Predator interactions chiefly determine where Prochlorococcus microbes thrive
Prochlorococcus are the smallest and most abundant photosynthesizing organisms on the planet. A single Prochlorococcus cell is dwarfed by a human red blood cell, yet globally the microbes number in the octillions and are responsible for a large fract.....»»
Revolutionizing next-generation VR and MR displays with a novel pancake optics system
Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) have expanded perceptual horizons and ushered in deeper human-digital interactions that transcend the confines of traditional flat panel displays......»»
Microfluidic environments alter microbe behaviors, opening potential for engineering their social evolution
Microbes are social beings. Much like humans, they communicate and cooperate with each other to solve problems bigger than themselves. In a microbial community, there will even be free riders and others that police them......»»
Researchers uncover biological circuit that offers a new avenue for creating drought-resistant crops
Climate change is already harming agricultural yields and may one day pose a significant threat to the world's food supply. Engineering more resilient crops, including those able to thrive in the face of drought or high soil salinity levels, is an in.....»»
How does car traffic influence airborne fungal diversity?
Microbial particles including fungi, bacteria, allergens, etc., are common natural components of air. In particular, fungi represent a large portion of the airborne microbes since they are among the most abundant, widely dispersed, and pervasive orga.....»»
Research reveals minerals in soil shield microbial remains to aid carbon storage
A new study by Chinese researchers has revealed that soil minerals play a critical role in protecting the remains of dead microbes, thereby promoting carbon and nitrogen storage in the soil......»»
Improving climate predictions by unlocking the secrets of soil microbes
Climate models are essential to predicting and addressing climate change, but can fail to adequately represent soil microbes, a critical player in ecosystem soil carbon sequestration that affects the global carbon cycle......»»
Exploring new physics arising from electron interactions in semiconductor moiré superlattices
Semiconductor moiré superlattices are fascinating material structures that have been found to be promising for studying correlated electron states and quantum physics phenomena. These structures, made up of artificial atom arrays arranged in a so-ca.....»»
The best iPhones in 2024: which iPhone is right for you?
Shopping for a new iPhone? We compare all of the current models available to determine the best options for every need and budget......»»
Saturday Citations: A dog regenerates a body part that may surprise you; plus microbes, neurons and climate change
Coming in hot on February 3 with a photo of a cute French bully who did an amazing trick with his jawbone. Good boy! (Click!) Happy Saturday. Here's a roundup that includes news about additive printing of neurons, evidence that microbes like stuff, a.....»»
Common food preservative has unexpected effects on the gut microbiome
Food manufacturers often add preservatives to food products to keep them fresh. The purpose of these preservatives is to kill microbes that could break down and otherwise spoil the food. Common additives like sugar, salt, vinegar and alcohol have bee.....»»
Researchers use supercomputer to determine whether "molecules of life" can be formed naturally in right conditions
Basic biology textbooks will tell you that all life on Earth is built from four types of molecules: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. And each group is vital for every living organism......»»
Study traces the roots of longstanding cultural interactions across the Tibetan Plateau to prehistoric times
The 1 million-square-mile Tibetan Plateau—often called the "roof of the world"—is the highest landmass in the world, averaging 14,000 feet in altitude. Despite the extreme environment, humans have been permanent inhabitants there since prehistori.....»»
Clownfish “count” white stripes to determine if an invader is friend or foe
They attacked similar fish with three stripes more often than those with one or two stripes. Enlarge / Clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) seem to recognize different species of clownfish by counting white stripes. (credit:.....»»
How the microbes in wastewater can make our cities more sustainable
COVID-19 showed us how useful monitoring wastewater can be. But the genetic material in our wastewater, namely DNA and RNA, is a treasure trove of other useful information. It reveals the presence of thousands of different types of weird and wonderfu.....»»
Researchers develop method to map interactions of specific RNA regions in live cells
The interplay between ribonucleic acid (RNA) and proteins is not only important for maintaining cellular homeostasis but is also at the center of the tug-of-war between virus and host. Until now, there has been no method to globally map direct intera.....»»
The right bacteria turn farms into carbon sinks
A company works with farmers to treat fields with bacteria that sequester carbon. Some of the microbes that make carbon sequestration work. (credit: Andes Ag, Inc) In 2022, humans emitted a staggering 36 gigatons of carb.....»»
What happens when you reintroduce a predator to a conservation area? These quolls were put to the task
In the first reintroduction of western quolls to a fenced conservation reserve, researchers from UNSW and Arid Recovery watched closely to measure their impacts on local prey species. While predation by quolls and the impacts of drought caused declin.....»»
Understanding nutrient cycling between algae and bacteria could lead to increased biofuel production
The interactions between algae and bacteria are essential to the primary productivity of Earth's oceans and surface waters. Bacteria can increase the productivity of algae by producing key factors, such as vitamins, iron-chelating molecules, and grow.....»»
An efficient numerical program for studying light scattering at the nanoscale
When light encounters a particle, it interacts with the particle instead of just passing through smoothly. The light waves can get scattered in different directions because of the light-matter interactions......»»
The Doomsday Clock is still at 90 seconds to midnight. But what does that mean?
Once every year, a select group of nuclear, climate and technology experts assemble to determine where to place the hands of the Doomsday Clock......»»