How salt can taste sweet: The myriad mechanisms of taste perception
Humans perceive five basic taste sensations: sweet, umami, bitter, salty, and sour. Specific foods trigger taste recognition of these sensations through the activation of different receptors in our taste buds. In the case of table salt, the concentra.....»»
The Mediterranean dried out 5.5 million years ago, offering sobering lessons for humanity today
What would happen if humans dried out the Mediterranean sea, turning it into a giant salt lake? Would its wildlife survive, and if so, how long would it take to recover?.....»»
Biodiversity loss: Many students of environment-related subjects are partly unaware of the causes
As far as the causes of global biodiversity loss are concerned, there are evidently perception gaps among students of environment-related subjects worldwide, as a survey conducted by Goethe University Frankfurt with more than 4,000 students from 37 c.....»»
How a salt giant radically reshaped Mediterranean marine biodiversity
A new study paves the way to understanding biotic recovery after an ecological crisis in the Mediterranean Sea about 5.5 million years ago. An international team led by Konstantina Agiadi from the University of Vienna has now been able to quantify ho.....»»
Scientists unlock the secrets of how a key protein converts DNA into RNA
Researchers at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have uncovered new insights into the fundamental mechanisms of RNA polymerase II (Pol II), the protein responsible for transcribing DNA into RNA. Their study shows how the.....»»
Hubble traces star formation in nearby nebula NGC 261
NGC 261 blooms a brilliant ruby red against a myriad of stars in this new image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Discovered on Sept. 5, 1826 by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop, this nebula is located in one of the Milky Way's closest galactic com.....»»
Gaps in firearms relinquishment laws may weaken court orders, increase illegal gun possession
State and federal laws across the United States prohibiting firearm possession in cases of domestic violence often lack enforcement mechanisms, which may lead to continued possession of firearms despite court orders, according to a University of Mich.....»»
Researchers study carbon capture in Upper Newport Bay salt marshes
Despite covering just 2% of the ocean, coastal wetlands—such as tidal salt marshes, mangrove forests and seagrass beds—are responsible for storing nearly half of all carbon found in ocean sediment. These "blue carbon" ecosystems naturally absorb.....»»
New Lexus brand "taste" will come from sweeping rework of body rigidity
Lexus says it has found the missing piece in its quest to match the long-lauded driving dynamics of Germany's big premium players — better body rigidity. To deliver a better signature, Toyota's top-shelf marque is reworking ride and handling across.....»»
Discovery of a hidden epigenetic clock in mitochondria reveals a "lifespan limit line"
Building on their work on epigenetics of aging and transposable elements, researchers Dr. Ádám Sturm and Dr. Tibor Vellai from Eötvös Loránd University have made another advance in understanding the molecular mechanisms of aging. Their latest st.....»»
From antiquity to adaptation: Tracing the genetic journey of east Asian chestnut varieties
Uncovering the genetic saga of Castanea trees, a study maps their evolutionary journey and local climate adaptations. This research reveals the genetic markers and molecular mechanisms that have allowed these nut fruit trees to adapt and flourish acr.....»»
How engineered walnuts combat drought through grafting
Drought is a major threat to walnut production globally, often resulting in lower yields and weaker trees. While grafting has traditionally been used to improve the resilience of fruit and nut trees, the exact mechanisms of signal transfer between ro.....»»
Quality control: Neatly arranging crystal growth to make fine thin films
Table salt and refined sugar look white to our eyes, but that is only because their individual colorless crystals scatter visible light. This feature of crystals is not always desirable when it comes to materials for optical and electrical devices, h.....»»
Advances in bermudagrass research highlight genetic insights, potential for environmental resilience
A research team has reviewed recent studies to highlight the significant progress in understanding the growth and stress response mechanisms in bermudagrass, a widely distributed and valuable grass species. A recent review reveals the genetic diversi.....»»
Blind cavefish have extraordinary taste buds that increase with age, research reveals
Over thousands of years, cavefish evolved and lost their vision, earning the moniker "the blind cavefish," but some cavefish also developed an inordinate number of taste buds on the head and chin......»»
Trojan horse method gives malaria parasites a taste of their own medicine
More than a quarter of Australians over the age of 50 take cholesterol-lowering drugs to prevent heart disease and strokes, but our bodies also need cholesterol to survive. Now, scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) say its role as.....»»
First biogeographic map of ants reveals nine global realms
The distribution of species around the globe is not a random process but an outcome resulting from several evolutionary mechanisms as well as past and current environmental limitations. As a result, since the mid-19th century, biologists have identif.....»»
I trust NASA’s safety culture this time around, and so should you
"The lessons of Columbia have not been forgotten." Through a cloud-washed blue sky above Launch Pad 39A, Space Shuttle Columbia hurtles toward space on mission STS-107. (credit: NASA) My first real taste of space journa.....»»
Genetic study uncovers onion bulb shape, size secrets
A new study by the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, University of Wisconsin details the genetic mechanisms influencing the shape and volume of onion bulbs, along with the effects of daylength on the bulbing process. This research provi.....»»
Battling bugs with big data: Sweet potato"s genomic-metagenomic pest shield
Sweet potato, a staple in combating global hunger, faces significant threats from pests like whiteflies and weevils, impacting plant growth and yields. A new study harnesses the power of genomic and metagenomic data to predict pest abundance and iden.....»»
Flow of sweetness: Key sugar transporters identified for enhanced camellia seed growth
Seed development is crucial for plant reproduction and crop yield, largely dependent on efficient sugar transport and metabolism. In many plants, the detailed mechanisms of sugar import remain unclear, despite extensive research on model species......»»