A team of scientists has identified a key protein called Maelstrom that suppresses jumping genes in mouse sperm, essential for sperm formation. The study found that the protein plays a crucial role in keeping genes from jumping around in germ cells.
Under high pressure, oxygen molecules interact through their outermost electron clouds, increasing interactions and changing orbital locations. This leads to the formation of molecular clusters like (O2)4 at pressures about 10,000 times atmospheric, with potential applications in new materials and technologies.
A study by Carnegie Institution researchers identified key links in the steroid signaling chain using proteomics. Key kinases called BSKs were found to respond to brassinosteroids, filling a major gap in understanding plant hormone regulation.
Researchers measured seismic wave speed changes before two small earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault, finding anomalies that occurred hours before the events. The findings suggest a 'stress meter' could provide an indication of imminent earthquakes.
A new study suggests that water on the Moon's surface came from volcanic eruptions over 3 billion years ago, rather than vaporization during its formation. Researchers used advanced techniques to detect tiny amounts of water in lunar samples, revealing a significant amount of water in glass beads.
The oceans have absorbed 40% of human-caused carbon dioxide, causing a 0.1-unit drop in surface pH; acidification may harm corals and plankton by mid-century if emissions aren't reduced. Carbon dioxide levels could reach 0.35 units by the mid-21st century if cuts aren't made immediately.
Scientists estimate that globally up to 4.7 million square kilometers of abandoned lands could be used for sustainable bioenergy production, with a potential yield of nearly half the land area of the United States. The researchers found that biomass from these lands could provide energy equivalent to about 41 exajoules, which would sat...
The Plant Metabolic Network (PMN) is a web-based resource dedicated to understanding plant metabolism, providing researchers with essential information to engineer crops for food, biofuels, and medicines. The database currently contains over 500 biochemical pathways from 290 plant species.
Researchers analyze sodium content of grains from the Semarkona meteorite, finding higher-than-expected levels that contradict previous models. The discovery suggests dust clouds were denser than thought, leading to a new understanding of the solar system's formation.
Scientists have explained the enigmatic distribution of nitrogen-fixing trees by recognizing the role of temperature and phosphorus abundance. In temperate forests, the high cost of producing the enzyme nitrogenase offsets the benefit of nitrogen fixation despite low-nitrogen soils.
Researchers from Carnegie Institution and University of Cape Town used diamonds to trace origin of platinum deposits, suggesting ancient parts of mantle beneath African continent as source. The study's findings may lead to better exploration models and strategies for similar ore deposits.
Allan Spradling receives the 2008 Gruber Genetics Prize for groundbreaking discoveries about stem cell development in Drosophila melanogaster. His work has significantly contributed to understanding human genetics, development, and disease.
The Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology is developing a database of plant chemical and remote sensing signatures for tropical forest species with a $1.8 million MacArthur grant. This 'Spectranomics Project' will enable large-scale inventory and tracking of rainforest vegetation globally, enhancing satellite observations.
Astronomers have witnessed a star dying in real-time for the first time, marking a major breakthrough in understanding supernovae. The team used NASA's orbiting Swift telescope to detect an extremely luminous X-ray blast from the explosion, confirming that it was indeed a supernova.
Researchers found that high pressure can induce superconductivity in high-temperature superconductors, allowing them to operate at higher temperatures. This breakthrough could change the energy system by providing a new approach to studying and harnessing these materials.
Researchers mapped large arc-shaped depressions on Jupiter's moon Europa, indicating a shift of 80° in its rotational axis. The findings suggest the presence of an internal liquid ocean, which could support life, and provide independent evidence for this possibility.
Scientists have discovered a natural feedback system that kept carbon dioxide levels in check before fossil fuels. The system, linked to mineral breakdowns, regulates the carbon cycle and prevents runaway greenhouse conditions. Human emissions have recently overwhelmed this delicate balance.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution found that jet streams in both hemispheres have risen in altitude and shifted towards the poles, possibly due to global warming. This shift may lead to changes in storm patterns, including more powerful and frequent hurricanes.
The partnership aims to reduce the 'flood of information' in TAIR by allowing researchers to directly enter their own data through a web interface. This will increase data input from Plant Physiology articles, enhancing the overall dataset in TAIR.
Scientists have found high levels of amino acids in two meteorites, indicating that the early solar system was a rich source of organic compounds. This discovery supports the idea that meteorites may have delivered these essential building blocks to Earth.
Marine microorganisms have evolved a way to break the rules of photosynthesis, releasing less oxygen and absorbing fewer carbon dioxide. This discovery impacts our understanding of photosynthesis and its effect on atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
Invasive tree species are changing the basic ecological structure of Hawaiian rainforests, making them less hospitable to native plant and animal species. The impact is evident in denser canopies, altered soil fertility, and suppressed understory plants.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution find unusual new form of carbon in meteorites, which could affect measurements of the universe's expansion and dark energy models. The discovery may have implications for understanding Type1a supernovae and the accelerating expansion of the universe.
A new study suggests that reducing carbon dioxide emissions to near-zero levels is necessary to stabilize the planet's climate. The research found that even with zero emissions, global temperatures would remain high for at least 500 years due to heat held in oceans, emphasizing the urgency of drastic action.
Researchers discovered pure lead titanate crystals under pressure exhibit the same transitions as complex materials, displaying a morphotopic phase boundary for maximal piezoelectric properties. This breakthrough may enable low-cost but high-performance piezoelectrics.
