversity across the planet
To boost crops more efficiently in the future, the evolutionary past may hold key insights. The way that plants process nutrients has a rich back story—they rely on enzymes that have been evolving for billions of years. However, these enzymes are o.....»»
The origin of genetic code: Study finds textbook version needs revision
Despite awe-inspiring diversity, nearly every lifeform—from bacteria to blue whales—shares the same genetic code. How and when this code came about has been the subject of much scientific controversy......»»
Data-driven study finds gender inequality in academic publishing
Editors of academic journals hold an influential position in their field. They have decision-making power over which authors and papers get published, set journal policy, and help shape the trajectory of their discipline. It is also a role in which w.....»»
Rising desertification shows we can"t keep farming with fossil fuels
Three-quarters of Earth's land has become drier since 1990. Droughts come and go—more often and more extreme with the incessant rise of greenhouse gas emissions over the last three decades—but burning fossil fuels is transforming our blue planet......»»
Enzymes evolved mix-and-match characteristics to shape nitrogen metabolism diversity across the planet
To boost crops more efficiently in the future, the evolutionary past may hold key insights. The way that plants process nutrients has a rich back story—they rely on enzymes that have been evolving for billions of years. However, these enzymes are o.....»»
Human settlement of Mars isn"t as far off as you might think
Could humans expand out beyond their homeworld and establish settlements on the planet Mars? The idea of settling the red planet has been around for decades. However, it has been seen by skeptics as a delusion at best and mere bluster at worst......»»
I tried 4 of the best earbud and phone combos. Here’s which one you should use
I tried the top wireless earbuds with matching phones to find out if brand loyalty matters, or if you can mix and match without concern......»»
Fast, rewritable computing with DNA origami registers
DNA stores the instructions for life and, along with enzymes and other molecules, computes everything from hair color to risk of developing diseases. Harnessing that prowess and immense storage capacity could lead to DNA-based computers that are fast.....»»
How job ads shape gender and racial segregation in UK workforce
In the UK, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) language in job advertisements (ads) could unintentionally have the reverse effect on attempts to create a more gender-balanced workplace, says a new study led by Lancaster University......»»
An interstellar visitor helped shape the orbits of the planets
The orbits of the planets around the sun have been the source for many a scientific debate. Their current orbital properties are well understood but the planetary orbits have evolved and changed since the formation of the solar system......»»
Morphology study highlights diverse jaw evolution in lizards and snakes
A University of Bristol study has shed light on how lizards and snakes—the most diverse group of land vertebrates with nearly 12,000 species—have evolved remarkably varied jaw shapes, driving their extraordinary ecological success......»»
Recycling human and animal excreta could help meet nutrient supply for global crops
It might not be a pleasant image, but recycling all the human and livestock feces and urine on the planet would contribute substantially to meeting the nutrient supply for all crops worldwide, thereby reducing the need to mine fertilizers such as pho.....»»
A new global carbon trading market could be held hostage by speculators
Our planet's future hangs in the balance due to the unabated greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Treating these emissions as something that can be owned and exchanged in a market has been touted as a solution since the early 1990s, wh.....»»
Robots give scientists unprecedented access to study coral reef biodiversity
Mesophotic coral ecosystems have some of the highest diversity of stony corals (Scleractinia) in the world, making them particularly important for researchers. These ecosystems are also unique because they host more native species compared to shallow.....»»
A microRNA solves an evolutionary mystery of butterfly and moth wing coloration
Lepidopterans (butterflies and moths) exhibit a splendid diversity of wing color patterns, and many species display black and white, or dark and bright, wing color pattern variants associated with the presence and absence of melanin. Many of these wi.....»»
Shape-changing polymer resembles animal movements with temperature shifts
A team of scientists has created a new shape-changing polymer that could transform how future soft materials are constructed. Made using a material called a liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE), a soft rubber-like material that can be stimulated by ext.....»»
High heat is preferentially killing the young, not the old, research finds
Many recent studies assume that elderly people are at particular risk of dying from extreme heat as the planet warms. A new study of mortality in Mexico turns this assumption on its head: it shows that 75% of heat-related deaths are occurring among p.....»»
Dodge’s Charger EV muscles up to save the planet from ‘self-driving sleep pods’
The marketing campaign for Dodge's Charger Daytona EV takes a swipe at self-driving sleep pods......»»
Here’s another hands-on look at the Google Pixel 9a’s radical new design
Freshly leaked real-life photos of a Pixel 9a prototype confirm Google is changing the design and the camera's shape on the upcoming affordable phone......»»
Experiments provide evidence that interaction of light with a hydrocarbon molecule produces strained molecular rings
When molecules interact with ultraviolet (UV) light, they can change shape quickly, producing strain—stress in a molecule's chemical structure due to an increase in the molecule's internal energy. These processes typically take just tens of picosec.....»»
Discovery of key protein complex shows evolution and adaptability of photosynthetic organisms
A team of researchers has revealed the structure of a modified and evolved version of Photosystem I (PS I), a key protein complex used by plants and cyanobacteria to convert sunlight into chemical energy. This discovery sheds light on the evolution a.....»»