Ever wondered how tiny nanoparticles behave in our bodies? Scientists have been studying how proteins stick to these tiny particles, forming something called a "protein corona. " This corona changes how the nanoparticles behave and function in biological environments. In a recent study, researchers
Barley, a key crop for animal feed, beer, and food, faces a big challenge: waterlogging. This stress can really slow down seed germination and hurt seedling growth. Scientists wanted to figure out how barley handles this. They studied two types of barley seeds under water stress: one tough (LLZDM) a
Citrus plants face a tough enemy in the form of Huanglongbing (HLB), a severe disease caused by the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). These bacteria can manipulate plant immune responses, making infection management crucial. Scientists have been studying three specific bacteria prot
Imagine the human family tree is a big puzzle. Scientists have been adding new pieces for years. Recently, they found some bones in China that don't fit any known ancient human relative. These bones belong to a new species with a huge brain, even bigger than ours! Some scientists think this species
Knowing what chemicals are in products is crucial for keeping people safe, following rules, and letting products be reused. Scientists looked at databases from different places to see what information they have. They found 57 databases, but many are different in what they cover and how they show dat
Did you know that the same protein that helps your body respond to certain cellular signals also plays a part in bone breakdown? Meet Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1, or TRAF1 for short. This little-known player has been found to boost osteoclastogenesis, the process that leads to
Imagine tiny, bubble-like structures called vesicles trying to squeeze through tiny holes in a membrane. This isn't just a fun exercise in physics—it's how some parasites invade our cells and how drugs might someday deliver their payload through our skin. Researchers used a combination of computer m
Ever wondered how we judge our own performance when faced with tough decisions? It turns out, our ability to think about our thinking, called metacognition, plays a big role. This is especially true when decisions are complex and need lots of mental energy, like in economic choices. But how do we es
Have you ever wondered how liverworts, those tiny plants, became so diverse? Scientists have been looking into this. They found that when it comes to elevation and temperature, liverworts have a cool past and some hotspots for diversity. By tracking their evolution across mountains worldwide, they d
Ever wonder how plants survive harsh conditions like dry spells or salty soils? One key player is the Sec14 gene family, a group of genes with a special domain that helps regulate lipids, the building blocks of cell membranes. This family has been around since the days of yeast, and it's found in al