Researchers discovered that magnetite's magnetic strength halves when subjected to pressures between 120,000 and 160,000 times atmospheric pressure. The change is due to a decrease in unpaired electrons, which affects the spin of magnetic materials.
Astronomers have determined that a hyperfast star, HE 0437-5439, originated from the Large Magellanic Cloud, contradicting its initial assumption of coming from the Milky Way. The star's elemental composition and velocity indicate it was ejected from the LMC by a massive black hole.
Scientists find unusual electronic characteristics in lower mantle material, leading to slower sound wave propagation. This discovery challenges traditional techniques for understanding the region and may require re-evaluation of seismic data.
Researchers found tholins in the disk of red dust around HR 4796A, a eight-million-year-old star with planets forming. The presence of these complex molecules suggests that basic building blocks of life may be common in planetary systems.
Scientists propose that plate tectonics may have halted or slowed down in the distant past and could do so again due to changes in ocean basin closure. This idea challenges current models and may explain differences in igneous rock formation and continental evolution.
Scientists warn that coral reefs will struggle to survive in increasingly acidic ocean waters due to rising carbon emissions, threatening marine biodiversity and coastal economies. The Great Barrier Reef is among the first victims of this acidification, which could lead to its collapse by mid-century.
A Carnegie Institution-led team finds organic compounds containing carbon and hydrogen in Martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001, suggesting that building blocks of life formed on Mars early in its history. The discovery was made by analyzing the rock's association with iron oxide mineral magnetite.
The first 'State of the Carbon Cycle Report' reveals a troubling imbalance in North America's carbon budget, largely driven by human-caused emissions. The continent's natural sinks, such as forests and soils, may be unable to compensate for increasing carbon dioxide emissions.
The Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology will conduct a one-year pilot study on ecosystem diversity in Kruger National Park using remote sensing and the Carnegie Airborne Observatory. This research aims to improve adaptive management and develop skills for park managers to undertake remote monitoring of ecosystems.
A new study reveals that human activities are releasing carbon dioxide at a faster rate than ever, while natural carbon sinks are weakening. The global economy's carbon intensity has increased since 2000, posing a challenge in mitigating climate change.
A study on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a tiny green alga, has found that it shares genes with both plants and animals, including humans. The research provides new insights into photosynthesis, flagellar movement, and human diseases related to ciliary dysfunction.
The Giant Magellan Telescope will be constructed at Cerro Las Campanas, Chile, providing unparalleled seeing quality and access to the southern skies. The telescope will help answer scientific questions on planetary systems, star formation, galaxies, black holes, dark matter, and dark energy.
Scientists discovered a key biochemical cycle that allows cancer cells to multiply unabated by suppressing the immune response. The research found that tryptophan is broken down into toxic kynurenines, starvng T-cells, which are then overwhelmed by an excess of kynurenine in the body fluids.
Researchers discovered that material in the lower mantle behaves differently than predicted by models, indicating a continuous spin-transition zone from 620 to 1,365 miles deep. This finding calls into question traditional techniques for modeling this region of the planet and may explain some experimental findings.
A team of scientists warns that CO2 emissions could alter ocean chemistry, violating EPA water quality criteria by mid-century. The study predicts that atmospheric CO2 concentrations will exceed 500 ppm by century's end, posing significant risks to marine biota and food webs.
A new approach to detect life on Mars, based on technology similar to pregnancy test kits, was successfully launched into space. The Life Marker Chip experiment has the potential to detect trace levels of biomarkers in the Martian environment.
A recent study discovered that certain bacteria, including Brucella species responsible for the flu-like disorder Brucellosis, require sunlight to enhance their virulence. The researchers found that disabling the light-sensing molecule in these bacteria led to a significant drop in their ability to cause disease.
A regional study of Peru's Amazon found that land-use policies have kept large-scale rain forest damage in check, but recent disturbances increased near roads, with forests protected by the government being more secure than those without conservation designations.
Researchers found changes in Mars' topography that could be explained by surface deformation from 'true polar wander', a phenomenon where a planet's spin axis shifts. The study suggests large oceans on Mars existed in the past, with evidence pointing to the presence of vast oceans and massive deformations along ancient shorelines.
A new computer modeling study suggests geoengineering schemes could cool the planet within a few decades, but failure or cancellation could lead to catastrophic temperature spikes. The research highlights the need for careful consideration of these strategies.
Researchers have created conditions similar to those inside the Earth to study its inner workings. The study provides new insights into the planet's materials and processes under high pressure, revealing surprising findings about the D'' layer near the core.
The study found that CO2 emissions increased at a rate three times faster than in the 1990s, primarily driven by growing energy intensity and population. This trend is concerning, as it suggests a reversal of long-term progress towards greater energy efficiency and reduced carbon intensities.
Researchers reconstructed the species' prehistoric geographical range using techniques from archaeology, biochemistry, and ecology. Prehistoric northern fur seals were year-round residents in California, nursing their young for much longer than modern fur seals.
A two-year RED initiative aims to reduce deforestation in tropical developing nations, saving half a billion metric tons of carbon every year. Computer models predict that preserved forests will continue to act as a carbon sink if emissions are kept under control.
Researchers found that tropical plants can switch between different nitrogen sources in response to climate change, providing a glimmer of hope for their ability to withstand environmental shifts. The study's results were based on measurements and models of variations in nitrogen compounds across different rainfall climates.