Study reveals how a sugar-sensing protein acts as a "machine" to switch plant growth—and oil production—on and off
Proteins are molecular machines, with flexible pieces and moving parts. Understanding how these parts move helps scientists unravel the function a protein plays in living things—and potentially how to change its effects. Biochemists at the U.S. Dep.....»»
Study: The diminishing impact of casino free-play promotions
Free-play campaigns—or gambling money on the house—have gotten big. They are the dominant play incentive in the gaming industry, where the most money is spent to get players in the door and keep them coming back for more. But new research suggest.....»»
More competition in banking, less information—research reveals the impacts on potential borrowers
A new study conducted by Filippo De Marco of Bocconi University, Milan, and Silvio Petriconi of the Catolica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, published in the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis reveals that competition among banks.....»»
Bats use four key tactics for accurate target tracking
The ability of "target tracking," i.e., keeping a target object in sight, is essential for various activities and has improved in animals and machines through the evolution of life and technology, respectively. Because most sensing systems are inevit.....»»
Pauses in human activity benefit biodiversity
A study published in Global Ecology and Conservation shows that COVID-19 lockdowns had a positive impact on the quality of species' habitats......»»
Researchers develop MoonIndex, open-source software that allows study of lunar surface
With MoonIndex, researchers from Constructor University and the National Institute of Astrophysics in Italy have developed an open-source software that for the first time gives scientists access to a free tool that creates science-ready products from.....»»
Climate inaction undermines public support for lifestyle changes, study finds
New research into the public perception of climate change initiatives finds that while there is strong support for low-carbon lifestyles, inaction is limiting public beliefs that a low-carbon future is possible......»»
Decoding apples: Nitrogen"s role in shaping fruit sugar content
Apple quality and yield are significantly affected by nitrogen levels in the soil, which influence various biochemical processes. Insufficient nitrogen can result in poor fruit quality, while excessive nitrogen leads to environmental pollution. Under.....»»
Researchers discover MAPK20-ATG6 link in tomato pollen vitality
Pollen development in flowering plants is a complex process involving multiple genetic and physiological pathways. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in various plant developmental stages......»»
Study reveals how one enzyme hitches a ride on another to recognize tRNA
Imagine your body as a highly organized factory where workers tirelessly assemble proteins around the clock. These proteins are the machines and scaffolds that make up your body and are essential for various functions. In this factory, special delive.....»»
AI predicts upper secondary education dropout as early as the end of primary school
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, from the fields of Psychology, Education, and Information Technology have developed the first machine learning models that forecast upper secondary education dropou.....»»
Robots steal jobs from unions—study shows decline in unionizations
Collective bargaining is a fundamental pillar of the European social model. In Italy, over the decades, unions have ensured wage increases commensurate with productivity growth and a gradual improvement in working conditions. Today, however, they are.....»»
Farmland weeds can help combat pests
Leaving some weeds between crops can help to combat pests on agricultural land, according to a new study carried out by the University of Bonn. This step has particularly positive effects in combination with other measures: the cultivation of differe.....»»
Public health beliefs predict support for climate action, study shows
A paper published in the current issue of the Journal of Health Communication by Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) researchers finds evidence that holding science-consistent beliefs about the public health effects of climate change is an importan.....»»
Battling anthracnose: Unearthing the plant"s arsenal against pathogenic fungi
Plant diseases caused by pathogens like Colletotrichum fructicola lead to significant agricultural losses, particularly in fruit crops such as pear, apple, and peach. Traditional control methods often fail as pathogens adapt to plant defenses. Nonhos.....»»
Tea science: Gene discovery to boost mechanical harvesting
Researchers have made significant strides in understanding the genetic factors influencing tea plant leaf droopiness, a key determinant of mechanical harvest success. By identifying the CsEXL3 gene and its regulation by CsBES1.2, the study paves the.....»»
New study unveils formation secrets of tiny rare earth elements
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin's School of Natural Sciences have revealed a novel route to the formation of bastnäsite, a crucial mineral for the extraction of rare earth elements (REEs). Their work offers promise in one day making the extr.....»»
Detecting intelligent life that"s light years away: Greenhouse gases could signal alien activity
If aliens modified a planet in their solar system to make it warmer, we'd be able to tell. A new UC Riverside study identifies the artificial greenhouse gases that would be giveaways of a terraformed planet......»»
Using supercomputer researchers discover new clues to improving fusion confinement
Nuclear fusion—when two nuclei combine to form a new nucleus, thereby releasing energy—may be the clean, reliable, limitless power source of the future. But first, scientists must learn how to control its production......»»
Quantum state mixing in photobiology: New insight from ultrafast terahertz Stark spectroscopy
The membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin is a proton pump, in which proton transport is initiated by the light-induced isomerization of the chromophore retinal. The molecular quantum states involved in this ultrafast reaction have now been characterize.....»»
Global South health care practices contribute to spread of antimicrobial resistance across the world, study suggests
Many bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics originate in Pakistan and other parts of the Indian subcontinent. Infections caused by these bacteria are challenging to treat; longer treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics is required and despite t.....»»