SARS-CoV-2 hijacks nanotubes between neurons to infect them
COVID-19 often leads to neurological symptoms, such as a loss of taste or smell, or cognitive impairments (including memory loss and concentration difficulties), both during the acute phase of the disease and over the long term with "long COVID" synd.....»»
Researchers reveal how a virus hijacks insect sperm: May help control disease vectors and pests
A widespread bacteria called Wolbachia and a virus that it carries can cause sterility in male insects by hijacking their sperm, preventing them from fertilizing eggs of females that do not have the same combination of bacteria and virus......»»
Microbial viruses act as secret drivers of climate change, new study finds
In a new study, scientists have discovered that viruses that infect microbes contribute to climate change by playing a key role in cycling methane, a potent greenhouse gas, through the environment......»»
Researchers discover way to bind nanotubes to metals
Carbon nanotubes have shown promise for everything from microelectronics to aviation to energy storage. Researchers think this material might one day fulfill the science fiction dream of creating an elevator to space......»»
How the SARS-CoV-2 virus acquires its spherical shape
For centuries, coronaviruses have triggered health crises and economic challenges, with SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that spreads COVID-19, being a recent example. One small protein in SARS-CoV-2, the membrane protein, or M protein, is the most abunda.....»»
Bat "nightclubs" may be the key to solving the next pandemic
Bats carry some of the deadliest zoonotic diseases that can infect both humans and animals, such as Ebola and COVID-19. In a recently-published article in the journal Cell Genomics, a Texas A&M research team has revealed that some species of bats are.....»»
Here’s how to protect against ‘GoldPickaxe’, the first iPhone trojan
An Android trojan called GoldDigger surfaced last year that can steal biometric data and more from victims to compromise their bank accounts. Now the threat has evolved into the GoldPickaxe trojan that can infect iOS and Android. Fortunately, there a.....»»
Can you sanitize the inside of your nose to prevent COVID? Nope, FDA says.
There are a lot of COVID nasal sprays for sale, but little data to show they work. Enlarge (credit: Nozin.com) More than four years after SARS-CoV-2 made its global debut, the US Food and Drug Administration is still wor.....»»
Desert ants: Earth"s magnetic field calibrates their navigation system
They are only a few centimeters tall and their brains have a comparatively simple structure with less than 1 million neurons. Nevertheless, desert ants of the Cataglyphis genus possess abilities that distinguish them from many other creatures: The an.....»»
Researchers directly detect interactions between viruses and their bacterial hosts in soil
Bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—are common in soil ecosystems. However, many of these phages have not been identified, and the bacteria they target are also a mystery......»»
Attackers injected novel DSLog backdoor into 670 vulnerable Ivanti devices (CVE-2024-21893)
Hackers are actively exploiting a vulnerability (CVE-2024-21893) in Ivanti Connect Secure, Policy Secure and Neurons for ZTA to inject a “previously unknown and interesting backdoor” dubbed DSLog. CVE-2024-21893 patches and exploitation I.....»»
Curved carbon nanotubes enhance electrocatalysts for carbon neutrality
Electrocatalysis plays a vital role in developing clean energy, greenhouse gas removal and energy storage technologies. A study co-led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) researchers found that single-walled carbon nanotubes are excellent substra.....»»
Fisetin rescues pathogenic mutation of kinesin in neurons, finds study
Mutations in the kinesin KIF1A cause impaired axonal transport, resulting in neurological disorders or neurodevelopmental disorders known as KIF1A-associated neurological disorder (KAND). In clinical practice, there is limited knowledge about effecti.....»»
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.....»»
Unveiling oxidation-induced super-elasticity in metallic glass nanotubes
Oxidation can degrade the properties and functionality of metals. However, a research team co-led by scientists from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently discovered that severely oxidized metallic glass nanotubes can attain an ultrahigh reco.....»»
DNA particles that mimic viruses hold promise as vaccines
Using a virus-like delivery particle made from DNA, researchers from MIT and the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard have created a vaccine that can induce a strong antibody response against SARS-CoV-2......»»
Researchers develop implantable device that can record a collection of individual neurons over months
Recording the activity of large populations of single neurons in the brain over long periods of time is crucial to further our understanding of neural circuits, to enable novel medical device-based therapies and, in the future, for brain–computer i.....»»
Ancient "relaxant-inflammatory" mechanism gets sponges moving
Did you know that sponges can move? While not exactly the champions of underwater acrobatics, sponges exhibit coordinated movements—despite not having muscles or neurons......»»
Scientists make COVID receptor protein in mouse cells
A team of scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and Columbia University has demonstrated a way to produce large quantities of the receptor that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, binds to on the s.....»»
Scientists propose a self-organizing model of connectivity that applies across a wide range of organisms
A study by physicists and neuroscientists from the University of Chicago, Harvard and Yale describes how connectivity among neurons comes about through general principles of networking and self-organization, rather than the biological features of an.....»»
Unpicking the Mystery of the Body’s ‘Second Brain’
Sitting alongside the neurons in your enteric nervous system are underappreciated glial cells, which play key roles in digestion and disease that scientists are only just starting to understand......»»