Researchers tracked the health of nearly one thousand mice on a variety of diets to see if these diets would extend the mice's lifespan. The study was designed to ensure that each mouse was genetically distinct, which allowed the team to better represent the genetic diversity of the human population....
Another step towards decoding smell
We often only realize how important our sense of smell is when it is no longer there: food is not as tasty as it once was, or we no longer react to dangers such as the smell of smoke. Researchers have investigated the neuronal mechanisms of human odor perception for...
A matter of taste: Electronic tongue reveals AI ‘inner thoughts’
Researchers recently developed electronic tongue capable of identifying differences in similar liquids, such as milk with varying water content; diverse products, including soda types and coffee blends; signs of spoilage in fruit juices; and instances of food safety concerns. They found that results were even more accurate when artificial intelligence...
Transition to a circular bioeconomy requires getting prices right
A circular bioeconomy that reduces and recycles waste, transitions away from fossil fuels to renewable bio-based alternatives, and regenerates natural systems is critical for feeding and fueling the world's growing population in environmentally sustainable ways. But it's a complicated concept, and significant questions remain about how it should be implemented...
El Niño linked to accelerated ice loss in tropics
Natural climate patterns such as El Nino are causing tropical glaciers to lose their ice at an alarming rate, a new study has found.
Team engineers new enzyme to produce synthetic genetic material
A research team describes how they engineered an efficient new enzyme that can produce a synthetic genetic material called threose nucleic acid. The ability to synthesize artificial chains of TNA, which is inherently more stable than DNA, advances the discovery of potentially more powerful, precise therapeutic options to treat cancer...
Transition to low-carbon futures: New research uncovers rise in legal challenges to climate action
As the global push towards low-carbon societies accelerates, a new study reveals that justice concerns are increasingly surfacing in legal disputes over climate policies and projects. This phenomenon, described as 'just transition litigation', emphasizes the need to balance climate action with social justice considerations, ensuring that vulnerable communities are not...
What we can learn from hungry yeast cells
Scientists have revealed a new cellular adaptation to starvation, in which the mitochondria of yeast cells get coated by ribosomes. Surprisingly, the ribosomes attach to the mitochondrial outer membrane with a very unusual 'upside-down' orientation. The discovery of this mechanism has potential implications for our understanding of how stressed cancer...
Asymmetric placebo effect in response to spicy food
The expectations humans have of a pleasurable sensation asymmetrically shape neuronal responses and subjective experiences to hot sauce, according to a new study.
Should men and women eat different breakfasts to lose weight?
It's not a bad thing if you pick a toasted bagel for breakfast, while your partner chooses eggs. In fact that difference could help you lose some weight.