Articles tagged with Mosses
Researchers found biocolonization by lichens, algae, and cyanobacteria causing progressive loss of the Sacred Rock at Machu Picchu. The study highlights the role of these micro-organisms in degrading the granitic material, posing a risk to the conservation of this UNESCO-listed site.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered a unique structure of photosystem I in the moss Physcomitrella patens, which is different from other types of plants. This finding may help understand plant terrestrialization and develop artificial photosynthesis.
Scientists have found a simple way to detect air pollutants like sulfur dioxide in real time by analyzing changes in moss leaves. Moss can regenerate its chemical sensing capacity, making it a sustainable natural plant sensor for rapidly alerting authorities to potential dangers.
Peatlands, which store up to 530 billion tons of global carbon, are vulnerable to climate change due to changing temperature and precipitation patterns. The study found that temperate regions in warmer periods can accumulate more carbon than tropical regions, but ultimately release it as warming intensifies.
A study published in Nature found that warmer temperatures accelerate spring greening and delay fall color change in peatland vegetation. This extends the growing season, which could impact carbon cycles.
The discovery of Palawanosorex muscorum, a unique mammal species found in the Philippines' Mt. Mantalingahan, sheds light on the country's rich biodiversity and the importance of protecting its 'sky islands'. The species' habitat is crucial for regulating water flow, which has significant implications for the local economy and population.
Researchers found a new polysaccharide in moss with properties similar to beta glucan, a dietary fiber known for its health benefits. The discovery suggests great potential for this new compound as it relates to health, industrial and medical fields.
Researchers at Stockholm University have discovered a moss that can rapidly remove arsenic from contaminated water, making it safe for human consumption. The aquatic moss Warnstofia fluitans can absorb up to 80% of arsenic in just one hour.
The Microplants project uses online tool Zooniverse to enable citizen science volunteers to analyze photos of liverworts, measuring their primitive leaflike structures. Over 11,000 users assisted in analyzing liverwort photos, contributing to research that can inform environmental policy.
Researchers have identified a fused gene in moss that provides insight into how cells build their external walls through the exocytosis process. The discovery raises questions about the unique arrangement of genes that have been retained for millions of years, with potential benefits for cell shape and structure.
Researchers have found that biochar can replace unsustainable peat moss in potting mix without harming plant growth. Biochar decomposes slowly, sequestering carbon and reducing emissions. However, high concentrations of biochar can cause pH issues, but these effects are short-lived.
Researchers at RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science found that moss Funaria hygrometrica can absorb up to 74% of lead from water. The moss's cell walls contain polygalacturonic acid, which is responsible for absorbing the metal.
Research reveals that MADS-box genes in moss control sperm motility and cell division, critical for fertilization. The findings suggest that these genes may have been reused by flowering plants to evolve new functions.
Scientists have successfully produced artemisinin, a key malaria treatment, in large quantities using genetically engineered moss. The process is simple, efficient, and cost-effective, offering a promising solution to the global shortage of artemisinin.
Researchers have developed a method using mosses (bryophytes) to evaluate atmospheric conditions in urban areas, including nitrogen pollution severity and drought stress. The study found that bryophytes can indicate the degree of nitrogen pollution and drought levels, making them a valuable tool for assessing environmental changes.
Researchers discover moss sperm uses glutamate receptors to navigate towards female organs, fertilize eggs and develop spores. The study also shows that glutamate receptors play a crucial role in controlling gene expression essential for spore development.
Scientists discovered a sharp increase in moss growth on Antarctica's Antarctic Peninsula, indicating major changes in ecosystems. The study found clear evidence of 'changepoints' over the past half century, suggesting that plants and soils will alter substantially even with modest further warming.
Research confirms unprecedented ecological change across Antarctic Peninsula, with increased biological activity and rapid growth rates in moss banks. The findings suggest that terrestrial ecosystems of the Peninsula will experience rapid change with future warming.
A study by Northumbria University found that exposure to rosemary aroma significantly enhanced working memory in children aged 10-11. The researchers tested 40 children in two groups: one with rosemary oil diffused in the room and another without scent. Analysis revealed higher scores in the aroma group, especially on word recall tests.
New research reveals that as taller shrubs expand into the tundra, nutrients in their leaf litter can either promote or reduce nitrogen fixation. The study, led by Kathrin Rousk and Anders Michelsen, found that warming conditions stimulate nitrogen fixation rates in mosses, but further shrub expansion will depend on dominant species.
