How basic physics and chemistry constrain cellular functions in primitive and modern cells
A longstanding basic question in biology relates to how life satisfies the fundamental constraints put on it by physics and chemistry. Darwin's warm pond hypothesis for the origin of primordial cells is a familiar one. Advances have been made in mapp.....»»
Manor Lords’ medieval micromanagement means making many messes
Survival is hard in the untamed wilderness, but does it have to be this hard? Enlarge / This peaceful, pastoral scene actually represents a ton of hard work! (credit: Slavic Magic) Do you ever look around at modern civi.....»»
How local journalism boosts support for fixing crumbling infrastructure
Strong local newspapers are tied to greater support for funding dams, sewers, and other basic infrastructure vital to climate resilience, according to a new study by researchers at UCLA and Duke University......»»
We need to consider conservation efforts on Mars, say researchers
Astrobiology is the field of science that studies the origins, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. In practice, this means sending robotic missions beyond Earth to analyze the atmospheres, surfaces, and chemistry of extraterr.....»»
Researchers reveal new cellular mechanical transducer
A research team has uncovered a novel regulator governing how cells respond to mechanical cues. Their findings appear in Nature Cell Biology......»»
Research presents 2D dipole orientation method for mapping cells
Due to the high transparency of cells, it is very difficult to observe the organelles within them. Biologists can label specific organelles for observation through fluorescence staining. This is somewhat analogous to being in an environment without l.....»»
How aging clocks tick: New study points to stochastic changes in cells
Aging clocks can measure the biological age of humans with high precision. Biological age can be influenced by environmental factors such as smoking or diet, thus deviating from chronological age that is calculated using the date of birth. The precis.....»»
Genes spatially organize for efficient mRNA splicing, study shows
The nucleus of each of your cells contains all the genetic information (the genome) necessary to build every type of cell and protein in your entire body. Like a complex library in a tiny space 50 times smaller than the width of a human hair, genes a.....»»
Astrophysicists discover a novel method for hunting the first stars
A recent study led by the research group of Professor Jane Lixin Dai of the Department of Physics at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has discovered a novel method for detecting the first-generations stars, known as Population III (Pop III) stars, w.....»»
Team develops an epigenome editing toolkit to dissect the mechanisms of gene regulation
Understanding how genes are regulated at the molecular level is a central challenge in modern biology. This complex mechanism is mainly driven by the interaction between proteins called transcription factors, DNA regulatory regions, and epigenetic mo.....»»
New iPads hint at eSIM-only iPhone expanding to more countries soon
Apple on Tuesday announced the new iPad Air and iPad Pro, and an interesting detail about both of them is that their respective Cellular versions are eSIM only, which means that they no longer have a SIM card tray. While eSIM-only iPhones are only av.....»»
Exploring lysosomal biology: Current approaches and methods
Lysosomes are critical for cellular degradation, characterized by their acidic pH and array of hydrolytic enzymes. They degrade materials through endocytosis, phagocytosis, and autophagy, recycling essential components. Lysosomes also participate in.....»»
An analysis of security in relation to the values of well-being, freedom and equality
Security seems to most people a basic necessity of life, a prerequisite for a good life. But if you think about it a little longer and more deeply, as political philosopher Josette Daemen has done, you realize that security sometimes comes at the exp.....»»
Scientists find ancient, endangered lamprey fish in Queensland, 1400 km north of its previous known range
The Australian brook lamprey (Mordacia praecox) is part of a group of primitive jawless fish. It's up to 15 cm long, with rows of sharp teeth. Surprisingly, it doesn't use these teeth to suck blood like most lamprey species—it's non-parasitic......»»
Shaping up how red blood cell deformability is assessed—researchers develop new approach
Red blood cells (RBCs) transport oxygen throughout the body and are able to pass through a complex of narrow capillaries due to their ability to deform. "The deformability of RBCs is an important indicator of their health and functionality, and chang.....»»
Computer models suggest modern plate tectonics are due to blobs left behind by cosmic collision
A small team of geologists and seismologists at the California Institute of Technology has found evidence via computer modeling that suggest giant blobs of material near the Earth's core, believed to have been created by a cosmic collision 4.5 billio.....»»
Researchers discover new function of oncoproteins
Researchers at the University of Würzburg have discovered a new function of the oncoprotein MYCN: It not only helps cancer cells to grow stronger, but also makes them more resistant to drugs. The study is published in Molecular Cell......»»
Physicist achieve milestone in quantum simulation with circular Rydberg qubits
A team of researchers from the 5th Institute of Physics at the University of Stuttgart is making important progress in the field of quantum simulation and quantum computing based on Rydberg atoms by overcoming a fundamental limitation: the limited li.....»»
New technology changes how proteins in individual cells are studied
Researchers from Karolinska Institutet, together with Pixelgen Technologies, have developed and applied a technique that makes it possible to map proteins in individual cells in a completely new way. Not only is it now possible to measure the amount.....»»
Study pinpoints cellular response to pressure in sea star embryos
An international team of scientists has discovered a new cellular mechanism that explains how cells can adapt to pressure changes during tissue growth by packing themselves into a unique shape......»»
Catalyst search shows how computing can take the guesswork out of chemistry
Imagine synthesizing and then testing over 50 different complex molecules to identify the most effective catalyst for a particular chemical reaction. The traditional approach to developing new catalysts for chemical reactions in this "try it and see".....»»