Sponges, not just their microbes, make biologically potent compounds
Soft and immobile, sea sponges may appear inert, but these simple animals are rich with chemistry. From them, scientists have uncovered plenty of biologically active compounds, some of which have gone on to become medications. All of these small mole.....»»
Scientists discover plant hormone that boosts growth by 30%
Scientists from NUS and the Singapore Center for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) have uncovered one of nature's most potent tools in an arsenal to combat today's agricultural challenges: agro-microbials—or agro-chemicals of natural.....»»
A deep-learning framework for drug–drug interactions and drug–target interactions prediction
Exploring the biomedical interactions for chemical compounds and protein targets is crucial for drug discovery. Determining these drug–drug interactions (DDI) and drug–target interactions (DTI) not only reveals the potential synergistic effects o.....»»
Sulfur-cycling microbes could lead to new possibilities in river-wetland-ocean remediation
Nutrient cycles such as the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and sulfur cycles are critical processes that free up elements essential to life by recycling them through our water, air, and soil. Sulfur, specifically, is an integral element in producing a.....»»
Decoding flavonoid metabolism: A closer look at plant-based diets
In a world where plant-based lifestyles are on the rise, the power of foods such as broccoli, celery, and tofu, which are rich in flavonoids, is becoming clearer. Flavonoids are phenolic compounds produced by plants that are essential for plant devel.....»»
Scientists raise alarm as bacteria are linked to mass death of sea sponges weakened by warming Mediterranean
Vibrio bacteria, named for their vibrating swimming motion, span approximately 150 known species. Most Vibrio live in brackish or salt water, either swimming free or living as pathogens or symbionts in fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and corals. Because.....»»
Carbon dioxide becomes more potent as climate changes, study finds
A team of scientists found that carbon dioxide becomes a more potent greenhouse gas as more is released into the atmosphere......»»
New model allows for learning and prediction of microbial interactions
A tiny but prolific world of microbes encompasses everything around us, both inside and out. Microbiomes, which are comprised of diverse communities of microbes, play a pivotal role in shaping human health, yet the intricacies of how different microb.....»»
Google DeepMind adds nearly 400,000 new compounds to open-access database
New technology often calls for new materials—and with supercomputers and simulations, researchers don't have to wade through inefficient guesswork to invent them from scratch......»»
Minimalist or maximalist? The life of a microbe a mile underground
If you added up all the microbes living deep below Earth's surface, the amount of biomass would outweigh all life within our oceans......»»
Pressure-cooking birch leaves to produce raw material for organic semiconductors
Today, petrochemical compounds and rare metals such as platinum and iridium are used to produce semiconductors for optoelectronics, such as organic LEDs for super-thin TV and mobile phone screens. Physicists at Umeå University in collaboration with.....»»
Marine biota birth new atmospheric particles in the South Pacific Ocean
An international team of marine biogeochemist and atmospheric scientists have made a rare discovery in the almost uncharted atmosphere of the South Pacific Ocean. They found that nocturnal nanoparticle bursts that contain nitrogenous compounds origin.....»»
The way a sperm tail moves can be explained by mathematics worked out by Alan Turing
Alan Turing might be best know for his work helping to crack Germany's "Enigma" communications code during the second world war. But he also came up with a theory where patterns can form just through chemical compounds spreading out (diffusing) and r.....»»
Progress in wastewater treatment via organic supramolecular photocatalysts under sunlight
Refractory organic pollutants, including phenols, perfluorinated compounds, and antibiotics, are abundant in various industrial wastewater streams such as chemical, pharmaceutical, coking, and dyeing sectors, as well as municipal and domestic sources.....»»
Study offers new method for determining the water content of water-soluble compounds
Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland School of Pharmacy have developed a new method for the accurate determination of the water content of water-soluble compounds. This plays a significant role in, for example, drug dosage. The method uti.....»»
Researchers predict climate change-driven reduction in beneficial plant microbes
Bacteria that benefit plants are thought to be a critical contributor to crops and other ecosystems, but climate change may reduce their numbers, according to a new study by an international team of researchers. They have published their findings in.....»»
COP28 turns attention to potent methane emissions
Climate talks often revolve around reducing the most dangerous greenhouse gas CO2......»»
Hemp cannabinoids may have evolved to deter insect pests
Cannabinoids, naturally occurring compounds found in hemp plants, may have evolved to deter pests from chewing on them, according to experiments that showed higher cannabinoid concentrations in hemp leaves led to proportionately less damage from inse.....»»
New report outlines microbial solutions to mediate methane emissions
The American Academy of Microbiology has released a new report, The Role of Microbes in Mediating Methane Emissions. The report highlights recommendations to further the scientific community's understanding of microbial processes of methane productio.....»»
Microbes could help reduce the need for chemical fertilizers
Production of chemical fertilizers accounts for about 1.5% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. MIT chemists hope to help reduce that carbon footprint by replacing some chemical fertilizer with a more sustainable source—bacteria......»»
Engineering bacteria to biosynthesize intricate protein complexes
Protein cages found within microbes help its contents weather the harsh intracellular environment—an observation that has many bioengineering applications. Tokyo Tech researchers have recently developed an innovative bioengineering approach that us.....»»