Myth, busted: Formation of Namibia’s fairy circles isn’t due to termites
Plants are "ecosystem engineers" that survive by forming optimal geometric patterns. Enlarge / Drone image of car driving through the NamibRand Nature Reserve, one of the fairy-circle regions in Namibia. (credit: Stephan Getzin).....»»
Scientists propose a new filler for bone implants with increased bioactivity
An international team of scientists with the participation of researchers from NUST MISIS has proposed an alternative filler for 3D printed bone scaffolds based on calcium silicate. The material prevents the formation of a bacterial film on the surfa.....»»
The rediscovery of an ethereal fairy lantern brightly illuminates its mysterious past
Green leaves and photosynthesis were once considered key features of plants. However, some plants have since abandoned this process, obtaining their nutrients from other organisms. One such plant is the genus of Thismia, commonly known as fairy lante.....»»
Mysteries of Earth: Researchers predict how fast ancient magma ocean solidified
Early in the formation of Earth, an ocean of magma covered the planet's surface and stretched thousands of miles deep into its core. The rate at which that "magma ocean" cooled affected the formation of the distinct layering within the planet and the.....»»
Keyboard DIYing is moving outside hobbyist circles—and that’s a good thing
Just ask Best Buy. Enlarge (credit: Scharon Harding) Last week, I visited a friend and, for the first time, saw a mechanical keyboard on her desk. This is someone I've known for decades and who's not into tech, so this.....»»
Researchers find several oceanic bottom circulation collapses in the past 4.7 million years
Antarctic bottom water (AABW) covers more than two-thirds of the global ocean bottom, and its formation has recently decreased. However, its long-term variability has not been well understood......»»
Locking and unlocking molecular structures on demand
Researchers at Kanazawa University report in Angewandte Chemie International Edition how the formation and deformation speed of interlocked molecular structures called rotaxanes can be tuned—a discovery that may lead to an enhanced functionality of.....»»
Violent extremists are not lone wolves—dispelling this myth could help reduce violence
On Feb. 15, 2023, a judge informed Payton Gendron—a white 19-year-old who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo Tops market in 2022—that "You will never see the light of day as a free man ever again.".....»»
How lake ice formation influences transformation of dissolved organic matter
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is the main form and active component of natural organic matter in lakes. Microbial- and photo-degradation of DOM can release large amounts of small molecule organic acids and biogenic substances......»»
Small-scale convection shuffles the oceanic lithosphere, finds study
The oceanic lithosphere forms at the summit of ocean ridges during seafloor spreading. Still, the formation of ocean basins is complex, influenced by smaller-scale convection, stagnated pieces of the lithosphere, and tectonic motion from nearby plate.....»»
Psychological grit is overrated as the key to retention in distance education—new study debunks the myth
Psychological grit has garnered a lot of interest in the last decade, particularly in the higher education arena. It's typically defined as passion and perseverance for long-term goals. A great deal has been written about it and the role it plays in.....»»
Scientists observe high-speed star formation
Gas clouds in the Cygnus X Region, a region where stars form, are composed of a dense core of molecular hydrogen (H2) and an atomic shell. These ensembles of clouds interact with each other dynamically in order to quickly form new stars. That is the.....»»
Astronomers spot a rogue supermassive black hole hurtling through space leaving star formation in its wake
Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) lurk in the center of large galaxies like ours. From their commanding position in the galaxy's heart, they feed on gas, dust, stars, and anything else that strays too close, growing more massive as time passes. But in.....»»
Fiber discovery could shape better gut health
Changing the structure of a dietary fiber commonly found in a range of food products has been found to promote healthy gut bacteria and reduce gas formation, a finding that could help people with intolerances to fiber and irritable bowel conditions......»»
Newly discovered components of Dendrolimus pini sex pheromone
Beyond the seven mountains and forests, a hungry beast was stealing away. Does this sound like a fairy tale? In reality, such a beast does exist. It is the caterpillar of the nocturnal pine-tree lappet moth (Dendrolimus pini, L.), which feeds on pine.....»»
New research provides fresh insight on planet formation
The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA)—an astronomical interferometer of 66 telescopes in northern Chile, captured an exquisite image of the protoplanetary disk surrounding the young star known as Elias 2-24—but scientists noticed a mysterious.....»»
Two proteins join forces to make flowers
What mechanisms are behind the formation of flowers? To answer this question a 25-year-old enigma has just been solved: the role of UFO protein in the flower's formation process. While its nature suggested that it destroys its partners, this protein.....»»
Tracing the origin of life—a new abiotic pathway for the formation of peptide chains from amino acids
A team of scientists from France and Austria has discovered a new abiotic pathway for the formation of peptide chains from amino acids—a key chemical step in the origin of life. The current study provides strong evidence that this crucial step for.....»»
Climate crisis could pave way for global termite infestation
Warming temperatures unleash termites in more areas of the world, and more termites may actually accelerate warming temperatures. Scientists say it's time for climate prediction models to take note......»»
"Captain Sato" plans new player formation for Team Toyota as CEO; quarterly profits rise
Toyota's next CEO, Koji Sato, is changing the automaker’s leadership lineup to better compete in a challenging new era. Meanwhile, the automaker said operating profit improved 22 percent in the recent fiscal quarter......»»
"Captain Sato" plans new player formation for Team Toyota as CEO
Toyota's next CEO, Koji Sato, is changing the automaker’s leadership lineup to better compete in a challenging new era......»»