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Phys.org / Rethinking where language comes from: Framework reveals complex interplay of biology and culture
A new study challenges the idea that language stems from a single evolutionary root. Instead, it proposes that our ability to communicate evolved through the interaction of biology and culture, and involves multiple capacities, ...
Tech Xplore / How small can optical computers get? Scaling laws reveal new strategies
By studying the theoretical limits of how light can be used to perform computation, Cornell researchers have uncovered new insights and strategies for designing energy-efficient optical computing systems.
Phys.org / Cellular crowding in fruit fly embryos triggers a critical DNA reorganization, biologists find
After fertilization, embryos race through rapid cell divisions before slowing down to build specialized cells that will carry out distinct functions in the developing body—but the signals that trigger this shift have remained ...
Medical Xpress / Cancer cells have backup metabolic pathway to keep building DNA when blocked, study finds
Northwestern Medicine scientists have uncovered a surprising link between a tiny cellular engine and the way cancer cells build the DNA they need to proliferate, according to a new study published in Molecular Cell.
Phys.org / Airborne sensors map ammonia plumes in California's Imperial Valley
A recent study led by scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and the nonprofit Aerospace Corporation shows how high-resolution maps of ground-level ammonia plumes can be generated with airborne ...
Phys.org / Theia and Earth were neighbors, new research suggests
About 4.5 billion years ago, the most momentous event in the history of Earth occurred: a huge celestial body called Theia collided with the young Earth. How the collision unfolded and what exactly happened afterward has ...
Phys.org / Not just stomata: Hidden water regulation mechanism could help crops survive drought
Cornell researchers have discovered a previously unknown way plants regulate water that is so fundamental it may change plant biology textbooks—and open the door to breeding more drought-tolerant crops.
Phys.org / Understanding bacteria's role in transforming steroids to pharmaceuticals
For decades, pharmaceutical companies have been using bacteria found in soil and water to chemically convert steroids into effective treatments for human diseases. One example is cortisol, which is used to treat asthma and ...
Phys.org / Multicellular cyanobacteria switch gene activity between day and night cycles
Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, occur worldwide in many varieties, including in single-cell form and in chains called filaments. While these tiny life forms can strongly influence many ecosystems, the details ...
Tech Xplore / Nature-inspired hydrogel offers power-free thermal management
The poplar (Populus alba) has a unique survival strategy: when exposed to hot and dry conditions, it curls its leaves to expose the ventral surface, reflecting sunlight, and at night, the moisture condensed on the leaf surface ...
Phys.org / Theoretical framework for electrocatalysis expands clean energy production opportunities
An international study, involving researchers from the University of Tartu Institute of Chemistry, was recently published in Chemical Society Reviews. It provides the most comprehensive theoretical description to date of ...
Phys.org / Conductive hydrogel mimics brain softness for flexible bioelectronic devices
Bioelectronics, such as implantable health monitors or devices that stimulate brain cells, are not as soft as the surrounding tissues due to their metal electronic circuits. A team of scientists from the University of Groningen ...