New research reveals that Neanderthals at the El Sidrón site in Asturias, Spain, consumed a diverse diet including wild mushrooms, pine nuts, and moss. Genetic analysis of dental plaque found no evidence of meat consumption, contradicting earlier theories.
Researchers discovered a critical biochemical pathway in mosses that protects them from water loss and enables their adaptation to terrestrial environments. This finding suggests the prehistoric moss cuticle may have originated before lignin evolution in seed plants, influencing the development of complex ecosystems.
A new study found that lower vitamin D levels in blood increase the risk of clinical relapse in UC patients. Patients with higher vitamin D levels when in remission were less likely to experience a relapse.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen discovered that trust building is key to emerging a robust communication network, even in standardized and impersonal settings. The experiment, called 'The Expert Game', found that strong network connections formed between participants when they were tied to monetary gain.
Researchers discovered that bats' adorable head movements synchronize with sonar vocalizations to track prey. The findings reveal how movement enhances signals used by sight and hearing in various species.
Early land plants like moss helped create modern levels of atmospheric oxygen, according to researchers. The study suggests that these simple plants' emergence and evolution permanently increased the flux of organic carbon into sedimentary rocks, driving up oxygen levels in a second oxygenation event.
Researchers visualize peptidoglycan 'wall' in moss chloroplasts for the first time, overturning traditional understanding of chloroplast structure. The discovery has significant implications for our knowledge of plant cell biology and the origins of photosynthesis.
The world's peat bogs, once waterlogged repositories of dead moss, are being converted into fuel-packed fire hazards that can burn for months and generate deadly smoke. Research shows that peat mining, drainage, and global warming have made a growing number of the world's bogs dry and vulnerable to fire.
The study reveals how Syntrichia caninervis moss collects and transports water using its specialized awn structures, allowing it to survive in extremely dry conditions. The findings also have potential applications in industry and public hygiene, such as reducing splash-back in urinals.
Researchers at the University of Leeds discovered a key gene, ANR, that enabled plants to tolerate extreme dehydration, allowing them to colonize land around 500 million years ago. The gene is unique to basal land plants and plays a crucial role in responding to stress hormones like ABA.
A study by Northumbria University researchers found that peppermint tea significantly improved long-term memory and working memory, while chamomile tea slowed these functions. The study suggests beneficial effects of peppermint's enhancing and arousing properties on cognition.
A study by Lauren Bussey and colleagues found that rosemary essential oil significantly improved prospective memory in people over 65. Additionally, the scent increased alertness in this age group. The results support previous research on the cognitive benefits of rosemary aroma in healthy adults.
A new study has found that moss can be a useful bioindicator of cadmium air pollution in urban areas. Researchers used moss to track down previously unknown pollution sources in Portland and created a fine-scale map of cadmium deposition across the city.
Researchers successfully revived and reproduced microscopic tardigrades that had been frozen for over 30 years. The animals demonstrated the ability to recover from long-term cryptobiosis and reproduce, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying their remarkable survival capabilities.
A new study reveals the BELL1 gene triggers a pathway of genes facilitating embryo development without fertilization, enabling moss plants to reproduce asexually. This discovery may help modernize agriculture by allowing for cloning and seed distribution among farmers.
Researchers have found that deleting certain sugar-adding enzymes from plants results in similar defects across distantly related species, highlighting the importance of these modifications. The addition of sugar molecules to proteins controls tip growth, a process critical for cell wall formation and seed production.
Researchers at RMIT University have successfully created photon pairs that fit on a tiny computer chip, enabling ultra-secure telecommunications. This breakthrough paves the way for the development of scalable integrated devices that exploit mixing of polarization on a single photon level.
The National Science Foundation is funding research on the diversity of life on Earth, with a focus on understanding how biodiversity shapes ecosystems. This includes studying moss-microbe interactions, lichens in global diversity hotspots, and microbial communities in marine oxygen-deficient zones.
A study by Dr Mark Moss and colleagues found that age has the biggest influence on motivators and barriers to exercise among older people. The researchers suggest that new health messages should tailor their information to account for differences between 'young' and 'older' older adults.
Researchers found that bats use a unique array of sensory receptors in their wings to provide feedback during flight. The bat wing's distinct sensory circuitry allows for rapid adjustments in wing position, optimizing flight control.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University discovered that bat wings have highly sensitive touch sensors that respond to airflow changes, allowing for precise flight control. This finding can inform the development of more agile air vehicles.
