SCIENCE

Jan 11 2025SCIENCE

Boosting Antibody Modeling with Transfer Learning

Protein language models, or PLMs, have been quite successful in understanding proteins. However, they struggle with antibodies, especially their hypervariable regions, which don't follow the usual evolutionary rules. Researchers have come up with a new method called Antibody Mutagenesis-Augmented Pr

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Jan 11 2025SCIENCE

Banishing Ghosts in MRI: A Clever Trick with Dual-polarity Readout

You know how ghosts can show up in your MRI scans, making it hard to see what's really going on? This happens due to something called Nyquist ghosting. A clever trick called dual-polarity readout can fix this, but it usually takes twice as long. Researchers have found a way to make this trick work f

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Jan 11 2025SCIENCE

Understanding Light-Driven Molecular Changes

Photochemical reactions are like mysterious puzzles in the world of chemistry. Unlike regular chemical reactions, where understanding the energy surface is key, photochemical reactions involve light absorption, leading to a nonstationary state in molecules. This state allows for internal conversions

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Jan 11 2025SCIENCE

Why Leaf Beetle Babies Love Old Leaves

Ever wondered why leaf beetle larvae prefer to munch on old leaves while their parents enjoy fresh ones? Scientists found that these tiny creatures have a secret weapon: bacteria-borrowed genes. These genes help the larvae break down cellulose, a tough fiber found in mature leaves. Without these gen

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Jan 11 2025SCIENCE

Growing Epithelial Cells with Invasin: A New Way to Expand Organoids

Ever wondered how to keep epithelial cells growing for a long time? Scientists found that a protein called Invasin, produced by a type of bacteria called Yersinia, can help. This protein works by activating something called integrin, which helps cells stick together and grow. When integrated into a

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Jan 11 2025SCIENCE

The Secret Weapon of the Harlequin Ladybird

Meet the harlequin ladybird, a global pest controller with a hidden talent. This beetle, originally from East Asia, has become an invasive species in Europe and North America. Scientists found that when harlequin ladybirds eat the eggs of seven-spotted ladybirds, they stay healthy. But the seven-spo

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Jan 10 2025SCIENCE

Uncovering the Power of AMPs: A New Deep Learning Method for Prediction

Antimicrobial peptides, nicknamed AMPs, are tiny peptides that help defend against diseases. As antibiotic resistance grows thanks to misuse, finding AMPs has become a big deal. These peptides could be an alternative to traditional antibiotics. The challenge lies in accurately identifying AMPs using

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Jan 10 2025SCIENCE

Exploring the 21st Brazilian Meeting on Inorganic Chemistry

In Latin America, one of the standout events in the world of inorganic chemistry is the 21st Brazilian Meeting on Inorganic Chemistry (BMIC). This annual gathering brings together experts from across the region to share their latest findings and innovations in the field. The meeting is so significan

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Jan 10 2025SCIENCE

Big Waves Delay Blue Origin's New Glenn Launch

Blue Origin has postponed the launch of its New Glenn rocket due to rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean. The rocket, named after astronaut John Glenn, was set to take off from Cape Canaveral in Florida. The mission aims to test the communications, power, and control systems for Blue Origin's multi-use

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Jan 10 2025SCIENCE

Unique bacteria turn waste metal into green powerhouses

When it comes to converting water into oxygen — a crucial step in generating clean energy — scientists have found that tiny bacteria can play a big role. There's a type of material called NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) that's super efficient in doing this job, especially in alkaline conditions.

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