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Astrobiologists Create Framework to Study Extraterrestrial Life Evolution
Astrobiologists are redefining the search for extraterrestrial life, focusing on evolution and complexity in physical systems. Methods include spectroscopy for detecting chemical signatures and frameworks exploring non-Earth biochemistry. Researchers are also investigating technosignatures and minerals linked to biological processes. A universal un...
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Pregnant Great White Shark Killed in Queensland to Aid in Scientific Research
An 18-foot pregnant great white shark was killed on a Queensland drumline in August. This marks the largest white shark caught by the state’s Shark Control Program since its inception in 1962. While her death is a conservation setback, researchers are using samples from her body to study the species’ biology, reproductive patterns, and environm...
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Scientists Examine Rare Spade-Tooth Whale: Key Discoveries Unveiled
Scientists in New Zealand are conducting the first-ever dissection of a complete spade-toothed whale, one of the rarest whale species globally.
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Mealworms Can Eat Plastic, But Study Shows Limited Impact on Pollution Crisis
Research published in Biology Letters has examined the ability of mealworms to break down plastics, including disposable face masks. According to the study, it takes 100 mealworms about 138 days to consume a single polypropylene mask. The findings indicate that while insects like mealworms can eat and degrade plastics, their slow consumption rate m...
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Fruit Fly Experiment on Tiangong Space Station Explores Effects of Microgravity
Chinese astronauts are studying fruit flies aboard the Tiangong space station to understand how microgravity and sub-magnetic fields affect living organisms. The research focuses on biological rhythms, molecular mechanisms, and movement patterns, with samples set to return to Earth for detailed analysis. The study could provide valuable insights fo...
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Baleen Whales’ Hearing Tested for the First Time, Scientists Discover New Capabilities
Juvenile minke whales were temporarily captured in a Norwegian study to investigate their hearing. Results published in Science showed that baleen whales detect ultrasonic frequencies, possibly aiding in predator evasion. This breakthrough, despite ethical debates, could influence ocean noise regulation. Critics raised concerns about stress and har...
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Brazilian Flowers Employ Pollen Catapults to Dominate Pollination Battles
Flowers of Hypenia macrantha in Brazil have been observed using an intriguing strategy to boost their chances of successful pollination. These blooms, which feature both male and female reproductive organs, employ a pollen catapult mechanism. When hummingbirds visit during the flower's male phase, the plant releases a burst of pollen, knocking off ...
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China to Reportedly Activate Powerful X-Ray Light Source to Reveal Atomic Structure of Proteins
China is about to launch the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), a state-of-the-art synchrotron capable of providing high-resolution x-ray imaging. Expected to begin operations in late December, HEPS will enable scientists to explore atomic-level structures in materials and proteins. This new facility, costing $657 million, will offer advanced capabi...
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NASA New Study Challenges RNA's Role in Life’s Molecular Handedness Mystery
NASA-backed research published in Nature Communications has found that RNA molecules exhibit no chemical preference for left- or right-handed amino acids under simulated early-Earth conditions. This discovery, led by UCLA researchers, challenges the idea that RNA played a decisive role in determining the molecular handedness seen in modern life, kn...
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NASA Research Challenges RNA's Role in Life’s Molecular Handedness Mystery
NASA-backed research published in Nature Communications has found that RNA molecules exhibit no chemical preference for left- or right-handed amino acids under simulated early-Earth conditions. This discovery, led by UCLA researchers, challenges the idea that RNA played a decisive role in determining the molecular handedness seen in modern life, kn...
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Heart-Shaped Clams Channel Sunlight Using Fiber Optic-Like Structures, Says Study
Heart cockles, small marine bivalves from the Indian and Pacific Oceans, exhibit a unique adaptation in their shells. These structures, resembling fibre-optic cables, channel sunlight to symbiotic algae living within, facilitating photosynthesis while filtering out harmful ultraviolet rays. The algae provide essential nutrients to the clams in retu...
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Mountain Lions in Los Angeles Are Turning Nocturnal Due to Humans Encroaching Their Habitat, Study Finds
Mountain lions in Los Angeles are adapting to human recreational activities such as hiking, jogging, and cycling by becoming more nocturnal, a recent study in Biological Conservation has revealed. Researchers tracked 22 GPS-collared mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains between 2011 and 2018 and found that the animals shifted their activity ...
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Solitary Dolphin in Baltic Sea Talks to Himself, Researchers Think it's a Sign of Loneliness
A bottlenose dolphin, known as Delle, has been observed in the Baltic Sea making thousands of vocalisations. The solitary dolphin’s sounds, including whistles and clicks, suggest it may be lonely and trying to communicate. Despite being in an area outside the usual range for these dolphins, no other dolphins were nearby. Researchers are exploring...
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World’s Largest Living Organism Pando Might Be The Oldest Living Thing, Reveals New Study
Pando, a massive quaking aspen spanning 100 acres in Utah, is estimated to be between 16,000 and 80,000 years old. Research suggests that Pando has witnessed and survived vast environmental changes since humans began migrating out of Africa. The genetically linked stems span an interconnected root system that highlights plant resilience. Challenges...
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Indian Scientists Create Genetically Modified Bacteria Capable of Mathematical Computation
Scientists from Kolkata’s Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics have genetically engineered bacteria that can perform calculations like addition and subtraction, as well as identify prime numbers. This breakthrough highlights the potential for bacterial biocomputers, using bacterial cells to perform computational tasks. Researchers believe these deve...
