Junk DNA in birds may hold key to safe, efficient gene therapy
The recent approval of a CRISPR-Cas9 therapy for sickle cell disease demonstrates that gene editing tools can do a superb job of knocking out genes to cure hereditary disease. But it's still not possible to insert whole genes into the human genome to.....»»
Bird flu jumps from birds to human in Louisiana; patient hospitalized
This is the first human case of bird flu in Louisiana. A person in Louisiana is hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu after having contact with sick and dying birds suspected of carryin.....»»
Apple’s Passwords app makes it easy to replace your existing password manager
Apple’s Passwords app debuted this fall as a new password management solution for Apple devices. It also, helpfully, makes getting started very easy thanks to a key feature in the macOS version. more….....»»
HomeKit Weekly: Lockly Zeno Series offers full compatibility with Home Key and HomeKit
Lockly recently released its latest Zeno Series smart door locks, which include some fantastic features that Apple fans will love. Unveiled at CES 2024 and now available at The Home Depot, the new series features a redesigned, smaller footprint and s.....»»
A new twist: The molecular machines that loop chromosomes also twist DNA
Scientists from the Kavli Institute of Delft University of Technology and the IMP Vienna Biocenter have discovered a new property of the molecular motors that shape our chromosomes. While six years ago they found that these so-called SMC motor protei.....»»
I’ve had the Google Pixel 9 Pro for three months. Here’s why I still love it
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is one of 2024's best smartphones. How does it hold up over three months after its release?.....»»
Thousands of wild birds are dying of bird flu in Boise area, Idaho Fish and Game says
Wild birds are dying by the thousands in the Treasure Valley because of avian flu outbreaks, according to a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game......»»
Historian says Midwest played a crucial role in Black freedom movements worldwide
The Midwest played a central role in the growth of Black freedom movements in the 20th century. It was a key site for incubating and expanding the ideas of political activist Marcus Garvey, not only in the U.S., but globally, said University of Illin.....»»
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.....»»
Dogs walked off-leash cause 20% more disturbance to protected lowland heaths, UK study finds
Researchers at Royal Holloway University of London have used GPS trackers to measure where dogs roamed during walks in lowland heaths in South-East England, home to several protected birds like the European nightjar and Dartford Warbler. They found t.....»»
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.....»»
Barn swallow research offers real-time insight on how new species form
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder—even if that beholder is a barn swallow. Depending on where the birds live, some of them may favor mates with a paler chest color while others find a redder chest more attractive. The difference in what these bi.....»»
Neanderthal-human interbreeding lasted 7,000 years, new study reveals
A new analysis of DNA from ancient modern humans (Homo sapiens) in Europe and Asia has determined, more precisely than ever, the time period during which Neanderthals interbred with modern humans, starting about 50,500 years ago and lasting about 7,0.....»»
Study shows diverse virus populations coexist on single strains of gut bacteria
Viruses that infect and kill bacteria, called phages, hold promise as new treatment types for dangerous infections, including strains that have become resistant to antibiotics. Yet, virologists know little about how phages persist in the populations.....»»
Ancient genomes link early Europeans to Neanderthal ancestry
After modern humans left Africa, they met and interbred with Neanderthals, resulting in around 2–3% Neanderthal DNA that can be found in the genomes of all people outside Africa today. However, little is known about the genetics of these first pion.....»»
Studies pin down exactly when humans and Neanderthals swapped DNA
We may owe our tiny sliver of Neanderthal DNA to just a couple of hundred Neanderthals. Two recent studies suggest that the gene flow (as the young people call it these days) betw.....»»
New model find molecular interactions key to creating order in active systems
Non-reciprocal interactions can increase the order in an active system. This is the finding of a study by scientists from the department of Living Matter Physics at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS)......»»
Researchers reveal key factors behind Japan"s plastic waste removal rates in rivers
Plastic pollution is an ever-growing problem in today's world, as most societies have become overly dependent on plastics for packaging, medical supplies, and general goods......»»
How a piece of plastic shut down DNA testing at crime lab
It was technically a successful scientific discovery when analysts at the Hennepin County, Minnesota, forensic science lab recognized there was a contaminant somewhere in its DNA process. That did not lessen the sense of dread......»»
Apple Vision Pro apps 5G boost with visionOS 2.2
5G may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Apple Vision Pro. After all, there’s no built-in cellular option. But it turns out iOS 18.2 and visionOS 2.2 introduce a low key 5G enhancement for Apple Vision Pro apps. mor.....»»
HomePod 18.2 upgrades Siri’s most used feature with one big change
This hasn’t been a great year for the HomePod, but Apple’s finally showing its smart speaker some love. Today’s HomePod 18.2 software update brings a key upgrade to what’s surely the device’s most used Siri feature: Apple Music requests......»»