The vagus nerve is a direct link between the gut and brain. Scientists have now used a mouse model to show that changes in gut bacteria could be directly linked to declines in cognition that can happen during…
Category: 5. Biology
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Why some people get motion sickness—and others don’t
A couple of years ago, I found myself traveling along the Drake Passage to…
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Crops irrigated with wastewater store drugs in their leaves
In regions where freshwater supplies are limited, farmers sometimes rely on treated wastewater to water their crops. While this practice helps conserve scarce water resources, it has raised concerns among regulators and consumers. Wastewater can…
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Life rebounded shockingly fast after the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs
About 66 million years ago, a massive asteroid struck Earth and unleashed one of the most destructive events in the planet’s history. The impact ignited global fires, triggered dramatic climate shifts, and wiped out the dinosaurs along with…
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A donut-shaped protein breaks apart to start bacterial cell division
A research team led by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) scientist David Reverter has identified the molecular mechanism that regulates bacterial cell division. The discovery reveals how the MraZ protein binds to the dcw gene cluster to…
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Scared of spiders? Scientists say the real nightmare is losing them
Members of the arachnid class — think spiders, scorpions and harvestmen (daddy long legs) — often trigger feelings of fear or disgust. Despite this reaction, these animals play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. As global…
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Scientists Just Found a Hidden Oxygen Drain Inside Plant Cells
Scientists discovered that mitochondria inside plant cells can pull oxygen away from chloroplasts, revealing a hidden mechanism that may help plants adapt to stress. A team of scientists at the University of Helsinki has discovered a previously…
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Mystery Bacteria Found Inside One of the Ocean’s Most Elusive Whales
Scientists studying stranded pygmy sperm whales have uncovered three previously unknown genotypes of Helicobacter bacteria living in the animals’ stomach tissues. Pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) rank among the ocean’s most mysterious…
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Researchers Have Uncovered a Missing Piece in Life’s Origin Story
Deep beneath the ocean’s surface, mineral-rich hydrothermal vents may have hosted a critical chemical reaction that helped spark life on Earth. Researchers at the University of Alberta report that they may have identified a missing piece in one…
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The world’s oldest wild bird has a new grandchick
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is shining a light on a new member of a…
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