Plants reprogram their cells to fight invaders. Here"s how
In times of war, factories retool to support the needs of battle. Assembly lines change course from turning out car parts to machine guns, or from building washing machines to aircraft engines......»»
How plants keep viruses from passing to their progeny
Scientists have learned how plants keep viruses from being passed to their offspring, a finding that could ensure healthier crops. The discovery could also help reduce the transmission of diseases from mothers to human children......»»
First-of-its kind tool allows scientists to manipulate cells without touching them
When studying the spread of cancer or the behavior of a virus like the one that causes COVID-19, the irony is that working with these harmful pathogens requires gentleness. Especially in the case of COVID, the particles do not survive well when makin.....»»
The memory in seeds: How plants carry environmental clues across generations
Phenotypic plasticity enables plants to adjust their physical traits in response to environmental variations, playing a vital role in their survival and adaptability. While past research has primarily focused on how these traits manifest within a sin.....»»
Redwood Materials signs deal to recycle BMW’s EV batteries in the US
The automaker will use recycled materials from Redwood in its American-made EVs. Enlarge / BMW is moving to cylindrical cells for its sixth-generation EV powertrain, which debuts in the Neue Klasse. And now it has a recycling par.....»»
Silencing in action: How cells "repress" genomic remnants of ancient viruses
Researchers have identified key cellular control sites that regulate gene expression and prevent the activation of "cryptic" genomic regions, including ancient viral sequences......»»
Measuring moon dust to fight air pollution
Moon dust, or regolith, isn't like the particles on Earth that collect on bookshelves or tabletops—it's abrasive and it clings to everything. Throughout NASA's Apollo missions to the moon, regolith posed a challenge to astronauts and valuable space.....»»
Mickey 17 trailer: 2025 already has its first bonkers sci-fi movie
All Robert Pattinson does is die (and fight with his clone) in the first trailer for Mickey 17, the long-awaited sci-fi film from Bong Joon-Ho......»»
What Is Sickle Cell Disease?
You have around 35 trillion red blood cells moving around your body at all times. Typically they are rounded and flexible. What happens when they aren’t?.....»»
Quantum ‘Ghost Imaging’ Reveals the Dark Side of Plants
Entanglement lets researchers watch plants in action without disruptive visible light.....»»
Computational tool can pinpoint causal relationships from complex biological data
Researchers have developed a tool that provides new insights into cause-and-effect relationships between cells and how these change over time......»»
Do bacteria age?
Any organism that lives, grows and reproduces must also age. People often think of aging in the physical sense—gray hair, slowed movements and wrinkles—but aging fundamentally occurs on a molecular level, inside of cells......»»
How crypto bros wrested Flappy Bird from its creator
Decadelong trademark fight culminates in new game hinting at "Web3 innovation." Enlarge / Imagine owning one of those funky birds as an NFT! (credit: Flappy Bird Twitter/X) Fans of ultra-viral mobile gaming hit Flappy Bi.....»»
Fungi to the rescue: South African scientists use innovative approach to protect apple trees
Gardeners the world over dread the appearance of aphids on their plants. There are around 4,000 species of these sap-sucking insects and about 250 are pests that can wreak havoc on crops in a garden or orchard......»»
Scientists decipher the energy patterns in our cells
Our cells harness energy for essential functions such as division, wound healing, and our immune response to diseases including cancer. But until now, the mechanics of how that energy affects cell behavior—and how this relates to health outcomes—.....»»
Study sheds light on trade-off between noise and power in nanoscale heat engines
Thanks to nanoscale devices as small as human cells, researchers can create groundbreaking material properties, leading to smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient electronics. However, to fully unlock the potential of nanotechnology, addressing no.....»»
Optogenetic control reveals collective cell behavior
New research led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has studied the migratory movement of groups of cells using light control. The results show that there is no leader cell that directs the collective movement, as previously thou.....»»
Brazil"s farmers fret over fires and drought
Sugarcane farmer Marcos Meloni is still haunted by his battle last month to fight the flames on his land, as the double-edged disaster of fires and drought hits Brazil's agricultural sector hard......»»
Scientists discover nonstomatal control of water loss in critical crops
Scientists have discovered that certain plants can survive stressful, dry conditions by controlling water loss through their leaves without relying on their usual mechanism—tiny pores known as stomata......»»
The silent conversations of plants
This morning, my six-year-old came into our bedroom and started reading a story from a book. She followed each word on the page, slowly forming full sentences. Sometimes she stumbled and asked for help with some "funny words," but by the end of the b.....»»
Researchers develop new method for delivering RNA and drugs into cells
Researchers at the University of Toronto and its hospital partners have developed a method for co-delivering therapeutic RNA and potent drugs directly into cells, potentially leading to a more effective treatment of diseases......»»