Science & Technology

New function of a known defense mechanism discovered: RNA interference not only fights viruses, it also regulates the protein balance of intestinal cells.

How is the weather changing as a consequence of global warming? Climate archives provide valuable glimpses into past climate changes, especially into the processes that drive our planet from one climate setting to the next. For humans and ecosystems, h…

Audio cues can not only help us to recognize objects more quickly but can even alter our visual perception. That is, pair birdsong with a bird and we see a bird — but replace that birdsong with a squirrel’s chatter, and we’re not quite so sure what we…

A newly discovered technique offers a low-cost way to enhance the effectiveness of existing drugs.

A new study suggests that a small fraction of marine microorganisms are responsible for most of the consumption of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide in the ocean. This surprising discovery came from a new method that provides unprecedented insight i…

Two-million-year-old DNA has been identified — opening a ‘game-changing’ new chapter in the history of evolution. Microscopic fragments of environmental DNA were found in Ice Age sediment in northern Greenland. Using cutting-edge technology, researche…

Researchers have zeroed in on specific mechanisms that activate oncogenes, which are altered genes that can cause normal cells to become cancer cells. This work advances the ability to predict and interpret which genetic mutations found in cancer genom…

There’s a new branch on the tree of life and it’s made up of predators that nibble their prey to death. These microbial predators fall into two groups, one of which researchers have dubbed ‘nibblerids’ because they, well, nibble chunks off their prey u…

A study supports the idea that some T cells that react to microbes also may react to normal human proteins, causing autoimmune disease. The findings promise to accelerate efforts to improve diagnostic tools and treatments for autoimmune diseases.

The ability of tropical forests to grow and store carbon is limited, in part, by herbivory. Insects and other animals prefer to feed on nitrogen-fixing trees, reducing the success of fixers and the nitrogen they provide. Experts now recommend accountin…

A polymer-based electrolyte makes for batteries that keep working — and don’t catch fire — when heated to over 140 degrees F.

On Dec. 11, 2021, astronomers detected a blast of high-energy light from the outskirts of a galaxy around 1 billion light-years away. The event has rattled scientists’ understanding of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), the most powerful events in the universe.

Researchers have found that rust-coated irrigation pivots could signal an absence of nitrate in nearby groundwater — and position them as a guidepost when monitoring for the contaminant, which has been linked with birth defects and cancers.

Researchers have discovered that vaccinating mice against a toxin produced by diarrhea-causing bacteria can prevent intestinal damage, a finding that suggests new ways to prevent malnutrition and stunting in children.

Researchers are learning more about how traumatic events may physically change our brains. Neurologists have revealed changes to a brain mechanism used for learning and survival may play a role in how someone responds to a threat following a traumatic …

Researchers used a unique coupled computer modeling approach to accurately recreate the coastal flooding that occurred during Hurricane Florence, demonstrating that it is more accurate than traditional modeling approaches.

Using a mix of tools and research approaches, scientists recently identified a long-sought carbon dioxide sensor in plants, key for controlling water evaporation, photosynthesis and plant growth. The discovery revealed that two proteins work together t…

Devastating megafires are becoming more common, in part, because the planet is warming. But a new study suggests bringing ‘good fire’ back to the U.S. and other wildfire fire-prone areas, as Native Americans once did, could potentially blunt the role o…

Dinosaurs dominated the world right up until a deadly asteroid hit the earth, leading to their mass extinction, some 66 million years ago, a landmark study reveals. Fresh insights into dinosaurs’ ecosystems — the habitats and food types that supported…

Dinosaurs dominated the world right up until a deadly asteroid hit the earth, leading to their mass extinction, some 66 million years ago, a landmark study reveals. Fresh insights into dinosaurs’ ecosystems — the habitats and food types that supported…