Ye olde pathogen: Learning about evolution from ancient DNA
As long as humans have been around, there have been pathogens to make us sick. Some have achieved infamy in human history—the bubonic plague, for example, or smallpox—and with modern technologies, scientists can time-travel to find out what the b.....»»
Researchers reveal key mechanism in regulating DNA recombination
Meiotic recombination generates genetic diversity and promotes proper chromosomal segregation of parental chromosomes. This process requires a set of recombinases polymerized on single-stranded (ss) DNAs called the nucleoprotein filament to undergo h.....»»
34 of the best MIT courses you can take online for free
The best free online courses from MIT. Find lessons on AI, machine learning, investing, and more. TL;DR: A wide range of online courses from MIT are available to take for free on edX. A massive bank of free online courses can be found on edX. A.....»»
Strange “biotwang” ID’d as Bryde’s whale call
Multi-species machine-learning model can unlock insights into new whale species. In 2014, researchers monitoring acoustic recordings from the Mariana Archipelago picked up an unus.....»»
Study suggests statistical "noise" affects perceived evolutionary rates
For decades, researchers have observed that rates of evolution seem to accelerate over short time periods—say five million years versus fifty million years. This broad pattern has suggested that "younger" groups of organisms, in evolutionary terms,.....»»
Scientists offer a detailed look at the skeleton of an ancient predator that thrived in extreme conditions
Imagine a world on the brink of collapse: volcanic eruptions spewing toxic gases, oceans turning acidic, and up to 90% of Earth's species vanishing in the blink of an eye. This was the reality at the end of the Permian Period, around 252 million year.....»»
Engineers create a chip-based tractor beam for biological particles
MIT researchers have developed a miniature, chip-based "tractor beam," like the one that captures the Millennium Falcon in the film "Star Wars," that could someday help biologists and clinicians study DNA, classify cells, and investigate the mechanis.....»»
Centuries ago, the Maya storm god Huracán taught that when we damage nature, we damage ourselves
The ancient Maya believed that everything in the universe, from the natural world to everyday experiences, was part of a single, powerful spiritual force. They were not polytheists who worshipped distinct gods but pantheists who believed that various.....»»
Study sheds light on limitations of zooplankton for inactivating pathogen contaminated water
Scientists at The University of Texas at El Paso and Stanford University were recently surprised to find that the natural community of zooplankton—tiny, aquatic animals known to graze on bacteria—present in freshwater and saltwater do not clean w.....»»
Ancient protein structure may have enabled early molecular evolution and diversification
In a finding that offers fresh insights into the early evolution of life on Earth, two RIKEN biologists have conducted lab experiments that have revealed a previously unknown protein fold, which is completely absent in modern proteins......»»
23andMe Is Sinking Fast. Can the Company Survive?
The home DNA testing boom is over, and 23andMe is running out of options......»»
Study traces wild cat eye color diversity to ancient ancestor
Fans of Clementine, the cat who recently captivated TikTok with her rare eye color, should take note. The piercing golden gaze of cheetahs, the striking blue stare of snow leopards, and the luminous green glare of leopards are all traits that can be.....»»
Webb telescope detects unusual gas jets from Centaur 29P
Inspired by the half-human, half-horse creatures that are part of Ancient Greek mythology, the field of astronomy has its own kind of centaurs: distant objects orbiting the sun between Jupiter and Neptune. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has mapped.....»»
Iron nuggets in the Pinnacles unlock secrets of ancient and future climates
Small iron-rich formations found within Western Australia's Pinnacles, which are part of the world's largest wind-blown limestone belt spanning more than 1,000km, have provided new insights into Earth's ancient climate and changing landscape......»»
First-ever artificial cell nuclei created in living egg from purified DNA injection
A research group is the first in the world to succeed in constructing artificial cell nuclei by injecting purified DNA solution instead of sperm into living mouse eggs. Their findings are published in the journal Genes to Cells......»»
Developing novel chiral capsule tools for advanced optical technologies
Chirality is an essential property in biology; the molecular building blocks of some of the most important biological structures, including DNA and proteins, are chiral. When a molecule is said to be chiral, it means that it is distinguishable from i.....»»
Q&A: Using a new approach to shine a light on hidden plant microbes
Despite there being more microbes on Earth than stars in our galaxy, only a tiny fraction have been discovered. An approach called metagenomics—a type of DNA sequencing—may help scientists learn more about these elusive organisms, according to Pe.....»»
SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle speakers: warm, sweet, effortless sound
The SVS Evolution Pinnacle speakers are excellent in so many ways that it might seem hard to believe. But these could well be the only speakers I ever need......»»
Franklin expedition captain who died in 1848 was cannibalized by survivors
Scientists matched DNA of living descendent to Capt. James Fitzjames of the HMS Erebus. Scientists at the University of Waterloo have identified one of the doomed crew members of.....»»
Enveil enables organizations to securely train machine learning models
Enveil announced the expansion of the core technologies supported by its ZeroReveal Machine Learning product, an enhancement that will further broaden and diversify the range of customer-driven use cases the solution can address. By allowing customer.....»»
Research provides new insights into role of mechanical forces in gene expression
The genome inside each of our cells is modeled by tension and torsion—due in part to the activity of proteins that compact, loop, wrap and untwist DNA—but scientists know little about how those forces affect the transcription of genes......»»