Evolutionary changes in a key protein synthesis enzyme, isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS), may help bacteria fine-tune how quickly proteins are made, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan; the University of Zagreb Faculty of Science, Croatia; and ETH Zürich,
In eThekwini, researchers have harnessed machine learning and satellite data to spot the city's most landslide-prone zones. A new study published in Scientific Reports has found that urban development activities, including road construction, property development and vegetation
New research from Durham University highlights how insects have been part of human diets for thousands of years despite seeming unusual to many people.
Scientists at the University of New Mexico have played a key role in identifying a rare, 4.1-billion-year-old Martian meteorite that provides new evidence that the red planet may have once had a wetter, Earth-like environment.
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms in which electrons can move with high mobility, making it promising for high-speed electronic components. Yet it is not very efficient at converting light into electricity. While light absorbed by graphene does excite electrons,
When the Baja California peninsula broke from mainland Mexico nearly 12 million years ago, it gave rise to the Gulf of California. New research suggests that this process of continental rifting was greatly accelerated due to tectonic forces on the opposite side of the Pacific
Proteins perform essential functions in living organisms, from catalyzing biochemical reactions to supporting cellular energy metabolism. Their functions depend on their amino acid composition and three-dimensional structures. However, early proteins may have evolved when fewer
Chemical reactions are often understood as molecules crossing a high-energy saddle point, known as a transition state, before following a downhill pathway toward a product. Conventional quantum chemical calculations typically trace this single pathway to determine how a
When asteroids travel too close to white dwarfs, the dense remnants of stars that have exhausted their nuclear fuel, powerful gravitational forces can tear them apart. However, new research from Planetary Science Institute (PSI) suggests that these asteroids don't immediately
Why do some parents have more sexual difficulties than others after having a baby? Childhood trauma plays a significant role, amplifying the other factors at play.
A reaction on a single electrode can tell scientists a remarkable amount about the chemical nature and number of analytes involved. The challenge comes when they want to distinguish many reactions on the same electrode. After more than a decade of trying to overcome that
Decoding of messenger RNA (mRNA) occurs during translation, the vital cellular process that builds proteins. Errors in this process are known to lead to cancer growth. Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified how one factor involved in mRNA decoding can be
For more than 30 years, MBARI technology has recorded real-time data about Monterey Bay, from oceanographic conditions at the surface to biological surveys in the depths of Monterey Canyon. These data are integral to understanding our changing ocean and underpin the institute's
Polynyas are one of Antarctica's great counterintuitive features: recurring areas of open water surrounded by vast expanses of sea ice. These unusual environments are hot spots for sea-ice production, ocean–atmosphere exchange and biological productivity. They are commonly
Silicones are widely used in industry, medicine and everyday products due to their exceptional thermal and chemical stability. However, it is precisely these properties that have made recycling silicones extremely problematic in the past. Researchers at the Institute of
Indonesia is battling one of its most severe wildfire seasons in over a decade, as intense El Niño conditions fuel widespread drought. Some of the most severely affected areas are on the island of Borneo. Peatlands across West, Central and South Kalimantan are smoldering
A new study has pieced together the evolutionary history of terrestrial animals on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), offering a comprehensive picture of how the distinctive fauna of the "Third Pole" took shape over millions of years.
More than 65% of approved medicines work by binding to proteins on the surface of human cells. Yet scientists developing new treatments face a fundamental problem: Major biological databases disagree about which proteins are actually found on cell surfaces.
Much of what we know about biology comes from animal models, particularly mice. Applying these insights to humans, however, is not always straightforward. For example, some of the genes important for the formation of germ cells, which eventually give rise to eggs or sperm,
The authors call on governments, investors and conservation organizers to reimagine nature finance based on a central tenet: raising funds should be a means to an end, not an end in itself.
The word "vacuum" may conjure the image of empty space. Maybe you think of a region far outside the solar system without planets, debris, gas clouds or light. According to quantum theory, however, a vacuum is never truly empty. Quantum mechanics extends the Heisenberg
For decades, ribosomes have been under the lens of many scientists. Ribosomes are highly sophisticated and complex molecular machines that allow cells to synthesize proteins. However, putting ribosomes together requires intricate assembly processes. While many underlying
An eyewitness can tell the truth, believe every word they say and still send an innocent person to prison. A new study by Stephen Charman from FIU's Department of Psychology takes on a question that has challenged the justice system for decades: Can we rely on eyewitnesses to
Scientists at Rutgers and in Estonia have used invisible light to look into tiny magnetic whirlpools, called vortices, inside a superconductor, revealing details that could help researchers develop better materials for carrying electricity.
