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.....»»
Converting PFAS "forever chemicals" into valuable compounds
Commonly known as "forever chemicals," PFAS are notorious for persisting in the environment and in our bodies. Osaka Metropolitan University chemists may put an end to the "forever" life of PFAS with their simple yet innovative technique that convert.....»»
Adding oxygen to a lake to explore methane emissions
Lakes around the world emit methane to the atmosphere, accounting for up to 19% of total global emissions of this potent greenhouse gas. Most of the methane in lakes comes from microbes in the lake bed that consume dissolved organic matter for susten.....»»
Deep-sea pressure found to preserve food for microbes in the abyss
A new study from the Danish Center for Hadal Research reports on a series of experiments with exposing marine snow to increasing pressure—up to 1000 bar, which corresponds to the pressure at the bottom of some of the world's deep-sea trenches, 10 k.....»»
How lab-made catalysts can help convert difficult greenhouse gases
Natural gas consists of light hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane. Such gases are more potent greenhouse gases than CO2, are constantly released into the atmosphere from natural gas wells, and are more difficult to store than, for example, their.....»»
Plastic waste in rivers may carry dangerous microbes: Study
Plastic litter in rivers might be allowing dangerous pathogens to hitch-hike downstream, a new study published Wednesday found......»»
Analysis finds diversity on the smallest scales in sulfur-cycling salt marsh microbes
At the surface, salt marshes and their windswept grasses can look deceptively simple. But those marshes are teeming with biodiversity, from the insects and migrating birds in the air all the way down to the microbes that live in the soil. Scientists.....»»
Biological fingerprints in soil show where diamond-containing ore is buried
Researchers have identified buried kimberlite, the rocky home of diamonds, by testing the DNA of microbes in the surface soil......»»
Declining Bering Sea ice linked to increasing wildfire hazard in northeast China
China has been making strides in recent years to reduce air pollution, including fitting filters in coal-fired power stations to remove sulfur dioxide from emissions, a molecule that reacts with other compounds in the atmosphere to form polluting par.....»»
Study shows maternal microbiota can affect fetal development
In a Finnish study, significant differences in the gene activity of the fetal intestine, brain and placenta were identified, depending on the microbes in the mother's body and the compounds produced by them. The findings indicate that maternal microb.....»»
Scientists discover new molecule that combats viral infection in bacteria
A Ph.D. researcher at the University of St Andrews studying microbes in the human gut has discovered a new molecule that acts as a "distress signal" when viruses are detected. The research is published in the journal Nature......»»
New "subway map" of Lyme disease pathways identifies potential new treatment targets
Scientists at Tufts University School of Medicine have developed a genome-scale metabolic model or "subway map" of key metabolic activities of the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Using this map, they have successfully identified two compounds tha.....»»
Only 1% of chemical compounds have been discovered—here"s how we search for others that could change the world
The universe is flooded with billions of chemicals, each a tiny pinprick of potential. And we've only identified 1% of them. Scientists believe undiscovered chemical compounds could help remove greenhouse gases, or trigger a medical breakthrough much.....»»
Yeast speeds discovery of medicinal compounds in plants
Cornell researchers have harnessed the power of baker's yeast to create a cost-effective and highly efficient approach for unraveling how plants synthesize medicinal compounds, and used the new method to identify key enzymes in a kratom tree......»»
Real-time visualization of plant-plant communications through airborne volatiles
Plants emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere upon mechanical damages or insect attacks. Undamaged neighboring plants sense the released VOCs as danger cues to activate defense responses against upcoming threats. This phenomenon o.....»»
Scientists upcycle polyesters through new waste-free, scalable process
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a new chemical process which upcycles polyesters, including PET in plastic bottles, to morpholine amide, a versatile and valuable building block for synthesizing a vast range of compounds......»»
How to watch two astronauts spacewalk to check the ISS for microbes
Two astronauts will perform a spacewalk from the International Space Station, collecting samples from the station's exterior to use in scientific research......»»
Agronomists find microbes to protect tomatoes from dangerous fungus
RUDN University agronomists and colleagues from Tunisia have discovered a way to stop the spread of a phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. It affects crops, especially tomatoes. The Trichoderma fungus and the Pseudomonas bacterium can protect the.....»»
Gut bacteria found in wild wolves may be key to improving domestic dogs" health
Gut microbes found in wild wolves may be the key to alleviating a debilitating gastrointestinal condition common to domestic dogs, according to a study led by researchers at Oregon State University—Cascades......»»
Research reveals how a single enzyme can boost soybean oil production
As a potent source of protein and oil, soybeans are a vital global crop for food, animal feed, industrial applications, and biofuel production. Even minor improvements in soybean seed content can therefore have far-reaching implications for agricultu.....»»
Metal-loving microbes offer a green way to refine rare earth elements
Rare earth elements are essential components of electric cars, wind turbines and smartphones. Retrieving these metals from raw ore requires processing with acids and solvents......»»