They've famously survived the vacuum of space, and even returned to life after being frozen for decades in Antarctic moss. But as hard as it is to kill the bizarre microscopic animal, the tardigrade, it's harder to find one fossilized. In fact, only two have ever been discovered and formally...
Growing potential for toxic algal blooms in the Alaskan Arctic
Changes in the northern Alaskan Arctic ocean environment have reached a point at which a previously rare phenomenon -- widespread blooms of toxic algae -- could become more commonplace, potentially threatening a wide range of marine wildlife and the people who rely on local marine resources for food. That is...
Natural compound in basil may protect against Alzheimer’s disease pathology
Fenchol, a natural compound abundant in some plants including basil, can help protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease pathology, a preclinical study suggests. The team discovered a sensing mechanism associated with the gut microbiome that explains how fenchol reduces neurotoxicity in the Alzheimer's brain.
COVID-19: Without masks, two meters distancing is not enough, research finds
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 indoors, the two meters physical distancing guideline is not enough without masks, according to researchers. However, wearing a mask indoors can reduce the contamination range of airborne particles by about 67 percent.
Linker histones tune the length and shape of chromosomes
A new study finds that proteins known as linker histones control the complex coiling process that determines whether DNA will wind into long and thin chromosomes, made up of many small loops, or short and thick chromosomes with fewer large loops.
Wildfire bees on the brink
The number of threatened Australian native bee species is expected to increase by nearly five times after the devastating Black Summer bushfires in 2019-20, new research has found. With 24 million hectares of Australia's land area burnt, researchers say the casualties are clear among bee fauna and other insects and...
Precious metals from electronic waste in seconds
Flash Joule heating recovers valuable and toxic metals from electronic waste. The process allows for "urban mining" of resources that could be a win for the environment as well as for manufacturers.
Exposure to deadly urban heat worldwide has tripled in recent decades, says study
A new study of more than 13,000 cities worldwide has found that the number of person-days in which inhabitants are exposed to extreme combinations of heat and humidity has tripled since the 1980s. The authors say the trend, which now affects nearly a quarter of the world's population, is the...
Scientists capture the fleeting transition of water into a highly reactive state
Researchers have uncovered a key step in the ionization of liquid water using the lab's high-speed 'electron camera,' MeV-UED. This reaction is of fundamental significance to a wide range of fields, including nuclear engineering, space travel, cancer treatment and environmental remediation.
Marine heatwaves could wipe out an extra six per cent of a country’s fish catches, costing millions their jobs
Extremely hot years will wipe out hundreds of thousands of tons of fish available for catch in a country's waters in this century, on top of projected decreases to fish stocks from long-term climate change, a new study predicts. Modelling a worst-case scenario where no action is taken to mitigate...