Bacteria in the Gloeobacterales group live in a simple way. They don’t have the usual stacks of membranes that most cousins use to catch sunlight. Yet they still survive and grow. New research shows these bacteria solve the problem by stealing genes from other microbes. They pick up pieces of DNA th
Lettuce grown under artificial lights isn’t just affected by temperature and water—how much light it gets also shifts how it processes nitrogen, the stuff that makes greens healthy. Scientists grew two types of lettuce, one crispy like a sandwich topping and one loose-leaf for salads, under two ligh
Some tiny organisms living in our intestines could play a role in keeping blood sugar steady. Scientists have noticed that certain gut residents called Blastocystis might influence how our bodies handle glucose. Not all types of Blastocystis behave the same way—some could be helpful while others mig
The seeds of Ginkgo biloba hold a nasty secret: they produce a poison called ginkgotoxin and its sugar‑bound form. Scientists wanted to know which genes make these chemicals, but the details were fuzzy. Using a step‑by‑step RNA sequencing plan, researchers collected seed samples at different grow
The study looked at six different amine‑rich pollutants that often show up in sewage sludge. These chemicals have various types of nitrogen groups—primary, secondary, tertiary and even quaternary ammonium. Researchers found that the first reactions these pollutants undergo are mainly adding a hydrox
Obesity can change how the liver works. When too much fat builds up in the liver, it may turn into a serious disease that can lead to scarring and even liver failure. The problem starts when fat tissue in the body stops working right. It releases too many free fats into the bloodstream, and these
Veracity Health is rolling out a sitewide discount that can cut the price of its wellness products by as much as half until the end of March. The brand claims that all of its formulas are created by a team of eleven doctors, have undergone clinical testing, use plant‑based ingredients, and are ma
A large study looked at how people’s genes that favor coffee drinking might affect hidden heart disease. Researchers followed 24, 835 adults in Sweden and used imaging tests to check for early plaque in heart arteries and the neck’s carotid artery. Participants reported how often they drank coffee,
The new science shows that the best way to protect your mind as you age is to move enough, but not too much. Studies that followed older people for almost a decade found that those who walked between 5, 000 and 7, 500 steps each day had slower buildup of the tau protein that causes Alzheimer’s. E
When people try to shed pounds, a new idea catches attention: chill cooked starches before eating them. The concept is based on the science of two kinds of starch found in foods like rice, pasta and potatoes. One type, amylose, is hard for the body to break down quickly; the other, amylopectin, diss
