In the world of water studies, scientists often use environmental DNA (eDNA) to spot fish. But there's a problem: fish feed can fool these tests, making it seem like fish are present when they're not. This is a big issue, especially near fish farms, because it can give wrong results. Researchers took a closer look. They checked three types of fish feed and found DNA...
MicroRNAs, or miRNAs, are tiny but mighty players in our bodies. They can tell us a lot about diseases, but catching them is tricky. They're short, there aren't many of them, and they look similar to each other. That's where electrochemical biosensing comes in. It's like a high-tech treasure hunt for these tiny RNA molecules. Scientists have been cooking up clever w...
Climate scientists have made a big leap forward. They now have a tool that can predict future weather patterns with incredible detail. This isn't just about knowing if it will rain or shine. It's about understanding how climate change will affect our daily lives. The new model is like a super-powered weather forecast. It can zoom in on small areas and predict weathe...
Moss has shown it can handle the toughest conditions on Earth, but can it survive in space? Scientists wanted to find out. They sent moss spores to the International Space Station (ISS) and left them outside for nine months. The results were surprising. The moss spores were not kept safe inside the ISS like other plants. Instead, they were attached to the outside, f...
Chemists have long relied on transition metals to speed up reactions. Now, they're using light to make these reactions even better. Most of the time, they use short-wavelength light like purple or blue. But there's a catch. Long-wavelength light, like red and orange, is gentler and can go deeper. Yet, it's rarely used in these reactions. Here's where things get inte...
Polymers, those versatile materials we often associate with plastics, are stepping into the spotlight of electronics. Researchers have discovered a way to manipulate how spins travel through these materials, paving the way for advanced electronics that function at room temperature. This is a game-changer, as it opens up new possibilities for data processing and stora...
Maize, a staple crop, faces a big problem: antimony (Sb) pollution. This harmful substance sneaks into the soil and messes with the plants, making them grow poorly and reducing their nutritional value. But here's a twist: tiny fungi called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) might just be the heroes maize needs. These fungi team up with maize roots, creating a symbio...
In the vast wilderness of Yukon, Canada, a fascinating story unfolds every 9 to 11 years. Snowshoe hares, those fluffy-footed creatures, go through dramatic population changes. But why and how this happens has puzzled scientists for nearly a century. Researchers recently dug into over 20, 000 captures of more than 7, 000 unique snowshoe hares from Kluane Lake. They ...
Sea urchins are not just cute, spiky creatures. They are also tiny models for scientists studying how living things grow from a single cell into a complex organism. One important part of this process is collagen, a protein that acts like a scaffold, giving shape and support to tissues. But collagen doesn't work alone. It needs a helper called lysyl oxidase (LOX) to l...
Citrus fruits pack a punch with vitamins and plant-based goodies. These include things like flavonoids and vitamin C. They can fight off harmful stuff in our bodies. But there's a catch. These goodies often break down before we can enjoy their benefits. So, what's the solution? Tiny tech, or nanotechnology, is stepping in to help. It uses super small carriers, like ...