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Phys.org / New platform speeds bacterial gene mapping for better biotech design

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have created a platform that pinpoints genetic triggers that turn microbes into efficient factories for new chemicals and materials. The method enables ...

9 hours ago
Medical Xpress / Barbie and Ken get a reality check after 30 years

She's the blonde bombshell and he's her square-jawed sidekick. But nearly 70 years after the impossibly perfect Barbie and Ken made their debut, a new study from Adelaide University and UNSW Sydney shows the iconic pair are ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Birdsong and whale song show patterns similar to human language

An international team of researchers has uncovered a previously undetected structure in the birdsong of Bengalese finches that has the same statistical patterns found in human languages.

10 hours ago
Medical Xpress / Ketamine triggers morning cortisol surge tied to fewer suicidal thoughts—but the link remains uncertain

In 1970, ketamine was approved as an anesthetic. It works by blocking receptors in the brain. Suicidal tendencies are among the dangers that accompany severe depression. Doctors have found that a low dose of ketamine, much ...

16 hours ago
Phys.org / Mobile fungal 'Starship' carries protein that triggers crop leaf loss

An international research team led by plant scientist Professor Dr. Bart Thomma of the Institute of Plant Sciences at the University of Cologne, the MiBiNet Collaborative Research Center and the CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence ...

9 hours ago
Phys.org / First full zoysia grass genetic blueprint opens doors for drought-tolerant turf

A new genomic resource from the Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant genomics team is providing a powerful new foundation for faster, more precise turfgrass genetics and breeding. The team discovered a breakthrough genome that ...

10 hours ago
Medical Xpress / High glucose thickens cancer cells' sugar shield, helping them evade immune attack

Like spies evading detection by mastering disguises, many cancer cells are adorned with a copious coat of sugar-derived molecules that throws the proverbial hounds of the immune system off the scent.

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Phages unlock essential vitamin B12 by bursting open gut bacteria

All living organisms need vitamin B12 to form red blood cells and DNA, as well as to build and support brain and nerve cells. But it's hard to come by: Humans don't make it. Animals don't make it. Plants don't make it. In ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Hidden hormone–habitat relationship revealed in reef fish

In the animal kingdom, only those that adapt to their environment survive. This adaptation takes a wide range of forms, from invisible internal shifts in gene expression to dramatic anatomical changes, such as tadpoles growing ...

10 hours ago
Medical Xpress / Household hums below hearing range damage mouse kidneys in five-day experiment

Previous studies have hinted that people surrounded by more environmental noise—low, deep rumblings from air-conditioning units, elevator motors, distant traffic and ventilation ducts—tend to have worse kidney function. But ...

14 hours ago
Medical Xpress / Deep learning refines how bionic eyes communicate with the brain

Researchers from three institutions, including UC Santa Barbara, have demonstrated that artificial intelligence has the potential to make future visual prostheses, like a bionic eye, more precise, predictable and responsive ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Natural insecticide made from compound found in garlic and spearmint kills bean beetles effectively

In an effort to develop more environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides, researchers from Kyushu University have developed and tested a new insecticide made from compounds derived from garlic and spearmint.

11 hours ago