When conditions cool down, a bacterial prey species becomes the predator
From PLOS 28/01/24 In a new study, two species of bacteria grown in a lab reversed their predator-prey relationship after one species was grown at a lower temperature. Marie Vasse of MIVEGEC, France, and colleagues publish these findings January 23rd in the open access journal PLOS Biology. Prior research has shown that ecological context can […]
Mushrooms, coffee grounds and natural pineapple fibers: The future of eco-friendly materials
From Tsinghua University Press 17/01/24 This innovative study, spearheaded by Dr. Nattawut Boonyuen (https://scholar.google.co.th/citations?user=R_5ATcAAAAAJ&hl=en), a renowned mycologist from the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) at the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), and Dr. Pitak Laoratanakul (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Pitak-Laoratanakul) from the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), also at NSTDA, marks a […]
World’s smallest “fanged” frogs found in Indonesia
From Field Museum 08/01/24 In general, frogs’ teeth aren’t anything to write home about—they look like pointy little pinpricks lining the upper jaw. But one group of stream-dwelling frogs in Southeast Asia has a strange adaptation: two bony “fangs” jutting out of their lower jawbone. They use these fangs to battle with each other over […]
How jellyfish regenerate functional tentacles in days
From University of Tokyo 04/01/24 At about the size of a pinkie nail, the jellyfish species Cladonema can regenerate an amputated tentacle in two to three days — but how? Regenerating functional tissue across species, including salamanders and insects, relies on the ability to form a blastema, a clump of undifferentiated cells that can repair […]
A tidy cell seems to keep aging at bay
From Osaka University 04/01/24 Just as healthy organs are vital to our well-being, healthy organelles are vital to the proper functioning of the cell. These subcellular structures carry out specific jobs within the cell, for example, mitochondria power the cell and lysosomes keep the cell tidy. Although damage to these two organelles has been linked […]
Genetic mutations that promote reproduction tend to shorten human lifespan, study shows
From University of Michigan 14/12/23 A University of Michigan-led study based on a review of genetic and health information from more than 276,000 people finds strong support for a decades-old evolutionary theory that sought to explain aging and senescence. In 1957, evolutionary biologist George Williams proposed that genetic mutations that contribute to aging could be […]
Identifying a silicon transporter to improve the yield of rice
From Science China Press 20/11/23 Silicon (Si) is abundant in terrestrial environments and accounts for 0.1% to 10% of a plant’s dry weight. Certain plant species show high levels of Si accumulation, and research has identified high Si accumulation as a protective mechanism against abiotic (drought, cold, heat) and biotic stressors (living organisms). Oryza sativa […]
Zen and the art of mitochondrial maintenance: The machinery of death makes a healthier life
From University of California – Santa Barbara 14/11/23 While we all aspire for a long lifespan, what is most coveted is a long period of vigor and health, or “healthspan,” that precedes the inevitable decline of advancing age. Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have discovered that instruments of death that cells use to commit suicide […]
Traumatic memories can rewire the brain
From National Institutes of Natural Sciences 10/11/23 Scientists have long speculated about the physical changes that occur in the brain when a new memory is formed. Now, research from the National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS) has shed light on this intriguing neurological mystery. In a study recently published in Nature Communications, The research team […]