As warehouses go, nuclei are more like libraries than bank vaults. Too many cellular components need access to the genome to lock it down like Fort Knox. Instead, large groupings of more than 1,000 individual protein molecules called nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) pepper the dividing membrane, serving as gateways for...
In a Warming World, Why Is the Southern Ocean Getting Cooler?
Climate models predict that as the planet warms, so will the Southern Ocean. But for decades, the waters around Antarctica have grown mysteriously cooler. A new study shows why.
Rice Scientists Pioneer Method to Tackle ‘Forever Chemicals’
Rice University researchers have developed an innovative solution to a pressing environmental challenge: removing and destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly called “forever chemicals.”
Wildfires, Windstorms and Heatwaves: How Extreme Weather Threatens Nature’s Essential Services
How much will strawberry harvests shrink when extreme heat harms pollinators?
How a critical enzyme keeps potentially dangerous genes in check
The new study reveals a remarkable way that cells keep us safe from transposable elements (TEs) gone wild. The researchers found that cells have taken advantage of an entire protein network to repress TE activity and keep themselves healthy.
Drone experiment reveals how Greenland ice sheet is changing
A new study measured water vapor in Greenland's air, collecting data crucial for improving climate models and forecasting Arctic changes.
Why scientists are worried about weasels
Weasels are often difficult to capture on camera, making it hard for conservationists to track their population numbers. This study aimed to determine the best material to use as bait for camera traps when studying the weasels. Researchers found that red meat worked better than other options, especially when supplemented...
Global patterns in seed plant distribution over millions of years
Why do some plants thrive in specific regions but not in others? A study explores the factors shaping plant distributions and how these patterns have changed over millions of years. Analyzing nearly 270,000 seed plant species worldwide, the research highlights the roles of environmental conditions and dispersal barriers in influencing...
Understanding the immune response to a persistent pathogen
Researchers show that the immune system can recognize and control the latent stage of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, a finding that can inform the study of latency in other infections of the nervous system.
New approach could treat anthrax beyond the ‘point of no return’
Researchers show that a cocktail of growth factors reversed would-be lethal cell damage in mice with anthrax, suggesting that this approach could be adapted for use in patients.