Researchers discovered breast stem cells are exquisitely sensitive to oestrogen and progesterone, a finding that explains decades of evidence linking breast cancer risk to exposure to female hormones. The discovery also revealed the RANK ligand pathway is responsible for indirect control of breast stem cells in pregnancy.
Bacteria recognize and develop resistance to vancomycin through a specific sensing mechanism. The discovery provides new understanding of the molecular basis of vancomycin resistance and represents an essential first step in developing new antibiotics that can evade bacterial sensing mechanisms.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard developed a new sensor to measure the rate of cell mass accumulation, finding that individual cells exhibit varying growth rates. The discovery sheds light on how cells control their growth, with implications for understanding cancer development.
A team of MIT researchers has developed a novel method to mimic photosynthesis by splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen atoms using modified viruses as biological scaffolding. This process can be powered directly by sunlight, skipping intermediate steps, and shows fourfold improvement in efficiency.
A new method has been developed to identify genetic mutations in active genes, enabling studies of disease effects and improving diagnostic accuracy. This technique allows researchers to study specific cellular processes and identify minority cells in tissue samples.
The Kavli Institute at Cornell is shifting its focus from a think tank to a proving ground for pushing the limits of nanotechnology. Under new leadership, it will fund projects and researchers to create novel instruments and tools for next-generation microscopies and optoelectronic nanocharacterization.
A study by Einstein researchers suggests that a mutated protein accumulation may be key to understanding the disease. The defective huntingtin protein interferes with cellular autophagy, leading to toxicity and cell death.
The global maternal mortality ratio declined from 422 in 1980 to 320 in 1990 and 251 in 2008, with developing countries making significant progress. The study found that HIV accounts for nearly one out of every five maternal deaths, with six countries accounting for more than half of all maternal deaths.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina have discovered that the Ku protein plays a crucial role in repairing damaged DNA strands. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding the development of cancer and other age-related diseases.
This BSSA tip sheet documents the long history of earthquake monitoring by the Southern California Seismic Network (SCSN), detailing its evolving sensitivity over time. Researchers also examine the predictive capability of models to estimate ground shaking during large earthquakes in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Scientists at University of Western Ontario discovered a biological link between stress, anxiety, and depression by identifying the connecting mechanism in the brain. A small molecule inhibitor was developed to selectively target depression and treat it more effectively.
Scientists propose general rules governing the assembly of filaments into thicker and twisted ribbon-like fibers using Atomic Force Microscopy images and polymer physics concepts. The model accurately predicts the formation of Amyloid fibers, with potential applications in understanding neurodegenerative diseases.
A British scientific expedition has discovered the world's deepest undersea volcanic vents, 5000 meters deep in the Caribbean. The team used advanced underwater technology to film and survey the seafloor, revealing slender spires of copper and iron ores erupting with superheated water.