Virginia Tech researchers discovered that tert-butoxyl radicals are more reactive than initially thought, making them a poor model for studying oxygen-free radicals in biological systems. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the behavior of these radical species.
Rutgers is launching a National Program of Excellence in Biomedical Computing to study the biology of transcription and gene expression. The program aims to understand the molecular mechanisms that govern gene expression, which is crucial for solving pressing human health problems such as cancer and infectious diseases.
Researchers created a computational model to capture the process of one protein interfering with another's folding. This reveals the mechanisms behind 'protein adultery', where amino acids from different proteins link, causing diseases like Alzheimer's and mad cow syndrome.
The Swedish EPA has developed a new model for assessing the state of the environment, making it easier to compare local and regional areas. The model criteria cover six areas: forest landscape, agricultural landscape, groundwater, lakes and watercourses, coasts and seas, and contaminated sites.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have discovered that water flows chaotically through the ground in heterogeneous soils and fractured rock environments. Chaos theory can now be used to model this non-linear process, which is crucial for environmental restoration.
Recent analysis of Mars data from the Mars Pathfinder Mission suggests that the C1 carbonaceous chondrite standard is incorrect, with Mars exhibiting a distinct elemental composition. This contradicts previous assumptions about the terrestrial planets' formation and density variations.
Researchers found that high-level expectations influence visual perception, overriding depth information in objects. This challenges the idea of veridical reflections of reality in the brain.
The USGS is developing simulation models to evaluate the effects of proposed remedial actions on stream chemistry in abandoned mine lands. These models are applied to St. Kevin Gulch, a small stream near Leadville, Colorado, providing estimates of water quality that reflect the impact of proposed actions.