Unraveling the genetic keys to improve canola crop yield
An international team of researchers, including one from The University of Western Australia (UWA), has successfully unraveled the genomes of 418 unique samples of rapeseed from across the globe to identify traits that breeders can use to improve canola crop yield. The study, Genomic selection and genetic architecture of agronomic traits during modern rapeseed breeding, […]
Research team improves gene editing with chemical process
The gene-editing technique known as CRISPR has accelerated biological and medical research in the last decade by allowing scientists to repair the DNA of human cells almost as simply as using a pair of scissors. Gene editing—and especially CRISPR, because it’s easy to use—has given researchers hope for curing genetic diseases, including cancer. Now, a […]
Buildup of solar heat likely contributes to Mars’ dust storms, researchers find
A seasonal imbalance in the amount of solar heat (energy) absorbed and released by the planet Mars is a likely cause of the dust storms that have long intrigued observers, a team of researchers reports. Mars’ extreme imbalance in energy budget (a term referring to the measurement of solar energy a planet takes in from […]
Shaping the future of light through reconfigurable metasurfaces
The technological advancement of optical lenses has long been a significant marker of human scientific achievement. Eyeglasses, telescopes, cameras, and microscopes have all literally and figuratively allowed us to see the world in a new light. Lenses are also a fundamental component of manufacturing nanoelectronics by the semiconductor industry. One of the most impactful breakthroughs […]
New theory promises to reshape how we think about polymer double-gyroid superstructures
Polymer scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently announced in the journal Nature Communications that they have solved a longstanding mystery surrounding a nanoscale structure, formed by collections of molecules, called a double-gyroid. This shape is one of the most desirable for materials scientists, and has a wide range of applications; but until now, […]
Study sheds new light on the mechanism of individual cell memory, using yeast as a model
Whi3 is a mnemon (Whi3mnem), or in other words, a protein that stores information in individual cells by forming stable super-assemblies. This memory state is then inherited by only one individual daughter cell at mitosis (individual memory). For example, when facing an uncommitted mating partner, budding yeast cells coalesce the G1/S inhibitor Whi3 into a […]
Policymakers underestimate methane emissions and air quality impacts, says a new study
Methane emissions have been increasing rapidly in recent years, contributing significantly to global warming. Despite this, methane is not adequately treated within existing national and international governance frameworks. Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) researchers highlight the urgent need for action in a new study published in Environmental Science & Policy. Under the Paris Agreement, […]
Micro and Nanoplastics Interactions with Plant Species: Trends, Meta-Analysis
Plastic contamination has become a widespread societal and ecological threat due to its global application, persistence, and adverse impact on biota. Global plastic production has reached 368 million tons, with production in China and Europe at 114.08 and 58.88 million tons in 2019, respectively; some predictions of global production to exceed 33 billion tons by […]
Lithium accumulation in the environment effects agricultural plants
Lithium (Li) is the major element powering modern technology known as white gold and a green energy alkali metal. Globally, total Li production was 82,000 tons year−1 in 2021, a 200% increase since 2010 (USGS 2011-2021). Rechargeable Li-ion batteries consumption was 74% of total Li production by 2021, which shows the increasing demand of Li for […]