Potent trivalent inhibitors of thrombin from anticoagulation peptides in insect saliva
Thrombosis, the clogging of blood vessels, is a major cause of heart attacks and embolism. Scientists have now engineered the first inhibitors of thrombin, a protease promoting thrombosis, that is three-fold efficient. In a study published in the jou.....»»
Unraveling a debate on insect cognition
There's a debate among insect-cognition researchers, but the two camps have been arguing for so many decades that many onlookers are no longer sure what they are arguing about. SFI Postdoctoral Fellow Kelle Dhein, a philosopher and historian, has pub.....»»
Beetle specimen spared in fire at Brazilian National Museum turns out to be new species
Senckenberg researcher Dr. Marianna Simões, together with her colleague Dr. Lukáš Sekerka of the National Museum in Prague, discovered a new species from the tortoise-beetle genus. The insect, newly described as Dorynota phoenix in the journal Zoo.....»»
Development of new p38 protein inhibitors with therapeutic potential for some heart diseases
The p38 protein regulates a wide variety of cellular functions and is related to diseases such as chronic inflammation, immunological disorders, or cancer. To date, it has been difficult to find p38 inhibitors for use in clinical practice because the.....»»
Air pollution particles may be contributing to dramatic drop in global insect numbers
The impact of air pollution on insect health and reproduction is greater than previously understood and could be contributing to global declines in insect populations, including in remote wilderness areas, new research shows......»»
Study reveals how a tall spruce develops defense against hungry weevils
A study led by a North Carolina State University researcher identified genes involved in development of stone cells—rigid cells that can block a nibbling insect from eating budding branches of the Sitka spruce evergreen tree. The insect's attack ha.....»»
Research shows shrinking Arctic glaciers are unearthing a new source of methane
As the Arctic warms, shrinking glaciers are exposing bubbling groundwater springs which could provide an underestimated source of the potent greenhouse gas methane, finds new research published in Nature Geoscience......»»
Team develops peptides to combat bacterial biofilms
Researchers from the University of St Andrews have developed peptides that can help combat bacteria growing in biofilms, which occur in up to 80% of human infections......»»
In search of rice to reduce methane emissions
Livestock, the petroleum industry and landfills are all leading producers of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. But another significant but less well known contributor is one of the world's most popular crops: rice. Rice plants transport methane from.....»»
Medical, but hold the marijuana: new CBD source found in Brazil
In a laboratory tucked away on a sprawling university campus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian molecular biologist Rodrigo Moura Neto is running tests on a seemingly ordinary plant with a potent secret......»»
Potent new compound has breakthrough potential for parasitic sleeping sickness and Chagas treatment
Scientists have discovered a new class of compound that is potentially active against trypanosome parasites that cause human African trypanosomiasis (or sleeping sickness) and Chagas disease......»»
Microscopy techniques combine to create more powerful imaging device
If you imagine yourself peering through a microscope, you probably picture looking at a glass slide with an amoeba, or maybe a human cell, or perhaps even a small insect of some kind......»»
Hot testicles may hold the secret to elephants" anti-cancer genes, suggests new study
A study published today in Trends in Ecology & Evolution unveils an intriguing connection between hot testicles and the evolution of potent anti-cancer genes in elephants......»»
Laughter can play an important role in well-being, research finds
Laughter and humor are potent tools that can significantly impact our well-being, according to researchers from the University of Warwick......»»
Study reveals how leaf-cutting ants gauge leaf portion size
They might not be able to leap tall buildings with a single bound, but leaf-cutting ants are insect superheroes, capable of carrying leaf pieces up to six times their body mass to cultivate fungus in their borrows. But how do the charismatic creature.....»»
Climate change could lead to "widespread chaos" for insect communities
New species continue to evolve the world over, as different groups of organisms separate and take divergent paths. What happens when you add climate change to the mix?.....»»
Invasive oak processionary moth caterpillars cause concern for England"s trees
An insect that can be hazardous to human health is spreading across southeast England......»»
Usually $250, this robot vacuum can be yours for $150 today
The Eufy RoboVac 11S Max is an inexpensive but potent robot vacuum. It's even better value when it's $100 off at Amazon right now......»»
Insect wings could inspire new self-cleaning technologies
Fresh insights into how insects use water droplets to wash dirt and pollutants from their bodies could help improve the performance of self-cleaning devices, a study suggests......»»
Chemists develop a new class of antibiotics to fight resistant bacteria
Health professionals are in urgent need of new antibiotics to tackle resistant bacteria. Researchers at the University of Zurich and the company Spexis have now modified the chemical structure of naturally occurring peptides to develop antimicrobial.....»»
Cyberweapon manufacturers plot to stay on the right side of US
Contrasting fates of Israeli spyware-makers Paragon and NSO tell the tale. Enlarge (credit: FT montage/Shutterstock/Dreamstime) In the summer of 2019, as Paragon Solutions was building one of the world’s most potent cy.....»»