Ever wondered how fish could handle pollutants in their water? Let's dive into how one type of fish, called matrinxa, can fight back with a simple daily routine - swimming! In fish farms, water pollution is common, especially with a nasty byproduct called nitrite. This stuff can harm fish by causing
Ever wondered how our gut keeps working smoothly throughout life? The enteric nervous system (ENS) is like the brain of the gut, controlling its movements. But this system faces constant challenges and might lose some nerve cells (apoptosis) along the way. Scientists think new nerve cells (neurogene
Engrailed homeodomain, or EngHD, is a crucial protein that controls over 200 genes by acting as a transcription factor. It folds quickly, but scientists aren't quite sure how electrostatic interactions within it affect its stability and cooperativity during folding. Recent research used a computer m
In the world of flexible electronics, planar microsupercapacitors (MSCs) are superstars. They store energy and deliver power, making them ideal for wearable devices. But creating high-performance MSCs is tricky. You need materials that let ions move quickly and offer lots of active sites. Scientists
Imagine trying to understand why things happen when they do. That's what Victor Ambros set out to do while studying a tiny worm called C. elegans. He found that certain genes, called heterochronic genes, control when cells mature. It was like figuring out the rhythm of life for these tiny creatures.
Ever wondered how neuroscientists share their data? The BRAIN Initiative has set up a complex data-sharing network with seven different archives. Each has its own rules, making it a bit like navigating a maze. But why so complicated? Well, it allows specialized archives to cater to specific research
Lichens, those fascinating plants that grow on rocks and trees, have been around for a long time. Scientists first took notice of them in the 1870s and found that they produce special substances that can affect bacteria and fungi. More recently, we've discovered that lichens have a whole community o
Did you know that carbon dioxide (CO2) can be used to make plastics? It's true! CO2 is cheap, plenty, and can be recycled, making it a great building block for polymers. But it's tricky to use because it's very stable. One way to unlock its potential is by mixing it with epoxides, which are chemical
Imagine being able to target a specific part of a protein to fight leukemia with less side effects. That's what scientists are working on with a new drug called XY221. This drug, XY221, is special because it sticks to a tiny part of a protein called BRD4 BD2. This part is like a keyhole, and XY221 i
Continuum robots have a common issue: when one part moves, others often follow unintentionally. This is known as motion coupling, and it makes controlling these robots tricky. To tackle this problem, a new type of robot has been designed. It's called the Variable-Pitch Flexible-Screw-Driven Continuu
