Scientists at the University of Southampton have discovered that stretching of the continents is likely to have caused one of the most extreme and abrupt episodes of global warming in Earth history.
Giant bacteria found in Guadeloupe mangroves challenge traditional concepts
Researchers describe the morphological and genomic features of a ''macro' microbe' -- a giant filamentous bacterium composed of a single cell discovered in the mangroves of Guadeloupe. Using various microscopy techniques, the team also observed novel, membrane-bound compartments that contain DNA clusters dubbed 'pepins.'
Humans can’t, but turtles can: Reduce weakening and deterioration with age
Evolutionary theories of ageing predict that all living organisms weaken and deteriorate with age (a process known as senescence) -- and eventually die. Now, researchers show that certain animal species, such as turtles (including tortoises) may exhibit slower or even absent senescence when their living conditions improve.
Shedding light on the impact of microplastics on lentil seedling growth
Microplastic pollution is known to negatively impact seed germination and seedling growth. Although some studies have demonstrated the effects of microplastics on seed germination, the impact of microplastics on the internal biological activity of seeds remained unknown. Now, a group of researchers has used biospeckle optical coherence tomography to reveal...
Inside the jellyfish’s sting: Exploring the micro-architecture of a cellular weapon
Summertime beachgoers are all too familiar with the painful reality of a jellyfish sting. But how do the stinging cells of jellyfish and their coral and sea anemone cousins actually work? New research unveils a precise operational model for the stinging organelle of the starlet sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis. The...
Scarless skin grafting using mussel adhesive protein
A professor develops a bioadhesive based on the mussel adhesive protein for sutureless skin grafting. Skin regenerative effect maximized with controlled releases of dual drugs.
Scientists decontaminate heavy metal water using protein from plant waste
Scientists have created a membrane made from a waste by-product of vegetable oil manufacturing, which can filter out heavy metals from contaminated water. In tests, they showed that this process of attraction, called adsorption, was able to purify contaminated water to a degree that meets international drinking standards.
How climate change can significantly impact one of the world’s most important carbon-rich ecosystems
Mangrove forests play a vital role in the health of our planet. The trees and shrubs absorb a substantial amount of greenhouse gas emissions, help protect communities from rising sea levels, and act as nurseries for baby fish.
Tapping the Ocean as a Source of Natural Products
The oceans are teeming with countless forms of life, from the world’s largest creature – the blue whale – to miniscule microorganisms.
What did Megalodon eat? Anything it wanted — including other predators.
Megalodon sharks, which went extinct about 3 million years ago, were three times longer than modern great white sharks and were apex predators at highest trophic level ever measured. Researchers used the traces of nitrogen trapped in shark tooth enamel to calculate the trophic levels of the prehistoric predators.