Scientists found that sugarcane has a double benefit: reducing carbon emissions and cooling the local climate. The study, published in Nature Climate Change, shows that expanding sugarcane crops in areas previously occupied by other Brazilian crops can lower air temperatures by up to 1.67°F (0.93°C).
New research reveals that conjugating green algae, such as Spirogyra, are the closest living relatives to land plants, contrary to the previously accepted theory. The study analyzed genetic divergence in 129 genes from 40 different green plant taxa and found significant evidence supporting this new finding.
A pilot study found that L-lysine reduced severity of symptoms and improved functional ability in eight out of ten patients with schizophrenia. The treatment showed a general trend for improvement due to treatment with lysine, but results were confounded by the beneficial effect of lysine continuing after treatment stopped.
Scientists have created star-shaped, biodegradable polymers that can self-assemble into hollow nanofiber spheres. When injected with cells into wounds, these spheres biodegrade, but the cells thrive and form new tissue. The technique shows promise for repairing complex or oddly shaped tissue defects.
A newly developed compound, SR1001, has been shown to effectively suppress the severity of multiple sclerosis in animal models with minimal side effects. The discovery holds promise for treating other autoimmune diseases and targets a specific cell type involved in autoimmunity.
Rockefeller scientists have developed a new polarized microscopy technique that can help deduce the orientation of specific proteins within cells. By harnessing the unique properties of polarized light, researchers have filled in the gaps left by other techniques and made important new discoveries about protein complexes.
The La Jolla Institute has identified LIGHT as a promising therapeutic target for chronic asthma, COPD, and other lung conditions. Blocking LIGHT's interactions with its receptors significantly inhibited airway remodeling in mouse models of chronic asthma.
A study found that North America's first supervised injecting facility in Vancouver, Canada, helped reduce the number of fatal overdoses in the community by 35%. The area within 500m of the facility experienced a significant decrease in fatal overdose rates compared to the rest of the city.
Two studies provide the first detailed view of the chemical and mechanical interactions between the ribosome and membrane proteins. The researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to image the insertion process, revealing a
A study by University of Utah psychologists found that individuals with lower working memory capacity are more prone to inattention blindness, missing a person in a gorilla suit walking across the screen. This suggests that people with better control over their attention may be more likely to notice unexpected events.
Researchers at University of Western Ontario developed a strategy to stimulate blood vessel formation in tissues lacking oxygen, potentially treating conditions like coronary artery disease. The approach, using fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9), activates supporting cells that create functional new vessels that last over a year.