Whole genome duplications linked to higher oil yields in key crops
Oil crops are pivotal for human nutrition and industry due to their ability to produce and store large amounts of oil in seeds. With the global demand for vegetable oils steadily rising, there is an urgent need to discover new high-yielding oil plant.....»»
Gene regulation study reports surprising results: Extensive regions of DNA belong to multiple gene switches
Some sequences in the genome cause genes to be switched on or off. Until now, each of these gene switches, or so-called enhancers, was thought to have its own place on the DNA. Different enhancers are therefore separated from each other, even if they.....»»
"e-Drive": New gene drive reverses insecticide resistance in pests... then disappears
Insecticides have been used for centuries to counteract widespread pest damage to valuable food crops. Eventually, over time, beetles, moths, flies and other insects develop genetic mutations that render the insecticide chemicals ineffective......»»
Amazon pours another $4B into Anthropic, OpenAI’s biggest rival
Amazon has now committed $8 billion to AI startup that makes a key ChatGPT competitor. On Friday, Anthropic announced that Amazon has increased its investment in the AI startup by.....»»
Study: Brilliant white male characters more believable, some viewers say
Brilliant characters often play key roles in movies and TV shows. However, when these characters are played by women and people of color, some audience members dismiss them as unrealistic, even if they portray real people and events, a recent study f.....»»
You can now send higher-quality photos in RCS Google Messages chats. Here’s how
You will soon be able to send messages in their original quality and resolution through Google Messages. Here's how it works......»»
Engineers refine lipid nanoparticles for better mRNA therapies
Penn Engineers have cooked up a new way to improve mRNA delivery, developing an optimal "recipe" for ionizable lipids—key ingredients in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the molecules behind the COVID-19 vaccines and other innovative therapies. The meth.....»»
Ethical business practice can be the key to success, according to a new report
Companies can thrive without compromising their principles, according to new research by the University of York in collaboration with the Good Business Charter (GBC)......»»
DOJ indicts Phillips 66 for Southern California refinery allegedly dumping industrial wastewater into sewer
A federal grand jury in Los Angeles voted to indict Texas-based oil refiner Phillips 66 for allegedly dumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater from its Carson refinery into the Los Angeles County sewer system and then failing.....»»
Gabon forest elephant forays into villages spark ire
In heavily forested Gabon, elephants are increasingly wandering into villages and destroying crops, angering the local population who demand the power to stop the critically endangered animals in their tracks......»»
Low levels of common contaminants but high levels of other elements in waters linked to abandoned lithium mine
Lithium ore and mining waste from a historic lithium mine located west of Charlotte, North Carolina, are unlikely to contaminate surrounding waters with common pollutants such as arsenic and lead, according to a new study......»»
Quantum-inspired design boosts efficiency of heat-to-electricity conversion
Researchers at Rice University have found a new way to improve a key element of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems, which convert heat into electricity via light. Using an unconventional approach inspired by quantum physics, Rice engineer Gururaj Naik.....»»
Infrastructure and communication challenges can be barriers to food safety in the low-moisture food industry
Low-moisture foods such as dried fruits, seeds, tree nuts and wheat flour were once considered to carry minimal microbial risks. However, the increased number of outbreaks linked to bacteria-contaminated low-moisture foods has resulted in product rec.....»»
Origin of life research finds RNA can favor both left- and right-handed proteins
The mystery of why life uses molecules with specific orientations has deepened with a discovery that RNA—a key molecule thought to have potentially held the instructions for life before DNA emerged—can favor making the building blocks of proteins.....»»
Cash grants are better than earmarked matching grants for businesses in Burkina Faso
Cash grants appear to be more promising than matching grants, especially if the survival of small businesses, rather than innovation, is the key objective in fragile political contexts. This is the result of a study conducted by economists from the U.....»»
Race-blind college admissions harm diversity without improving quality, study finds
Critics of affirmative action in higher education have argued that the policy deprives more qualified students of a spot at a university or college. A new study by Cornell researchers finds that ignoring race leads to an admitted class that is much l.....»»
Aquaculture researchers decode the genome of the African catfish to advance modern breeding approaches
Scientists at the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) in Dummerstorf have decoded the genome of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), in collaboration with international partners......»»
How anti-obesity drugs are linked to food waste: 1 in 4 users report an increase in discarding food
Taking anti-obesity drugs has led some U.S. adults to throw away more food than they tossed before starting the medications, a new study has found......»»
Support for carbon pricing higher than expected, finds study
Viewed by many experts as one of the most effective tools of climate policy, carbon pricing seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Currently, however, only 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions are subject to this climate tax, as it is seen as un.....»»
Apple brings hearing tests to AirPods Pro 2 in France but holds back key feature
Apple's AirPods Pro 2 now let users in France test their hearing and reduce loud noises, but the hearing aid feature is stuck in regulatory limbo.AirPods ProApple has introduced new health-focused capabilities for the AirPods Pro 2, including a heari.....»»
Bob Iger remarkably (and accidentally) honest about Disney+ pricing and subscriptions
Disney CEO Bob Iger accidentally revealed a key piece of commercially-sensitive data during the company’s most recent earnings call: how many Disney+ subscribers are on ad-supported tier. He quickly realized his mistake, commenting shortly after.....»»