Microalgae with unusual cell biology could lead to improved understanding of harmful algal blooms
What are the molecular processes in a unicellular marine algae species that can cause harmful algal blooms? A research team led by microbiologist Prof. Dr. Ralf Rabus from the University of Oldenburg (Germany) has conducted the first detailed analyse.....»»
Sneaking science into Borderlands: Inside the game inside a game
A key to its success? Making a game that didn't look like it involved biology. Enlarge / Line up those colors and close those gaps... for science! In 2020, a new minigame appeared in the video game Borderlands 3, locate.....»»
Chimps shown to learn and improve tool-using skills even as adults
Chimpanzees continue to learn and hone their skills well into adulthood, a capacity that might be essential for the evolution of complex and varied tool use, according to a study published May 7 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Mathieu Malh.....»»
Study demonstrate improved root growth in radio-cesium contaminated soil
Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) have identified a way for plants to gain resistance to cesium, a radioactive toxin that can be found in contaminated soil. After manipulating a specific biological signaling path.....»»
More feelings of misinformation lead to more news avoidance, study shows
As people have more difficulty distinguishing fact from fiction in the United States, they are more likely to feel news fatigue and avoid news altogether, according to a University of Michigan study......»»
New patent for bio-based polymer to be used in piezoelectric devices
UD engineers are the lead inventors on a new patent for making piezoelectric devices, such as sensors and actuators, using Nodax, a biodegradable, bio-based polymer......»»
Wait! Don’t update your Sonos app until you read this
The Sonos app has received its biggest update in years, but along with an improved user experience comes a not-so-nice change for music fans......»»
"Doing your own research" can make fake news seem believable
While it's healthy to question what we see and hear in the media, those quick internet searches to fact-check news stories can unexpectedly backfire and lead people to believe false stories, according to the director of the University of Oregon's und.....»»
New research confirms that Beethoven had lead poisoning—but it didn"t kill him
To this day, no one knows for certain what caused the liver and kidney disease that led to Ludwig van Beethoven's untimely death. However, a new letter to the editor in the journal Clinical Chemistry rules out one popular theory, showing that the com.....»»
Loss of large herbivores affects interactions between plants and their natural enemies, study shows
Insects and microorganisms that feed on plants, cut up leaves, modify leaf tissue or produce leaf spots and other kinds of damage, are usually known as pests and considered harmful, yet interactions between plants and their natural enemies are import.....»»
Study reveals differences in DNA folding between neurons and other brain cells, links them to cell functions
Researchers from Skoltech and their colleagues have investigated nerve cell regulation. Mounting knowledge of regulation mechanisms could enable a better understanding of how the healthy brain operates and what goes wrong in developmental and oncolog.....»»
Study sheds light on cancer cell "tug-of-war"
Understanding how cancerous cells spread from a primary tumor is important for any number of reasons, including determining the aggressiveness of the disease itself. The movement of cells into the extracellular matrix (ECM) of neighboring tissue is a.....»»
How a "conductor" makes sense of chaos in early mouse embryos
Early embryonic development is tumultuous. It involves a rapid sequence of events, including cell division, differentiation, and lots of compartments moving around within each cell. Like an orchestra performance where each member of the band must sta.....»»
Research team discovers new property of light
A research team headed by chemists at the University of California, Irvine has discovered a previously unknown way in which light interacts with matter, a finding that could lead to improved solar power systems, light-emitting diodes, semiconductor l.....»»
Laboratory and natural strains of intestinal bacterium turn out to have similar mutational profiles
Understanding mutational processes in a cell offers clues to the evolution of a genome. Most actively, mutation processes are studied in human cancer cells, while other genomes are often neglected......»»
Rich molecular language guides tiny liquid droplet formation in cells
Peering into a biological cell reveals a bustling microscopic world. The workhorses within this realm are specialized structures called organelles that perform vital cellular functions. Curiously, some organelles defy accepted convention: Instead of.....»»
Contradictory thoughts lead to more moderate attitudes, psychologists find
Researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Psychology (ZPID) and the University of Hohenheim present rhetorical tools that can help to reduce the polarization of discussions......»»
Unraveling isopods" culinary secrets and why it matters for ecosystems
New research on desert isopods' dietary preferences is the revelation of the complex factors influencing their food choices. By understanding how these animals meticulously regulate their nutrient intake and prefer biological soil crusts over plant l.....»»
Two facilities team up for structural biology advances with X-ray free-electron lasers and exascale computing
Plans to unite the capabilities of two cutting-edge technological facilities promise to usher in a new era of dynamic structural biology. Through DOE's Integrated Research Infrastructure, or IRI, initiative, the facilities will complement each other'.....»»
Scientists" research answers big question about our system"s largest planet
New discoveries about Jupiter could lead to a better understanding of Earth's own space environment and influence a long-running scientific debate about the solar system's largest planet......»»
"Everywhere we looked, we found evidence": Microplastics expert on 20 years of pollution research
Thirty years ago, while counting barnacles, limpets and seaweeds along rocky shores, I started noticing a daily tide of litter, mostly plastic. As a marine biology Ph.D. student at Liverpool University, I kept removing it, but the next day, there'd b.....»»