Optogenetics, RNA Editing and CRISPR with Dr. Feng Zhang
Dr.Feng Zhang, the award-winning biochemist best known for his central role in developing optogenetics and CRISPR technology, joins ARK analyst Ali Urman on this week’s episode.
Scientists identify key regulator of malaria parasite transmission
Malaria symptoms occur once the parasite’s asexual stages begin replicating inside red blood cells. However, these asexual forms must transform into male and female stages called gametocytes in order to infect the mosquitoes that spread the disease. In…
Higher levels of biodiversity appear to reduce extinction risk in birds
A new study has found that higher levels of biodiversity — the enormous variety of life on Earth and the species, traits and evolutionary history they represent — appear to reduce extinction risk in birds.
The largest population of a rare, protected orchid found in a military base in Corsica
The neglected Serapias, a rare orchid, has been found in a Corsican military base in very large numbers: more than 155,000 individuals! No comparable population is known anywhere in the world. A total of 552 plant species were discovered in an area of …
Deep neural network to find hidden turbulent motion on the sun
Scientists developed a neural network deep learning technique to extract hidden turbulent motion information from observations of the Sun. Tests on three different sets of simulation data showed that it is possible to infer the horizontal motion from d…
Machine learning antibiotic prescriptions can help minimize resistance spread
Researchers find personalized antibiotic prescriptions can reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
Machine learning antibiotic prescriptions can help minimize resistance spread
Researchers find personalized antibiotic prescriptions can reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
Machine learning helps to identify climatic thresholds that shape the distribution of natural vegetation
A new study explores large-scale relationships between vegetation and climatic characteristics using machine learning. The findings highlight the importance of climatic extremes in shaping the distribution of several major vegetation types.
Immune cells forget (cell) culture shock
A recent study shows that certain immune cells can restore their normal functions when introduced back into the body, even after being multiplied in the laboratory to large numbers — the results pave the way to new cell therapies.
Death spiral: A black hole spins on its side
Researchers found that the axis of rotation of a black hole in a binary system is tilted more than 40 degrees relative to the axis of stellar orbit. The finding challenges current theoretical models of black hole formation.
Swiss rivers on track to overheat by the end of the century
According to a new study, if we take immediate measures to reduce CO2 emissions, we could limit the rise in the temperature of Swiss rivers to 1°C between now and 2090 without drastically affecting their discharge.
Faster, more efficient living cell separation achieved with new microfluidic chip
A research team created a new way to sort living cells suspended in fluid using an all-in-one operation in a lab-on-chip that required only 30 minutes for the entire separation process. This device eliminated the need for labor-intensive sample pre-tre…
Study questions the role of vitamin D2 in human health but its sibling, vitamin D3, could be important for fighting infections
New research has found significant differences between the two types of vitamin D, with vitamin D2 having a questionable impact on human health. However, the study found that vitamin D3 could balance people’s immune systems and help strengthen defences…
Study questions the role of vitamin D2 in human health but its sibling, vitamin D3, could be important for fighting infections
New research has found significant differences between the two types of vitamin D, with vitamin D2 having a questionable impact on human health. However, the study found that vitamin D3 could balance people’s immune systems and help strengthen defences…
African ‘hotspot’ for highly infectious diseases
A regional corner of Africa is a hotspot for cases of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, prompting researchers to call for targeted health support rather than a national response.
The protective armor of superbug C.difficile revealed
The close-knit, flexible outer layer – like chain mail – which protects superbug C.difficile has been unveiled.
Hidden weaknesses within volcanoes may cause volcano collapse
Lava domes form at the top of many volcanoes when viscous lava erupts. When they become unstable, they can collapse and cause a hazard. An international team of researchers has analyzed summit dome instabilities at Merapi Volcano, Indonesia. The resear…
Repurposing FDA-approved drugs may help combat COVID-19
Several FDA-approved drugs — including for type 2 diabetes, hepatitis C and HIV — significantly reduce the ability of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 to replicate in human cells, according to new research. Specifically, the team found that these drug…
New simulations refine axion mass, refocusing dark matter search
Axions are today’s most popular candidate for dark matter, and numerous experiments are trying to detect them in microwave cavities where the axion should rarely convert into an electromagnetic wave. But a new simulation of the production of axions in …
What brain-eating amoebae can tell us about the diversity of life on earth and evolutionary history
Researchers recently announced that an amoeba called Naegleria has evolved more distinct sets of tubulins, used for specific cellular processes, than previously thought. Their insight has a host of implications, which range from developing treatments f…