Phage viruses, used to treat antibiotic resistance, gain advantage by cutting off competitors" reproduction ability
Curious bits of DNA tucked inside genomes across all kingdoms of life historically have been disregarded since they don't seem to have a role to play in the competition for survival, or so researchers thought......»»
Social media platforms are throttling access to news—with far-reaching implications for democracy
Just days out from the United States presidential election last month, X (formerly Twitter) suddenly crippled the ability of many major media and political organizations to reach audiences on the social media platform......»»
Scientists identify mutation that could facilitate H5N1 bird flu virus infection and potential transmission in humans
Avian influenza viruses typically require several mutations to adapt and spread among humans, but what happens when just one change can increase the risk of becoming a pandemic virus?.....»»
Longitudinal study reveals ethnic studies boosts critical thinking, equity awareness in high school students
High school students enrolled in ethnic studies develop the ability to think analytically about the causes of social inequalities, a University of Michigan study suggests......»»
The dual role of insects in parasitic plant reproduction solves a long-standing botanical mystery
In the dark and moist understories of the subtropical forests of Shimoshima Island in Japan grow parasitic plants that feed on the roots of other plants. They are called Balanophora, and for over a century, the mechanism of their seed dispersal has r.....»»
Biologist explores why humans have sex—and sexes—in a world where life requires neither
University of Maryland biology Professor Eric Haag has spent his career studying animal reproduction, but people's sex lives never factored into his research. That changed in 2014 when a cancer diagnosis prompted Haag to take stock of his career......»»
Here are the best Apple ecosystem ‘magic moments’ you should know
We’ve all heard the term the Walled Garden when talking about the Apple ecosystem. Apple’s biggest competitive advantage is the fact that they control everything from both a hardware and software perspective, allowing its customers to experience.....»»
Trump nominates Jared Isaacman to become the next NASA administrator
"We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place." President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday he has selected Jared Isaacman,.....»»
10 best movies of the 2000s, ranked
The best 2000s movies featured groundbreaking stories and cutting-edge visuals that set new standards for filmmaking, from The Dark Knight to Spirited Away......»»
Study finds soil microbes affect flowers" ability to attract bees
New research reveals that certain soil microbes can help plants grow bigger flowers, therefore attracting more bees. The findings, which are published in New Phytologist, suggest that studying roots' relationships with microbes can help scientists pr.....»»
Excavations uncover evidence for the emergence and rejection of the earliest state institutions in Iraq
Excavations at a 4th millennium BCE settlement in Iraqi Kurdistan have revealed new clues about the origins of the world's earliest governing institutions, suggesting they emerged partly from their ability to provide large-scale meals, potentially as.....»»
Simulated outbreaks demonstrate how evolutionary approaches can estimate the speed of viral spread
Evaluating the speed at which viruses spread and transmit across host populations is critical to mitigating disease outbreaks. A study published December 3 in PLOS Biology by Simon Dellicour at the University of Brussels (ULB), Belgium, and colleague.....»»
Chemical structure"s carbon capture ability doubled by new research
Oregon State University scientists have found a way to more than double the uptake ability of a chemical structure that can be used for scrubbing carbon dioxide from factory flues......»»
Bird dispersal ability shapes biodiversity patterns on islands worldwide, new study finds
You can know a lot of things about birds just by the shape of their wings. A seafaring albatross, stretching out its sail-like airfoils, lives a very different life from a ground-dwelling antpitta with its long legs and short, stubby wings that it us.....»»
Customized CRISPR toolkit allows remote-controlled genome editing
Thanks to CRISPR, medical specialists will soon have unprecedented control over how they treat and prevent some of the most challenging genetic disorders and diseases......»»
Democracy fatigue: An intelligent system that combines direct and representative politics can help counter it
Democracy is in crisis. Many people are losing confidence in political parties and parliaments and their ability to solve pressing social problems in the long term......»»
Treat AI like a human: Redefining cybersecurity
In this Help Net Security interview, Doug Kersten, CISO of Appfire, explains how treating AI like a human can change the way cybersecurity professionals use AI tools. He discusses how this shift encourages a more collaborative approach while acknowle.....»»
Resurrecting an ancestral protein as a novel tool to study RNA biology
By deducing the possible ancient forms of a bacterial enzyme, OIST scientists have resurrected one of its ancestral versions, with a comparably higher ability to chemically modify RNA......»»
Experiment realizes quantum advantage in data storage with a photonic quantum processor
In recent years, quantum physicists and engineers have been trying to develop quantum computer processors that perform better than classical computers on some tasks. Yet conclusive demonstrations proving that quantum systems perform better than their.....»»
Exploring the ecological role of deep-sea viruses
The significance of deep-sea virology and its impact on global climate and biogeochemical structures is not unknown, though its importance might be understated......»»
3D-printed particles propel themselves across the surface of a fluid
A small team of physicists at the University of Amsterdam has demonstrated the ability of 3D-printed particles to propel themselves across the surface of a fluid, given the right fuel. The group has posted a paper describing their particles on the ar.....»»