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Astrobiologists Create Framework to Study Extraterrestrial Life Evolution
Astrobiologists are redefining the search for extraterrestrial life, focusing on evolution and complexity in physical systems. Methods include spectroscopy for detecting chemical signatures and frameworks exploring non-Earth biochemistry. Researchers are also investigating technosignatures and minerals linked to biological processes. A universal un...
-
Pregnant Great White Shark Killed in Queensland to Aid in Scientific Research
An 18-foot pregnant great white shark was killed on a Queensland drumline in August. This marks the largest white shark caught by the state’s Shark Control Program since its inception in 1962. While her death is a conservation setback, researchers are using samples from her body to study the species’ biology, reproductive patterns, and environm...
-
Scientists Examine Rare Spade-Tooth Whale: Key Discoveries Unveiled
Scientists in New Zealand are conducting the first-ever dissection of a complete spade-toothed whale, one of the rarest whale species globally.
-
Mealworms Can Eat Plastic, But Study Shows Limited Impact on Pollution Crisis
Research published in Biology Letters has examined the ability of mealworms to break down plastics, including disposable face masks. According to the study, it takes 100 mealworms about 138 days to consume a single polypropylene mask. The findings indicate that while insects like mealworms can eat and degrade plastics, their slow consumption rate m...
-
Fruit Fly Experiment on Tiangong Space Station Explores Effects of Microgravity
Chinese astronauts are studying fruit flies aboard the Tiangong space station to understand how microgravity and sub-magnetic fields affect living organisms. The research focuses on biological rhythms, molecular mechanisms, and movement patterns, with samples set to return to Earth for detailed analysis. The study could provide valuable insights fo...
-
Baleen Whales’ Hearing Tested for the First Time, Scientists Discover New Capabilities
Juvenile minke whales were temporarily captured in a Norwegian study to investigate their hearing. Results published in Science showed that baleen whales detect ultrasonic frequencies, possibly aiding in predator evasion. This breakthrough, despite ethical debates, could influence ocean noise regulation. Critics raised concerns about stress and har...
-
Brazilian Flowers Employ Pollen Catapults to Dominate Pollination Battles
Flowers of Hypenia macrantha in Brazil have been observed using an intriguing strategy to boost their chances of successful pollination. These blooms, which feature both male and female reproductive organs, employ a pollen catapult mechanism. When hummingbirds visit during the flower's male phase, the plant releases a burst of pollen, knocking off ...
-
China to Reportedly Activate Powerful X-Ray Light Source to Reveal Atomic Structure of Proteins
China is about to launch the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), a state-of-the-art synchrotron capable of providing high-resolution x-ray imaging. Expected to begin operations in late December, HEPS will enable scientists to explore atomic-level structures in materials and proteins. This new facility, costing $657 million, will offer advanced capabi...
-
NASA New Study Challenges RNA's Role in Life’s Molecular Handedness Mystery
NASA-backed research published in Nature Communications has found that RNA molecules exhibit no chemical preference for left- or right-handed amino acids under simulated early-Earth conditions. This discovery, led by UCLA researchers, challenges the idea that RNA played a decisive role in determining the molecular handedness seen in modern life, kn...
-
NASA Research Challenges RNA's Role in Life’s Molecular Handedness Mystery
NASA-backed research published in Nature Communications has found that RNA molecules exhibit no chemical preference for left- or right-handed amino acids under simulated early-Earth conditions. This discovery, led by UCLA researchers, challenges the idea that RNA played a decisive role in determining the molecular handedness seen in modern life, kn...
-
Heart-Shaped Clams Channel Sunlight Using Fiber Optic-Like Structures, Says Study
Heart cockles, small marine bivalves from the Indian and Pacific Oceans, exhibit a unique adaptation in their shells. These structures, resembling fibre-optic cables, channel sunlight to symbiotic algae living within, facilitating photosynthesis while filtering out harmful ultraviolet rays. The algae provide essential nutrients to the clams in retu...
-
Mountain Lions in Los Angeles Are Turning Nocturnal Due to Humans Encroaching Their Habitat, Study Finds
Mountain lions in Los Angeles are adapting to human recreational activities such as hiking, jogging, and cycling by becoming more nocturnal, a recent study in Biological Conservation has revealed. Researchers tracked 22 GPS-collared mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains between 2011 and 2018 and found that the animals shifted their activity ...
-
Solitary Dolphin in Baltic Sea Talks to Himself, Researchers Think it's a Sign of Loneliness
A bottlenose dolphin, known as Delle, has been observed in the Baltic Sea making thousands of vocalisations. The solitary dolphin’s sounds, including whistles and clicks, suggest it may be lonely and trying to communicate. Despite being in an area outside the usual range for these dolphins, no other dolphins were nearby. Researchers are exploring...
-
World’s Largest Living Organism Pando Might Be The Oldest Living Thing, Reveals New Study
Pando, a massive quaking aspen spanning 100 acres in Utah, is estimated to be between 16,000 and 80,000 years old. Research suggests that Pando has witnessed and survived vast environmental changes since humans began migrating out of Africa. The genetically linked stems span an interconnected root system that highlights plant resilience. Challenges...
-
Indian Scientists Create Genetically Modified Bacteria Capable of Mathematical Computation
Scientists from Kolkata’s Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics have genetically engineered bacteria that can perform calculations like addition and subtraction, as well as identify prime numbers. This breakthrough highlights the potential for bacterial biocomputers, using bacterial cells to perform computational tasks. Researchers believe these deve...