In the ancient past, when human communities were small and the only way to travel was by walking, what were the chances of meeting a stranger? And what would happen next?
Plastic that enters the environment does not necessarily make its way to the sea via rivers. In fact, only a tiny fraction eventually reaches river mouths. Most plastic remains on land or within river systems.
At first glance, it is easy to see why Corybas puniceus has captured the attention of collectors around the world. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, its unusual shape and bursts of color make it unlike almost anything else in the orchid world. The species, found
Eggs follow a very different developmental path from sperm. Once a male hits puberty, sperm cells are produced continuously throughout his life. Eggs, however, are all produced during the fetal stage. Once formed, eggs enter a long dormant state called the dictyate stage, in
Mice and rats can spread dangerous viruses and bacteria, trigger asthma attacks and damage property with their constant gnawing. So when rodents get indoors, most people take action to help keep their home safe.
All materials contain inherent defects. These are not always harmful, since they can be used to engineer and introduce certain properties into a material. However, it is crucial to understand how they function and how they affect the material's properties.
Inside the gut, on the surface of the skin and lining your ears, mouth and nose are colonies of millions of microbes. For every human cell you have, there are at least as many microbial cells associated with your body.
Female mice like warmer spaces than males because of two types of tiny temperature sensors in their nerves which are tuned to switch on at higher temperatures, according to researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London.
A new study has revealed molecular rules governing how nanoparticles interact with biological systems, showing how their physicochemical properties shape protein corona (PC) formation and influence biological outcomes. The findings provide a framework for designing
The shape of microplastics can influence how deadly a viral infection can be for fish, according to new research from William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). The findings suggest that some forms of plastic pollution pose greater biological risks than
NASA's Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes have captured a hauntingly dynamic star-forming scene, like a spectral form rising out of a cold mist. It lies within the vast Carina Nebula, a diffuse star-forming region located about 7,500 light-years away from Earth. The small,
Every oceanic whitetip shark has a fin pattern as unique as a human fingerprint. In a new study published in Marine Biology, FIU researchers identified more than 50 oceanic whitetip sharks by their fins alone using pelagic baited remote underwater video stations, pBRUVS, off
For a long time, some researchers believed that the South Sámi population arrived in Central Norway in the 18th century at the earliest, and that Norwegian farmers were present long before the Sámi. This is known as the "hypothesis of late immigration."
Scientists can now edit genes in precise locations deep in the brain and body without the use of invasive surgery or implants, thanks to new work from researchers at the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute. The team demonstrated its technique, which uses a combination of
Has the Amazon reached the dreaded tipping point? The post Our Planet’s Lungs Are Suffering appeared first on Nautilus .
After the United Nations adopted a resolution in September 2026 endorsing a map that more fairly represents the size of Earth's landmasses, author and journalist Moky Makura of Africa No Filter—a main sponsor of the Correct the Map initiative—asked: "What else about Africa is
Researchers at Aarhus University have discovered that bacteria can continue producing DNA after they die. And they have found a way to control what gets produced. The discovery could eventually contribute to the development of new biological materials.
Researchers have experimentally demonstrated, for the first time, that it is possible to obtain from an altermagnet a spin current that can transport magnetic information. This result is supported by the theoretical model of electron transport developed by the CFM group.
Organisms are products of the environments they live and evolve in. While the physical world is governed by universal laws like thermodynamics and gravity, there are few laws of biology. An open question for biologists like me is how environmental conditions shape what
A new study lets some of the air out of a long-held theory that growing, rocky planets will lose their atmosphere if they smash into a large object in space.
For the first time, UC Riverside scientists have measured how much microplastic pollution falls on the Sierra Nevada during snowstorms and were surprised to find significant amounts even in the most remote locations.
Soft, flexible hydrogels have enabled significant advancements in engineering biological tissue by mimicking the natural scaffolding that provides structure and support to cells. Existing engineered hydrogels, however, fall short in a significant way. Unlike in nature, they do
Research on political polarization points to how people's preferred news outlets and social media use create information silos, environments in which people primarily encounter views consistent with their own, further cementing those views.
How verse may move us when data doesn’t The post Dear Human, Poetry Might Save Us from the Apocalypse appeared first on Nautilus .
Have you ever thought about reinventing yourself? According to a new study on moths conducted by Andrei Sourakov, collection coordinator of Lepidoptera at the Florida Museum of Natural History and affiliate associate professor of entomology at the University of Florida, it's
The future of the alligator species could come down to a one- or two-degree temperature difference, according to new research from the University of Georgia. The findings are published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
