Researchers have developed a plastic-eating E. coli that can efficiently turn polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste into adipic acid, a feedstock for making nylon materials and other products. The engineered microbes converted up to 79% of PET waste into adipic acid, offering a potential solution to the global plastic waste problem.
Scientists at Nagoya University developed a new gastric acid inhibitor with a binding affinity nearly 10 times higher than existing drugs. The AI-driven approach led to the creation of compound DQ-18, which exhibits stronger binding to the gastric proton pump.
Researchers at West Virginia University are studying the effects of acid rain on forests and watersheds, a project involving middle school students. The team aims to understand how ecosystems respond to chronic changes in environmental conditions, including the recovery phase after acid rain stops falling.
A new isotope database has been created to provide a baseline for hydrological, ecological, archeological and paleoclimate studies in Mexico. The database includes 608 monthly rain samples from 21 monitoring stations across the country.
Researchers at CABBI developed an economical method for producing succinic acid, a key chemical in food, agricultural, and pharmaceutical products, using acid-tolerant yeast. The new pipeline eliminates costly downstream processing steps, significantly reducing costs and emissions.
Researchers at TROPOS have found a direct formation pathway of sulfuric acid from organic sulfur compounds, particularly important over pristine oceans and cloud edges. This new production pathway can contribute up to half of gaseous sulfuric acid formation over the oceans.
Scientists have analyzed satellite data to better understand the pre-monsoon season's microphysical features, including larger rain droplets and more heavy ice precipitation on land. Their findings could improve weather prediction and mitigate damage from adverse climate events.
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University have developed a sustainable method to produce lactic acid using discarded jackfruit seeds. The new process is cheaper and more efficient, reducing waste and environmental impact while addressing rising production costs.
A recent study published in Neurology found an association between long-term use of proton pump inhibitors and a higher risk of dementia. Researchers followed 5,712 participants for a median duration of 5.5 years and discovered that those who took the drugs for more than 4.4 years had a 33% higher risk of developing dementia.
Researchers propose a novel method for upcycling waste PET via chemical depolymerization of acetic acid, achieving high-purity terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol diacetate. This approach reduces industrial energy use and global warming potential by over 70% and 40%, respectively.
Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology have created a new method for removing mercury from concentrated sulphuric acid, reducing levels by more than 90%. This innovation could lead to reduced mercury emissions and the production of high-purity, non-toxic products in industries such as mining and metal refining.
A comprehensive review article reviews the status of biobased succinic acid production using microbial metabolically engineered microorganisms. The article highlights key findings on titer, yield, and productivity achieved by various microorganisms.
Climate change is shifting snowfall to rainfall on mountains across the Northern Hemisphere, increasing the risk of floods, landslides, and soil erosion. The study found that for every 1 degree Celsius increase in global temperature, high elevations can expect an average of 15% more rain.
A specially designed garden, rain garden, can capture toxic tire chemicals associated with tires entering waterways by more than 90%. Researchers tested a Vancouver rain garden and found that it captured about 75% of the chemical, preventing it from entering salmon-bearing streams.
Researchers developed a new type of hole-transporting material using boric acid, achieving high power conversion efficiency over 22% and long-term stability for perovskite solar cells. The study overcomes the acidity pitfall in existing SAMs, enabling a perfect contact between the substrate and perovskite layer.
Researchers tested zoledronic acid's effects on cellular senescence using multiple approaches. The study found that zoledronic acid killed senescent cells with minimal effects on non-senescent cells and reduced circulating SASP factors, including CCL7, IL-1β, TNFRSF1A, and TGFβ1.
Researchers develop a new method for fixing carbon dioxide using formic acid, which can replace conventional chemical manufacturing processes with carbon-neutral biological methods. The process produces formaldehyde, a non-toxic substance that can be fed into metabolic pathways to create valuable substances.
Researchers have created a portable device using microfluidic chips and smartphones to detect pathogens in real-time. The device, called Mkit, uses chitosan-modified minimalistic microfluidic chip technology to amplify nucleic acid enrichment, reducing the need for complex cleaning processes.
A study using multiple-model GWAS identified optimal allelic combinations of quantitative trait loci for higher malic acid content in tomatoes. The researchers deciphered the polygenic architecture of malic acid content and provided new genetic insights into its evolution during breeding.
Nagoya University researchers have developed a poly(styrenesulfonic acid)-based PEM with an ultrahigh density of sulfonic acid groups, exceeding five times that of typical commercially available membranes. The new membrane exhibits a proton conductivity of 0.93 S/cm at 80°C under 90%RH, six times higher than Nafion or Selemion under th...
