A researcher has uncovered evidence of intestinal parasites in a 500-year-old latrine from Bruges, Belgium, and while the finding may induce queasiness in some, it is expected to provide important scientific evidence on how infectious diseases once spread through travel and trade.
Less is more: Why an economical Iridium catalyst works so well
Iridium-based catalysts are needed to produce hydrogen using water electrolysis. Now, a team has shown that the newly developed P2X catalyst, which requires only a quarter of the Iridium, is as efficient and stable over time as the best commercial catalyst. Measurements at BESSY II have now revealed how the...
Close encounters between distant DNA regions cause bursts of gene activity
Researchers have revealed a new mechanism underlying how spatial distance between specific regions of DNA is linked to bursts of gene activity. Using advanced cell imaging techniques and computer modeling, the researchers showed that the folding and movement of DNA, as well as the accumulation of certain proteins, changes depending...
CAST mouse model: A crucial tool for future COVID-19 outbreaks
Researchers have identified the first mouse strain that is susceptible to severe COVID-19 without the need for genetic modification. This development marks a pivotal step forward in infectious disease research, providing an essential tool to develop vaccines and therapeutics for future coronavirus variants and potential pandemics.
High heat is preferentially killing the young, not the old, new research finds
Many recent studies assume that elderly people are at particular risk of dying from extreme heat as the planet warms. A new study of mortality in Mexico turns this assumption on its head: it shows that 75% of heat-related deaths are occurring among people under 35 -- a large percentage...
Magnesium Electrolyte Sparks Next Generation Battery Design
University of Waterloo researchers have made a key breakthrough in developing next-generation batteries that are made using magnesium instead of lithium.
Europe’s Native Oyster Ecosystems Have ‘Collapsed’
Scientists have revealed that Europe’s native oyster ecosystem has declined to the extent that it has ‘collapsed’, highlighting the importance of ambitious restoration initiatives.
From chip shop to pit stop — scientists make old cooking oil biofuel as efficient as diesel
A new way to produce fuels made from leftover fat can create biofuel as effective as diesel and 1000-times more efficiently than current methods a new study has suggested.
MRI could be key to understanding the impact a gluten free diet has on people with Celiac disease
Experts have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to better understand the impact a gluten free diet has on people with celiac disease, which could be the first step towards finding new ways of treating the condition. Celiac disease is a chronic condition affecting around one person in every 100 in...
New biodegradable material to replace certain microplastics
Researchers developed biodegradable materials that could replace the plastic micro-beads now used in beauty products. The materials could also be used to encapsulate nutrients for food fortification.