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Carnegie Institution for Science


Plant regulatory proteins 'tagged' with sugar

A new study from Carnegie Institution reveals that plant proteins undergo extensive modification by sugars, similar to animals, but also unique to plants. This process impacts various cellular functions and developmental tasks, such as flower development and responses to specific plant hormones.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 30, 2017

Found: Oldest known planet-forming disk

A team of citizen scientists and professional astronomers have discovered an unusual exoplanet hunting ground, finding the oldest known circumstellar disk orbiting a young star. The discovery, led by Steven Silverberg, reveals a red dwarf star with a warm disk that has sustained its disk for an exceptionally long time.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 21, 2016

Surprising role of bacterial genes in evolution

Researchers have demonstrated that horizontal gene transfer may play a major role in compensating for genome reduction in endosymbionts. This process involves the acquisition of genes from neighboring bacteria through horizontal gene transfer, which fills gaps in organelle-localized biosynthetic pathways.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 11, 2016

How fast will we need to adapt to climate change?

A quantitative model considers different rates of sea-level rise and economic factors to show optimal adaptation strategies. Researchers found that a buffer zone along the shoreline might make more sense if the sea level is going to rise quickly, but building near the coast could be suitable if buildings don't last very long.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateOct 4, 2016

Grassland tuned to present suffers in a warmer future

The Jasper Ridge Global Change Experiment found that warming had negative effects on plant growth, while elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide showed no consistent response. Plant growth peaked when precipitation was close to historic averages, highlighting the need for ambitious climate action to stabilize warming and protect ecosystems.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 5, 2016

Brown dwarfs reveal exoplanets' secrets

New research on brown dwarfs has found that atmospheric properties may be behind their incredible variation in size, temperature, chemistry, and more. The discovery may also apply to planets outside the solar system, making brown dwarfs a valuable tool for studying exoplanet evolution.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series·DateAug 15, 2016

Why do aged muscles heal slowly?

Researchers found that a protein called b1-integrin is crucial for muscle regeneration in aged muscles. The team's study provides a promising target for therapeutic intervention to combat muscle aging or disease. By restoring the function of b1-integrin, regenerative abilities were restored to youthful levels in mice with aged muscles.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalNature Medicine·DateJul 5, 2016

Volcanoes get quiet before they erupt!

A team of scientists has discovered that dormant volcanoes exhibit predictable quiet periods immediately before eruptions. Longer quiet periods indicate a bigger eruption. This discovery allows for the forecasting of impending eruptions and could revolutionize volcanic monitoring.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateJun 23, 2016

Making sense of metallic glass

Researchers at Carnegie Institution explore the rules behind metallic glasses, materials that are stronger and more resistant than traditional metals. By studying alloys under extreme pressures, they found a consistent numeric relationship between structure and properties, which could aid further discovery and synthesis.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 8, 2016