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a simple sol-gel method to synthesize highly pure bifunctional solid acid-base catalysts with desirable properties. The new method produces SrTiO3 nanoparticles with high surface area, showing 10 times higher catalytic activity than commercially available titanates.
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that tranexamic acid did not reduce the need for blood transfusions or prevent maternal death in patients with increased risk for excessive bleeding after cesarean delivery. However, patients who received tranexamic acid had less need for additional medical intervent...
Researchers propose URDRN to effectively recover image details and extract accurate rain information. The model outperforms state-of-the-art methods in both subjective and objective evaluation metrics for synthetic and real rain images.
Researchers found that simultaneous learning of two tasks enhances a deep-learning model's performance on retrieving precipitation information from satellite data. The new framework uses multi-task learning to improve current estimates of precipitation, outperforming existing approaches.
A recent study published in Cell Discovery found that high levels of folic acid supplementation may increase DNA mutation rates and impair DNA repair mechanisms. The researchers discovered a 'Goldilocks Effect' where too little or too much folic acid is detrimental to human health.
Research suggests that oleic acid in olive oil has antioxidant properties, inhibiting the expression of proteins associated with cholesterol transport, and reducing atherosclerosis. Additionally, oleic acid is recognized as an anti-cancer molecule, which also displays hypocholesterolaemic effects and may influence epigenetic mechanisms.
A team of researchers developed an efficient strategy to recycle lead from discarded car batteries, creating a new market for recycled lead in high-tech equipment. The resulting photodetectors show excellent stability and fast response speeds, with potential applications in optical communication, chemical analysis, and imaging.
New biodegradable plastics can be strengthened by adding a small amount of cream of tartar or citric acid, making them suitable for bags and food packaging. The new materials are stronger than conventional bioplastics and some petroleum-based products.
Researchers used isotopes to fingerprint the sources of sulfuric acid in unique cave systems, revealing a combination of bacterial and thermochemical processes. The study estimated carbon dioxide emissions from cave formation and identified hydrothermal springs as key contributors.
Researchers at Iowa State University have identified a metabolic switch that can be modified to control fat production, which could lead to more effective treatments for childhood obesity and cancer. The discovery involves altering the acetylation levels of fatty acid synthase, an enzyme critical to de novo lipogenesis.
University of Minnesota researchers develop groundbreaking new catalyst technology to convert renewable materials like trees and corn into acrylic acid and acrylates used in paints, coatings, and superabsorbent polymers. The new catalyst substantially reduces costs and increases yield, paving the way for lower-cost renewable chemicals.
A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that nascent peptide chains with N-terminal sequences rich in aspartic acid or glutamic acid can lead to abortion of translation in eukaryotic cells through intrinsic ribosome destabilization (IRD). This phenomenon is associated with biased amino acid usage in proteomes, where t...
A common fatty acid found in the Western diet contributes to increased temperature and pain sensitivity in psoriatic lesions. The findings could lead to improved pain treatments for psoriasis patients.
Researchers have discovered a new molecular mechanism for the transport and excretion of boric acid in marine pufferfish, finding that a unique gene, Slc4a11A, plays a crucial role in this process. This breakthrough opens up new avenues for understanding boric acid transport in animals.
A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland found that genetic background has an effect on the metabolism of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid. The study showed that the FADS1 genotype modifies the responses to diets rich in alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid.
Researchers at Jacobs University have found that a compound in coffee, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, can inhibit the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the ACE-2 receptor, potentially providing protection against COVID-19. The study's findings suggest that regular coffee drinkers may be less likely to contract the virus.
A recent study found that patients who filled prescriptions for folic acid experienced a 44% reduction in suicidal events over a two-year period. Filling a prescription for folic acid was associated with a decreased risk of attempting suicide, even after adjusting for various confounding factors.
A new study has found a potential link between high-dose folic acid use in pregnant women with epilepsy and an increased risk of childhood cancer. The research, published in JAMA Neurology, suggests that children born to mothers who took high-dose folic acid supplements during pregnancy may be at higher risk of developing cancer.
Researchers found that hidden acid-base heterodimers are the key mechanism for gaseous sulfuric acid and bases to form atmospheric ultrafine particles. This mechanism explains the high particle formation rate in Chinese megacities.
Researchers found that oxygen makes diamond formation more likely, allowing for a wider range of conditions and planets. This discovery could lead to new methods of fabricating nanodiamonds with various applications.
