A team of scientists has found that fluids play a key role in deep-focus earthquakes, which occur between 300 and 700 kilometers below the planet's surface. The research suggests that water carried down from oceanic plates was instrumental in creating these mysterious events.
Researchers have unraveled the mystery of dinoflagellate genomic architecture, revealing a unique packaging of DNA that differs from other eukaryotes. The study's findings have implications for understanding genomic organizational principles in all organisms, particularly in coral reef health.
Astronomers have observed a record-breaking flare from Proxima Centauri, the Sun's nearest neighbor, using nine instruments. This extreme outburst offers valuable insights into stellar flares and their potential impact on exoplanet life.
Scientists have identified an early indicator of magma viscosity that can be measured before a volcanic eruption, enabling them to forecast the potential danger. This discovery, published in Nature, could lead to more accurate assessments of volcano behavior and improved emergency response strategies.
Deeply subducted serpentinite rocks are found to carry surface water as far as 700 kilometers into the mantle, allowing scientists to trace material exchange. The presence of these rocks confirms a long-suspected pathway for deep-Earth recycling.
Researchers found that algae colonizing dead coral can lead to false impressions of a healthy reef ecosystem. This challenges traditional methods for assessing coral health, which rely on measuring calcium carbonate production, as it may not accurately account for the impact of algal overgrowth.
Research reveals plants use sugar sensing mechanisms to fine tune stress responses based on nutrient availability. The study identifies an evolutionarily conserved protein that plays a unique role in regulating stress responses and developmental transitions.
A new framework has been developed to understand the interiors of super-Earths, which is crucial for assessing their potential for habitability. The study found that under extreme conditions, bridgmanite has a high melting point, which could impact interior dynamics.
Scientists propose a new way to categorize minerals by incorporating historical data, highlighting the importance of understanding a sample's formation process. The IMA system is criticized for being time-independent, while the proposed approach uses 'historical natural kinds' to reflect changes in Earth's diversity.
Researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to identify a gene responsible for regulating coral's response to heat stress. The study found that corals can die of starvation without the nutrients provided by photosynthesis, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts for fragile reef ecosystems.
Developing nations can keep global warming to 0.3 degrees Celsius with careful planning, according to a new study. Prioritizing fossil fuel-burning infrastructure for economic development risks long-term dependence on fossil fuels.
Researchers confirm the distance of the most-distant galaxy GN-z11 to 13.4 billion light-years, improving understanding of star and galaxy formation in the early universe. The discovery also reveals an ultraviolet flash associated with a gamma-ray burst, providing insights into cosmic reionization.
Research reveals an aggressive golden-brown alga is rapidly overgrowing shallow reefs in the Caribbean, taking the place of damaged coral and exacerbating ecosystem damage. The invasive algal crusts harbor a distinct microbial community that deters coral settlement.
Researchers discover anthraquinone-forming enzyme in plants, enabling mass production of plant-based medicines. The breakthrough could lead to more efficient and sustainable methods for producing these valuable compounds.
A team of scientists, led by Matt Clement, used simulations to study the formation of Jupiter and Saturn. The findings suggest that these two planets were originally closer together than previously thought, with a ratio of two Jupiter orbits to one Saturnian orbit being more consistent with the current configuration.
Researchers discovered that polyphosphate synthesis is deeply integrated with cellular metabolism, allowing organisms to adapt to nutrient deprivation. This knowledge could enable scientists to engineer the metabolism of organisms to be more resilient in a range of environments.
A recent study by Carnegie Institution scientists mapped gene activity in thousands of immature egg cells and helper cells to understand how ovaries maintain female fertility. The research showed that follicles, where eggs mature, have a finite number of cell clusters assembled before birth.
A newly discovered quality control system in protein production prevents the translation of faulty messenger RNA fragments, thereby preventing the formation of toxic incomplete protein products. The discovery has implications for understanding neurodegenerative diseases and may shed light on the underlying causes of such conditions.
A new study found that China's aerosol pollution reduction efforts have caused warming in northern latitudes, potentially masking some effects of global warming. The research suggests that the reductions in particulate pollution may have unmasked around 0.1 degrees Celsius of greenhouse-gas-induced warming.
A team of researchers found evidence confirming theoretical predictions about gravitational interactions between multi-star systems, resulting in warped disks and misaligned rings. The discovery sheds light on the formation process of planets with extreme orbital angles.
Scientists have discovered a novel disordered crystalline phase of silica that forms under dynamic shock compression, challenging longstanding assumptions about the material's behavior. The findings provide new insights into planetary formation and evolution, and may reveal details about the Earth's geologic history.
A newly identified mutation in microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) may enable the development of more specific inhibitors to reduce triglyceride levels without intestinal side effects. This discovery has important public health implications for cardiovascular disease prevention.
Researchers uncover new details about the oldest planetary objects in our Solar System, which formed iron-rich meteorites. The distinct chemical signatures of these meteorites can be explained by core crystallization in their parent bodies, deepening our understanding of the geochemistry occurring in the Solar System's youth.
A team of astronomers discovered a stellar stream composed of the remnants of an ancient globular cluster torn apart by the Milky Way's gravity 2 billion years ago. The Phoenix Stream is distinct from other globular clusters and suggests that there may be no minimum abundance of heavier elements required for their formation.
