You might think polylactic acid (PLA) is a safe bet for the environment. After all, it's biodegradable and often touted as an "eco-friendly" alternative to traditional plastics. But hold on! Recent studies have found that PLA microplastics (PLA-MPs) could be causing trouble for male mice. Imagine i
In Merced county, California, a duck farm has made headlines for being hit by a rare bird flu strain called H5N9. This isn't just any bird flu—it's one that's raising concerns among experts. Alongside this discovery, the more common H5N1 strain was also found on the same farm. To fight the outbreak,
Menthol is a natural substance found in peppermint and corn mint oils. It's widely used in medicines, cosmetics, and food. Out of the eight forms of menthol, (-)-menthol is the most effective at giving a refreshing feeling. Scientists have long known that (-)-menthol feels cooler and more refreshing
Cinnamic acid sugar esters, or CASEDs, are natural compounds known for their various biological benefits. But have you ever thought about using them in sunscreen? A recent study dived into this idea, creating a bunch of new cinnamic acid esters using glucose, ribose, and lactose. These compounds wer
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious condition where the blood pressure in the lungs is too high. This puts a lot of strain on the heart and can lead to heart failure and even death. A protein called FTO, which is linked to obesity and metabolism, may play a part in PAH, but its role i
Imagine you're trying to figure out how to make a detector work better. This study looked into how the design of a certain type of source (like a line source) affects how well a sodium iodide (NaI) detector works. A line source is made by filling a thin glass tube with a radioactive liquid, 99mTc in
Curiosity-driven research is the wellspring of scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements. Over time, different ways of funding this type of research have emerged, shaping how money is allocated today. However, many scientists are unhappy with the current funding systems. They point out
Did you know that some fungi can help make proteins really quickly and easily? Out of 22 different types of filamentous fungi studied, 12 showed potential for cell-free protein synthesis. This means they can create proteins outside of a living cell. Pretty cool, right? The fungus Neurospora crassa w
Have you ever heard of using magnets to cook cancer cells? Well, researchers have discovered a cool way to use magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles mixed with a gel to heat up tumors from the inside. This jelly, called IT-MG, can react to special radio waves, getting hot enough to kill cancer cells whe
Fire blight, a nasty bacterial disease that affects plants like apples and pears, is caused by a germ called Erwinia amylovora. This disease spreads fast and can kill the plants it infects. Korea first spotted this bacteria in 2015, and since then, it's been spreading across the country. Scientists