Researchers developed an efficient microbial cell factory producing β-alanine from fatty acid feedstocks with the highest reported metrics. This innovative approach leverages the glyoxylate-TCA cycle for high-yield and balanced product synthesis, offering insights into novel bioproduction routes.
A new study found that people taking high doses of folic acid were 1.5 times more likely to get COVID-19 and 2.6 times more likely to die from the virus compared to those not on folic acid supplements. Methotrexate, an antifolate drug, mitigated this negative impact when given with folic acid.
The UK government's current proposal to fortify flour with folic acid is inadequate, as it suggests a low dose that would fail to prevent hundreds of cases of severe birth defects each year. Increasing the dose could prevent about 80% of neural tube defects.
A projected shortage of sulfuric acid could stifle green technology advancement and threaten global food security. Researchers estimate a shortfall in annual supply between 100-320 million tonnes by 2040, depending on decarbonisation pace. Developing low-cost methods to extract elemental sulfur is crucial to mitigate the crisis.
A new study reveals that droughts in the Amazon rainforest can lead to a ripple effect, causing widespread damage and biodiversity loss. The research team used network analysis to understand the complex workings of the forest's moisture recycling system.
A new study found that conventional methods for calculating flood risk underestimate frequencies, especially at the 100-year flood, due to neglecting unique roles of each flood type. Researchers from DRI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Colorado State University investigated historic floods in 308 watersheds.
Long-term measurements at Mount Heng in southern China found acidic and more soluble ions in freezing rain, leading to decreased ambient temperatures. This process prolongs the existence of freezing rain, amplifying its effects in northern China as global warming shifts its influencing area
A six-year study of nearly 100,000 women in Botswana found daily iron, folic acid, and vitamin supplementation can reduce birth complications, including low birthweight. The study also showed benefits for HIV-positive pregnant women, with rates of adverse outcomes significantly lower than those taking iron or folic acid alone.
Researchers developed a strong, water-resistant wood glue using glucose and citric acid for plywood. The adhesive meets China's standard requirement and is more energy-efficient than traditional adhesives.
The article reviews the biosafety of different delivery systems for nucleic acid drugs, highlighting the importance of carrier selection and drug administration method. It also highlights the benefits of carrier-free delivery systems in reducing adverse effects.
A new study provides a framework for predicting snowpack runoff and its impact on flood risk during rain-on-snow events. By leveraging hourly data from existing snow monitoring stations, researchers have created a decision support tool that can help water managers prepare for potential flooding.
Researchers found that salicylic acid and jasmonic acid increase in response to fungal infection, increasing plant resistance without negatively affecting growth. High levels of both hormones make trees more resistant to fungal attack.
A study by Nagoya University researchers found that plants recognize rain as a risk factor for disease and activate their immune system through hair-like structures called trichomes. This discovery could lead to the development of methods to protect plants from infectious diseases caused by rain.
Researchers have used computer simulations to show that small adjustments to certain variables can modify weather systems, mimicking the 'butterfly attractor' phenomenon in chaos theory. This approach could lead to weather control technology and prevent extreme windstorms.
Researchers found that desert microbes produce nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in arid soils after rain, contradicting the long-held assumption that it comes from fertilized agricultural fields. The study reveals a new source of nitrogen pollution in deserts, driven by fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes.
Researchers found that tannic acid targets the RBD protein and enzymes involved in viral entry and replication, suggesting its potential as a preventative or therapeutic agent. The polyphenol's low toxicity and anti-inflammatory properties make it an attractive alternative to existing antivirals.
Researchers at Michigan Medicine found that a medium-chain fatty acid called octanoic acid can reduce further injury and improve heart function after a heart attack. This discovery could lead to the development of a new therapy to treat heart attacks, targeting the interplay between energy metabolism and epigenetics.
Researchers at TUM have successfully produced succinic acid using the marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens, which has rapid growth and substrate uptake rates. The team is now working to optimize the process for industrial-scale production using renewable raw materials.
The study discovered two tandem binding sites in ABCB11 that enable precise recognition and export of bile acids. The results provide structural insights into the transport mechanism, contributing to understanding of bile acid metabolism and potential therapeutic interventions.
Monitoring projects have identified a vast array of contaminants in urban stormwater, including tire- and vehicle-derived chemicals, PFAS, phosphorous, metals, and more. Researchers are exploring various strategies to address this issue, such as rain gardens, permeable pavement, and reducing chemical usage at the source.