New resource illuminates gene activity in African populations

The update provides the most detailed look at African ancestry on the market, helping individuals with African heritage bypass historical 'brick walls'. With over 250 high-resolution genetic groups across Africa, members can now explore their West African ancestry and connect with specific groups in Nigeria, for example.

A Princeton-led study examines the complexities of translating natural resource wealth into economic prosperity. Higher social and human capital, as well as institutional safeguards, are critical in avoiding the 'resource curse,' a phenomenon where extraction leads to limited growth and unstable institutions.

The Gene Ontology Consortium has published a new resource of human gene functions, combining experimental data with evolutionary modeling. The PAN-GO functionome lists known functions of over 20,000 genes, providing a complete and accurate picture of gene function.

Large-scale declines in African elephant populations have been confirmed over 53 years of survey data. Forest elephant populations decreased by 90%, while savanna elephant populations fell by 70%. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides a comprehensive assessment of African elephants and highli...

The KIT Center Climate, Environment and Resources is developing resource-efficient closed-loop systems to reduce environmental impact. The project aims to analyze resource and energy flows in material and product cycles to optimize circular production.

New research at UC Santa Barbara illuminates a path to superior electro-optic performance in AlScN alloys by adjusting atomic structure and composition. The study found that precisely oriented layer structures and strain tuning can yield significant enhancements in electro-optic properties, potentially surpassing those of lithium niobate.