Using a tool to solve a protein’s structure, for most researchers in the world of structural biology and computational chemistry, is not unlike using the Rosetta Stone to unlock the secrets of ancient Egyptian texts. Once a protein’s structure…
Category: 5. Biology
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AI-enabled quantum refinement cracks the code of difficult-to-map proteins
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Bacteria have a secret engineering trick to keep themselves in shape
Blow up a long balloon and two things happen: it gets longer and it gets wider. Now imagine a living cell that inflates itself under enormous pressure and yet only grows longer, never adding width. That is exactly what rod-shaped bacteria do,…
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Japanese scientists discover how falling cats almost always make perfect landings
When cats fall, they usually land on their feet. This uncanny ability to right themselves before hitting the ground has long puzzled scientists. Now, a team from Yamaguchi University in Japan has the answer, and it’s all down to the thoracic…
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A new protein timeline explains plasma membrane repair
In the evolutionary history of life, the ability of a cell to separate its inner world from the external environment was an important turning point. The so-called plasma membrane lets cells control what gets in and out and allows them to…
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Why lethal mutations persist: Fruit fly study points to newly transferred jumping genes, not small DNA errors
Most lethal mutations in wild fruit flies are driven by newly transferred jumping genes, not small DNA errors, according to a new study from Duke University. The findings, published in PLOS Biology, challenge decades of assumptions in…
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Ancient stone jars shows how tree cover shapes freshwater ecosystems over millennia
Researchers at McGill University used 2,000-year-old stone jars in Laos to observe long-term ecological processes, enhancing understanding of how strongly tree cover shapes small freshwater ecosystems. Their findings stand to help scientists…
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Why averages fail for bacteria in the open ocean
How can bacteria that forage on organic particles survive in vast ocean regions where such particles are extremely sparse? A new study by researchers from ETH Zurich and Queen Mary University of London shows that variability at the level of…
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Insomnia Plus Sleep Apnea Dramatically Raises Heart Risks
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has shown that having both insomnia and sleep apnea may dramatically raise the risk of hypertension and heart disease.
The retrospective…
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Antibiotic resistance can vary depending on where the bacteria live
New research from the Technical University of Denmark indicates that the outcome of a resistance measurement may depend on the conditions under which the bacterium is tested. Standard laboratory tests are carried out under fixed, uniform…
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Probiotic sugar compound blocks norovirus from attaching to cells
Stopping viruses before they strike is a key challenge in public health. A research team led by Associate Professor Li Dan from the Department of Food Science and Technology at National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Science has identified…
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