The geodynamo generates Earth's magnetic field through the motion of liquid iron in the outer core. New research examines how lighter elements like silicon could drive this process, suggesting a concentration of 8 weight percent silicon is sufficient to sustain the geodynamo on heat transmission alone for the planet's entire history.
A team of Carnegie scientists solved a marine science mystery by identifying the cell type and genes responsible for coral recognition and uptake of photosynthetic algae. This breakthrough can aid coral conservation and increase understanding of other coral species threatened by warming oceans.
A recent study used a 10-year galaxy survey to test one of cosmology's pillars and provided a new approach to understanding the universe's growth. The research team demonstrated that denser clumps grew faster, while less-dense clumps grew more slowly.
Scientists discovered that more carbon than expected stayed in the mantle, suggesting it was sequestered into lighter elements like silicon and oxygen in the core. Despite this, the majority of Earth's total carbon inventory still likely exists in the core.
A new research tool allows biologists to watch in real time the cell renewal process that keeps gut tissue healthy, as well as the interactions between bacterial species that make up the microbiome. Researchers discovered regional differences in microbiome stability that mimic the regionality of stem cell activity.
New research suggests that some 'cotton candy' exoplanets could have rings, challenging current ideas about their low densities. The discovery proposal, led by Anthony Piro and Shreyas Vissapragada, simulates how ringed exoplanets would appear to astronomers using high-precision instruments.
Researchers found that pumping oxygen-rich surface water into the depths of lakes, estuaries, and coastal ocean waters could alleviate dangerous dead zones. The downwelling method was shown to be three to 100 times more efficient than other technological techniques.
Research by Carnegie Institution scientists suggests that aerosol pollution can delay climate change effects, benefiting tropical countries but harming high-latitude developed nations. The cooling effect outweighs its limited economic benefits, with public health concerns taking precedence.
A new technique uses seismic waves from distant earthquakes to image the subterranean structure of Cleveland volcano. The study, published in Scientific Reports, resolved the architecture of the lower and middle crust for the first time, providing crucial information for emergency planning and saving human lives.
Scientists discovered that jumping genes target egg cells with reduced quality for elimination during fetal development, a process called FOA. This mechanism helps maintain the caliber of available egg supply, suggesting potential ways to combat infertility.
A 'cold Neptune' and two temperate super-Earths, GJ180d and GJ229Ac, have been discovered orbiting nearby red dwarf stars, offering a chance to study potentially habitable worlds. The planets were found using the radial velocity method and offer insights into exoplanet formation and evolution.
Scientists have created a new class of 'superdiamond' carbon-based materials that can trap and tap into different properties, including metallicity and superconductivity. The material's properties can be tuned by changing the types of guest atoms within its cages.
Researchers discovered that corals and sea anemones control algal population size by limiting nitrogen availability. This balance is crucial for reef survival in a changing climate.
A deep-Earth water cycle is possible if a key mineral called stishovite can store and transport large amounts of water under extreme conditions. This discovery indicates that water could be present far into the lower mantle, altering our understanding of planetary evolution.
The study investigates the physical forces acting on Enceladus that allow the tiger stripe fissures to form and remain in place. The researchers found that the fissures could have formed on either pole, but the south pole's unique deformation led to their formation.
Researchers find no correlation between a gas giant planet's composition and its host star's heavy element content, contradicting previous theories on planetary formation. The authors suggest other factors, such as location in the disk or distance from neighbors, may be contributing to this discrepancy.
Researchers discovered tendon stem cells that can improve tendon healing and potentially avoid surgery. These stem cells compete with scar tissue precursors, suggesting a therapeutic approach to prevent fibrous scarring.
A team of astronomers discovered three areas in the disk of a young star where gas is cascading into gaps, indicating the presence of forming planets. The study confirms a theory about how planets acquire their atmospheres, suggesting that warmer gas from the outer layers of the disk forms the atmosphere of the planet.
A global survey of large freshwater lakes found that summer algal blooms are increasing in intensity, harming aquatic life and human activities like agriculture and tourism. Climate change is likely exacerbating the problem, with warmer temperatures hindering recovery efforts in some areas.
Scientists at Carnegie Institution improve thermoelectric performance by applying pressure and mixing in charged particles of chromium, enabling efficient room-temperature electricity generation
Researchers found that protein GAS1 suppresses muscle stem cells' ability to build new muscles and regenerate after injury. Reversing GAS1's effect by using GDNF restores muscle stem cell function and regeneration.
Researchers suggest an unseen population of gas giants orbiting nearby Sun-like stars, awaiting detection. New models support the disk instability mechanism, challenging the core accretion method.
A team of astronomers has observed the aftermath of a star violently ripped apart by a supermassive black hole, providing unprecedented detail and insights into these mysterious phenomena. The observations, made possible by NASA's TESS satellite, reveal new features of tidal disruption events (TDEs) that were previously unknown.
A new study published in Joule finds that taxing carbon emissions would lead to improved energy efficiency, with potential reductions of up to 30% in energy usage by 2100. This innovation could motivate people to develop more efficient ways to use energy, making it easier to solve the climate problem.
The American Society of Plant Biologists will establish a mentorship award in honor of legendary plant scientist Winslow Briggs. The award recognizes outstanding commitment to mentoring and supporting next-generation scientists, with the inaugural recipient to chair a symposium at the ASPB annual conference.
A new study investigates the climate effects of aerosol particles in a geophysical paper. The authors found that both geoengineering and volcanic eruptions decrease surface temperatures with land cooling faster than the ocean.