Researchers found lower concentrations of lead and other heavy metals in moss samples from the oil sands area, contrary to current scientific knowledge. The study, published in Environmental Science and Technology, suggests that other factors may be affecting lead pollution levels.
A study found that listening to the sound of a ticking clock can influence women's desire to start a family at an earlier age. The effect was particularly pronounced among women from lower socio-economic backgrounds, who were more likely to prioritize having children over other life goals. Men were not affected in the same way.
A team of researchers found that migratory birds carry small plant fragments, including mosses and spores, on their feathers, which can be used to establish new plant populations. This discovery suggests that birds may play a role in the long-distance dispersal of plants.
Researchers have demonstrated that moss can come back to life and continue to grow after over 1,500 years frozen in Antarctic ice. This finding provides exciting new insight into the survival of life on Earth, with implications for the potential survival of complex life forms in permafrost or ice.
Researchers have discovered that Antarctic mosses can regenerate after 1,500 years of dormancy under the ice. This finding has significant implications for understanding polar ecosystems and climate change, as mosses play a crucial role in storing carbon in both northern and southern polar regions.
Researchers used radiocarbon dating on ancient moss samples exposed by modern Arctic warming to determine the age of relic mosses. The findings suggest that eastern Canadian Arctic temperatures are warmer now than in any century over the past 5,000 years.
Researchers discovered that pikas in Oregon can thrive in hot weather by consuming high amounts of fiber-rich moss. The pikas' unique digestive system allows them to recycle low-quality food into nutritious protein and energy.
University of Utah researchers found roly-poly pikas can survive extreme heat by consuming 60% moss in their diet, setting a new record for fiber intake. The study also revealed these low-elevation pikas build smaller food caches to survive winter, highlighting an unexpected adaptation to climate change.
An international team of researchers urges the development of science needed to manage climate risks and capitalize on unexpected opportunities. Climate preparedness research integrates social and climate science, engineering, and other disciplines.
Researchers emphasize the need for better engagement between scientists and stakeholders in addressing climate-related issues such as sea level rise, severe storms, and declining snowpack. A comprehensive approach to research is proposed to develop effective measures for establishing adaptation science.
A CU-Boulder study reveals Arctic temperatures have risen beyond the past 44,000 years, with potential implications for global climate change. The research uses radiocarbon-dated plants to reconstruct past climates and suggests the warming is outside known natural variability.
A 150-year-old moss bank on the Antarctic Peninsula reveals rapid ecological changes driven by warming temperatures, showing sensitive flora and fauna responses to climate change. The study suggests future terrestrial biota changes will track projected temperature increases closely.
A new statistical model designed for children can accurately discriminate performance among hospitals and adjust for patient risk factors. The program has been tested with data from 46,281 patients under 18 at 43 institutions in 2011 and shows promise for improving surgical outcomes.
Scientists uncover bacterial fossils in ancient rocks, revealing clues about life on Mars and the formation of iron oxide minerals. Researchers also study volcanic fields to predict future eruptions and develop warning systems for high-population zones and remote communities like Tristan da Cunha.
Researchers found that higher concentrations of 1,8-cineole in the blood correlate with improved cognitive performance, including speed and accuracy tests. Positive mood also showed a significant relationship with 1,8-cineole levels, proposing that contentedness may improve performance.
Researchers aim to make climate research more accessible by relating global data to local needs. Cesar Izaurralde discusses the implications of increasing CO2 concentrations and how to mitigate them. The symposium explores innovative approaches to climate change communication.
A study published in New Phytologist found that the entire Hawaiian population of Sphagnum palustre is a single clone, with genetic diversity comparable to that of sexually propagating populations. This surprising discovery suggests that vegetative propagation can lead to long-term evolutionary success.
Research in Global Change Biology reveals Antarctic mosses' slow growth rates (0.2-3.5mm/year) and their age, dating back to the heroic era of exploration. Climate change affects plant life, making Antarctica's driest continent an even harsher environment.
A new study reveals that bacteria living in mosses on tree branches contribute to nutrient dynamics, sustaining the long-term productivity of coastal temperate rainforests. Large, ancient trees provide habitat for mosses and cyanobacteria, which fix nitrogen and fertilize the forest.