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Webb Telescope offers first glimpse of an exoplanet's interior
A surprisingly low amount of methane and a super-sized core hide within the cotton candy -- like planet WASP-107 b. 05/20/2024 12:28 PM
Better medical record-keeping needed to fight antibiotic overuse
A lack of detailed record-keeping in clinics and emergency departments may be getting in the way of reducing the inappropriate use of antibiotics, a pair of new studies suggests. In one of the studies, about 10% of children and 35% of adults who got an antibiotic prescription during an office visit had no specific reason for the antibiotic in their record. 05/17/2024 04:41 PM
Global life expectancy to increase by nearly 5 years by 2050 despite geopolitical, metabolic, and environmental threats
The latest findings forecast that global life expectancy will increase by 4.9 years in males and 4.2 years in females between 2022 and 2050. Increases are expected to be largest in countries where life expectancy is lower, contributing to a convergence of increased life expectancy across geographies. The trend is largely driven by public health measures that have prevented and improved survival rates from cardiovascular diseases, COVID-19, and a range of communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (CMNNs). 05/17/2024 04:41 PM
Modern plant enzyme partners with surprisingly ancient protein
Scientists have discovered that a protein responsible for the synthesis of a key plant material evolved much earlier than suspected. This new research explored the origin and evolution of the biochemical machinery that builds lignin, a structural component of plant cell walls with significant impacts on the clean energy industry. 05/17/2024 04:41 PM
Clinicians report success with first test of drug in a patient with life-threatening blood clotting disorder
A recombinant form of human ADAMTS13 approved for a different condition helped to save the life of a young mother with immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. 05/17/2024 04:41 PM
Ion irradiation offers promise for 2D material probing
Two-dimensional materials such as graphene promise to form the basis of incredibly small and fast technologies, but this requires a detailed understanding of their electronic properties. New research demonstrates that fast electronic processes can be probed by irradiating the materials with ions first. 05/17/2024 04:41 PM
Physicists propose path to faster, more flexible robots
Physicists revealed a microscopic phenomenon that could greatly improve the performance of soft devices, such as agile flexible robots or microscopic capsules for drug delivery. 05/17/2024 04:41 PM
Repeat COVID-19 vaccinations elicit antibodies that neutralize variants, other viruses
A study has found that repeat vaccination with updated versions of the COVID-19 vaccine promotes the development of antibodies that neutralize a wide range of variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as related coronaviruses. 05/17/2024 04:41 PM
Sweet taste receptor affects how glucose is handled metabolically by humans
The sweet-taste receptor might be the first stop in a metabolic surveillance system for sugar. The receptor is also expressed in certain intestinal cells, where it may facilitate glucose absorption and assimilation, as part of this system. A team found that stimulation and inhibition of the sweet receptor helps regulate glucose metabolism in humans and may have implications for managing such metabolic disorders as diabetes. 05/17/2024 04:41 PM
How heatwaves are affecting Arctic phytoplankton
The basis of the marine food web in the Arctic, the phytoplankton, responds to heatwaves much differently than to constantly elevated temperatures. This has been found by the first targeted experiments on the topic. The phytoplankton's behavior primarily depends on the cooling phases after or between heatwaves. 05/17/2024 04:41 PM
Differing values of nature can still lead to joined up goals for sustainability
Recognizing and respecting the different ways nature is valued can enable better environmental decision-making, according to new research. 05/17/2024 11:16 AM
Can we revolutionize the chemical industry and create a circular economy? Yes, with the help of catalysts
A new commentary paper puts forth a transformative solution to the unsustainable reliance on fossil resources by the chemical industry: catalysis to leverage sustainable waste resources, ushering the industry from a linear to a circular economy. 05/17/2024 11:15 AM
Diamond glitter: A play of colors with artificial DNA crystals
Using DNA origami, researchers have built a diamond lattice with a periodicity of hundreds of nanometers -- a new approach for manufacturing semiconductors for visible light. 05/17/2024 11:15 AM
Zombie cells in the sea: Viruses keep the most common marine bacteria in check
Marine microbes control the flux of matter and energy essential for life in the oceans. Among them, the bacterial group SAR11 accounts for about a third of all the bacteria found in surface ocean waters. A study now reveals that at times nearly 20% of SAR11 cells are infected by viruses, significantly reducing total cell numbers. The viruses can also transform these once thriving bacteria into zombies, a phenomenon observed for the first time and widespread in the oceans. 05/17/2024 11:15 AM
Plants restrict use of 'Tipp-Ex proteins'
Plants have special corrective molecules at their disposal that can make retrospective modifications to copies of genes. However, it would appear that these 'Tipp-Ex proteins' do not have permission to work in all areas of the cell, only being used in chloroplasts and mitochondria. A study has now explained why this is the case. It suggests that the correction mechanism would otherwise modify copies that have nothing wrong with them, with fatal consequences for the cell. 05/17/2024 11:15 AM
Seeing not just with the eyes: Degree of arousal affects perception
The brain modulates visual signals according to internal states, as a new study by neuroscientists reveals. 05/17/2024 11:15 AM
Deep-sea sponge's 'zero-energy' flow control could inspire new energy efficient designs
The deep-sea Venus flower basket sponge can filter feed using only the faint ambient currents of the ocean depths, no pumping required, new research reveals. This discovery of natural 'zero energy' flow control could help engineers design more efficient chemical reactors, air purification systems, heat exchangers, hydraulic systems, and aerodynamic surfaces. 05/17/2024 11:15 AM
Researchers develop 'game-changing' blood test for stroke detection
Stroke is the leading cause of disability worldwide and the second leading cause of death, but the right early intervention can prevent severe consequences. Scientists developed a new test by combining blood-based biomarkers with a clinical score to identify patients experiencing large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke with high accuracy. 05/17/2024 11:15 AM
Fruit fly wing research offers window into birth defects
If fruit fly wings do not develop into the right shape, the flies will die. Researchers have learned how fly embryo cells develop as they need to, opening a window into human development and possible treatments for birth defects. 05/17/2024 11:15 AM
Ancient arachnid from coal forests of America stands out for its spiny legs
The spiny legged 308-million-year-old arachnid Douglassarachne acanthopoda was discovered the famous Mazon Creek locality. 05/17/2024 11:15 AM
from ScienceDaily
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