Thousands of programmable DNA-cutters found in algae, snails, and other organisms
A diverse set of species, from snails to algae to amoebas, make programmable DNA-cutting enzymes called Fanzors—and a new study from scientists at MIT's McGovern Institute for Brain Research has identified thousands of them. Fanzors are RNA-guided.....»»
Fossil algae show a lake once existed on Lesotho"s Mafadi summit, but it vanished about 150 years ago
Lesotho is a small, land-locked, mountainous country located in the middle of South Africa. Its Eastern Lesotho Highlands are often referred to as the region's "water tower" because they receive some of the highest rainfall amounts in southern Africa.....»»
Thousands evacuated as record rains pound northern Japan
Record heavy rain forced the evacuation of thousands of people across parts of northern Japan as rivers burst their banks washing away bridges and cars, officials and media reports said Friday......»»
Scientists publish first experimental evidence for new groups of methane-producing organisms
A team of scientists from Montana State University has provided the first experimental evidence that two new groups of microbes thriving in thermal features in Yellowstone National Park produce methane—a discovery that could one day contribute to t.....»»
Seabirds are threatened by trawl fisheries, study finds
Seabirds are among the most threatened creatures globally, often due to incidental mortality (bycatch) in fisheries. Several hundreds of thousands of seabirds are thought to be killed worldwide each year by two of the three main types of fishing gear.....»»
Russia"s war in Ukraine has been devastating for animals—but they"ve also given the nation reason for hope
Russia's war in Ukraine has caused immense suffering to the civilian population. Tens of thousands are believed to have been killed, though an exact figure is impossible to know. Russia's aggression has also sparked the biggest refugee crisis in Euro.....»»
Lost lake sheds light on past and future water security
Nestled high in the Eastern Lesotho Highlands, scientists have uncovered fascinating evidence of an ancient mountain lake that flourished thousands of years ago. This discovery, made by Professor Jennifer Fitchett from the University of the Witwaters.....»»
How biodiversity is changing in one of the world"s most productive ocean ecosystems
In research published in Global Change Biology, investigators have examined DNA within ocean bottom sediment cores to assess changes in living organisms within one of the world's most productive marine ecosystems: the Atacama Trench in the eastern Pa.....»»
CrowdStrike aftermath: Microsoft claims it cannot legally implement the same protections as Apple
The CrowdStrike aftermath is seeing IT teams around the world struggle to restore the 8.5 million Windows PCs taken out by the bug. The mess included thousands of flights cancelled, health centers unable to make appointments, retailer payment termina.....»»
Week in review: CrowdStrike update causes widespread IT outage, critical Splunk Enterprise flaw
Here’s an overview of some of last week’s most interesting news, articles, interviews and videos: Faulty CrowdStrike update takes out Windows machines worldwide Thousands and possibly millions of Windows computers and servers worldwide have been.....»»
Mexico tries to bring drought-stricken lake back to life
Mexican authorities are releasing thousands of juvenile fish and cleaning up freshwater springs as part of efforts to rejuvenate one of the country's lakes stricken by drought and heat waves......»»
Mantle upwelling may have triggered Morocco earthquake
On 8 September 2023, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck western Morocco, causing damage and destruction that claimed thousands of lives in rural communities in the High Atlas Mountains......»»
Gene silencing tool has a need for speed: Research provides deeper insight into RNAi tool design
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process that many organisms, including humans, use to decrease the activity of target RNAs in cells by triggering their degradation or slicing them in half. If the target is a messenger RNA, the intermediary between gene.....»»
Scientists integrate solid-state spin qubits with nanomechanical resonators
In a new Physical Review Letters study, scientists propose a new method for combining solid-state spin qubits with nanomechanical resonators for scalable and programmable quantum systems......»»
Crown-of-thorns starfish larvae feast on toxic cyanobacteria, study finds
Researchers have uncovered an under-the-sea phenomenon where coral-destroying crown-of-thorns starfish larvae have been feasting on blue-green algae bacteria known as "sea sawdust.".....»»
Beyond the Barrier Reef: Australia"s three other World Heritage reefs are also in trouble
The Great Barrier Reef is world famous—it's the largest coral reef system in the world and home to tens of thousands of species. No wonder it is World Heritage listed......»»
Snakes on a plate: Pythons touted as protein alternative
In a warehouse in the lush humid farmlands of central Thailand, thousands of pythons lie coiled in containers, rearing and striking at the glass as people pass by......»»
Can digital payments help countries adapt to climate change?
For thousands of farmers in the Philippines, climate change is a direct threat to their livelihoods......»»
Observatory gears up to detect thousands of elusive brown dwarfs, unlocking Milky Way mysteries
One could argue that brown dwarfs don't get the love they deserve. Sometimes referred to as "failed stars," they don't have enough mass to sustain nuclear fusion, which powers all stars, including our sun. But they are also too big to be considered p.....»»
New concept explains how tiny particles navigate water layers, with implications for marine conservation
A new UBC study published recently in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science has unveiled insights into how microscopic organisms such as marine plankton move through water with different density layers......»»
Algae instead of corals: A reef island adapts to changing environmental influences
Although it is surrounded by stressed coral reefs, an island in the Indonesian Spermonde Archipelago has not shrunk but continued to grow. Reef islands hence react dynamically to environmental changes that disturb their reef systems, according to a n.....»»