Science & Technology
Sky’s the limit for biofuels
The United States has enough biomass potential to produce 35 billion gallons per year of aviation biofuel by 2050, a new report confirms.
In new experiment, scientists record Earth’s radio waves from the moon
Odysseus, a tenacious lander built by the company Intuitive Machines, almost didn’t make it to the moon. But an experiment aboard the spacecraft managed to capture an image of Earth as it might look to observers on a planet far from our own.
Cascadia Subduction Zone, one of Earth’s top hazards, comes into sharper focus
A new study has produced the first comprehensive survey of the many complex structures beneath the seafloor in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, off British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California. It is providing scientists with key insights into how …
A protein that enables smell–and stops cell death
While smell plays a considerable role in the social interactions of humans — for instance, signaling fear or generating closeness — for ants, it is vitally important. Researchers have found that a key protein named Orco, essential for the function of…
Lake under Mars ice cap unlikely
Researchers have provided a simple and comprehensive — if less dramatic — explanation for bright radar reflections initially interpreted as liquid water beneath the ice cap on Mars’ south pole.
Simply looking at the natural world in urban areas can reap benefits
New eye-tracking research has shown that simply looking at natural elements during urban walks can offer significant mental health benefits.
Online professional education works for complex topics
Online education is effective for teaching complicated topics like quantum information science (QIS) to high school science educators, according to a new article.
Changes Upstream: RIPE team uses CRISPR/Cas9 to alter photosynthesis for the first time
Scientists used CRISPR/Cas9 to increase gene expression in rice by changing its upstream regulatory DNA. While other studies have used the technology to knock out or decrease the expression of genes, this study, is an unbiased gene-editing approach to …
Antioxidant gel preserves islet function after pancreas removal
Severe chronic pancreatitis is treated by removing the pancreas. Without a pancreas, patients also lose insulin-producing cells called islets. To preserve insulin responses, surgeons transplant islets to the liver, which has poor outcomes. New strategy…
Tiny new species of great ape lived in Germany 11 million years ago
Ancient apes in Germany co-existed by partitioning resources in their environment, according to a new study.
15-day Paxlovid regimen safe but adds no clear long-COVID benefit, trial finds
Paxlovid, effective in preventing severe COVID-19, didn’t appear to help long-COVID patients in this single-center study. But further research may show benefits with different doses or for people with specific symptoms.
Basic income can double global GDP while reducing carbon emissions
Giving a regular cash payment to the entire world population has the potential to increase global gross domestic product (GDP) by 130%, according to a new analysis. Researchers suggest that charging carbon emitters with an emission tax could help fund …
Fat molecule’s inability to bond with shape-shifting protein in cell’s powerhouse linked to an inherited metabolic disease
By studying mutations in yeast and human cells, scientists say they have found that biochemical bonds between fats and proteins in the mitochondrion, the cell’s powerhouse, play a crucial role in how our cells produce energy.
Mushroom stump waste could be inexpensive, healthy chicken feed supplement
Feed costs for producing broiler chickens accounts for 60% to 70% of total production costs, and stump waste from the production of button mushrooms comprises nearly 30% of total mushroom weight. Marrying the two has the potential to reduce both cost a…
Wildfire smoke reached 99% of U.S. lakes in 2019-2021
Where there’s smoke, there’s not always fire. Wildfire smoke drifted to nearly every lake in North America for at least one day per year from 2019 to 2021, found a UC Davis study.