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Science News Archive 2024 - Page 274


Page 274 of 484

New therapeutic targets to fight type 2 diabetes

A review article identifies new drug targets for treating type 2 diabetes, including growth differentiation factor (GDF15) and TGF-β pathways. Metformin's mechanism of action is also reevaluated, revealing a novel pathway of inhibiting mitochondrial complex IV.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalTrends in Endocrinology & Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024

Earth and space share the same turbulence

A team of researchers found that air turbulence in the thermosphere exhibits the same physical laws as wind in the lower atmosphere, leading to a new unified principle for Earth's environmental systems. This discovery can potentially improve future forecasting of both Earth and space weather.

SourceKyushu University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 7, 2024

Lavender's secret: genetic regulator boosts plant health and fragrance output

Researchers identified a gene that regulates lavender's aroma compounds and disease resistance, offering potential applications in developing disease-resistant varieties. The discovery sheds light on transcriptional regulation of terpenoid biosynthesis and its implications for agriculture and the fragrance industry.

The roles of rhizospheric and endophytic microorganisms on the regulation of secondary metabolites accumulation in Medicinal Plants-A Review from Medicinal Plant Research Center of South China Agricultural University

Recent research from the Medicinal Plant Research Center of South China Agricultural University reveals that rhizospheric and endophytic microorganisms significantly influence the accumulation of key SMs in medicinal plants. These microorganisms encode genes related to nitrogen fixation, phosphate metabolism, hormone synthesis, and roo...

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalMedicinal Plant Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024

Secure access to food and water decreasing for US children

A study published in Nature Water found that US children's simultaneous water and food insecurity increased nearly twice as much between 2005 and 2020. The research also revealed significant racial disparities, with Black children being 3.5 times more likely to experience both problems than white children.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Water·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 7, 2024

Mushroom stump waste could be inexpensive, healthy chicken feed supplement

A recent Penn State study has discovered that mushroom stump waste can be a nutritious and cost-effective addition to broiler chicken feed. The researchers found that supplementation with up to 3% mushroom stump waste had no negative impact on growth or digestion, but higher levels interfered with amino acid absorption.

SourcePenn State·JournalThe Journal of Applied Poultry Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024

Advances in omics research of rosaceae

The study highlights significant advancements in genome sequencing, transcriptome, proteomics, and metabolomics in Rosaceae plants. Multi-omics joint analysis has elucidated complex genetic and biochemical networks regulating important traits.

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalOrnamental Plant Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024

The EOLO group of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) presents a new method for analysing the long-term mechanical fatigue of floating offshore wind turbines

The EOLO group presents a new method for analyzing the long-term mechanical fatigue of floating offshore wind turbines, using historical data from 1920 to 2010. The study found that sea conditions can affect turbine lifespan, potentially reducing its service life by up to 5 years.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalOcean Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024

Perturbations simplify the study of “super photons”

Researchers at the University of Bonn have demonstrated that photon Bose-Einstein condensates obey a fundamental theorem of physics. By applying gentle and strong perturbations to the condensate, they showed that it responds in the same way as to random fluctuations without a perturbation.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024

Research progress on the biosynthesis, metabolic engineering, and pharmacology of bioactive compounds from the Lonicera Genus-A Review from Yin Xiaojian's team at the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences

The article reviews research progress on the biosynthesis, metabolic engineering, and pharmacology of bioactive compounds from the Lonicera genus. Key findings include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant stress, and liver protection effects of Lonicera plants.

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalMedicinal Plant Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024

Transfer RNAs at the heart of therapeutic resistance

A research team from the University of Liège has discovered that inhibition of VARS enzyme can prevent therapeutic resistance in melanoma by resensitising tumours. This breakthrough offers new hope for patients with resistant melanoma, paving the way for treatment combinations and enhancing targeted therapy efficacy.

SourceUniversity of Liège·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateJun 7, 2024

Transforming agriculture: engineered nanoparticles for plant gene regulation

Researchers developed engineered dsRNA-protein nanoparticles for systemic gene silencing in plants, overcoming the challenge of transporting RNA molecules across plant cell membranes. This technology holds promise for improving crop productivity through efficient gene function characterization and large-scale agricultural applications.

Tiny new species of great ape lived in Germany 11 million years ago

A new species of great ape, Buronius manfredschmidi, has been identified from the Hammerschmiede fossil site in Bavaria, Germany. The species is estimated to have weighed around 10kg and had a distinct lifestyle from the larger-bodied Danuvius, allowing for cohabitation without resource competition.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateJun 7, 2024

National working group releases landmark ethical guidance for new portable MRI brain research

A national working group has released a landmark report providing urgently needed guidance on ethical, legal, and policy concerns raised by the rapidly emerging use of portable MRI scanners in brain research. The report, developed with interdisciplinary expertise, offers 15 recommendations to address challenges posed by this technology.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalJournal of Law and the Biosciences·TypeSurvey·DateJun 7, 2024

Enhancing forest productivity through improved phosphorus use: a comprehensive review of phosphorus uptake, transport, and signaling in woody and model plants

Research highlights the importance of phosphorus for plant growth and development, emphasizing its role in photosynthesis, respiration, and genetic information transfer. The study also discusses molecular mechanisms underlying Pi absorption, transport, and developmental regulation mediated by Pi starvation signaling.

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalForestry Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024

What’s going on in our brains when we plan?

A team of scientists has uncovered how our brains simulate possible future actions using stored memories. The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus work together to enable mental simulations, allowing us to make better decisions. This research provides foundational knowledge on brain circuits enabling decision-making.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024

JWST uncovers features of very-low-mass star’s protoplanetary disk that influence planet composition

The James Webb Space Telescope has found a carbon-rich chemistry with 13 carbon-bearing molecules in the protoplanetary disk surrounding ISO-ChaI 147, a young 0.11-solar-mass star. This high carbon/oxygen ratio suggests radial transport of material within the disk, potentially affecting planet composition.

First-of-its-kind test can predict dementia up to nine years before diagnosis

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London developed a predictive test using fMRI scans that detects changes in the brain's 'default mode network' to predict dementia. The test showed accurate predictions up to nine years before an official diagnosis, with greater than 80% accuracy and a two-year margin of error.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalNature Mental Health·TypeObservational study·DateJun 6, 2024

Tropical forests adjust strategies to thrive even when soils are nutrient poor

A new study suggests that tropical forests can overcome the challenge of scarce nutrients by adjusting their strategies for acquiring phosphorus. Forests of different ages respond differently to nutrient additions, with younger forests investing in nitrogen-based strategies and older forests relying on phosphatase to access phosphorus.

SourceCary Institute of Ecosystem Studies·JournalNew Phytologist·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 6, 2024

Determining sex in ants

A noncoding gene has been identified as the deciding factor in determining sex in Argentine ants, with a specific genomic region being crucial to this process. The gene does not encode a protein but rather produces an RNA that influences sex determination.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 6, 2024