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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 15, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- We are living in a bacterial world, and it's impacting us more than previously thought- Researchers build self-repairing "systemic" computer
- Researchers demonstrate Heisenberg uncertainty principle at macro level
- UK's RobotCar demonstrated (w/ Video)
- Following the footprints of positive selection
- Study reveals genetic diversity of genes in peppers
- Researchers uncover new findings on genetic risks of Behçet's disease
- Black gold: Enabling bright, high rep-rate electron beams
- Go with your gut: Research sheds light on how microbes can interact with drugs
- Researcher at UPNA develops 3-D reconstruction algorithms less complex and more accurate
- Slithering towards extinction: Almost 1 in 5 reptiles are struggling to survive
- NASA designs new space telescope optics
- Playing quantum tricks with measurements
- Force is the key to granular state-shifting
- Nano-machines for 'bionic proteins'
Space & Earth news
To feed the world, give women equal rights
Around the world, at least a billion people are hungry or need better diets. To feed a global population projected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, we will need to increase food production by as much as 70 percent, most analysts believe.
Climate change is not an all-or-nothing proposition, researcher says
An Ohio State University statistician says that the natural human difficulty with grasping probabilities is preventing Americans from dealing with climate change.
Extreme winters impact fish negatively
Ecologists from Umeå University and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim have studied fish communities and fish habitat and reviewed the importance of winter conditions for fish in streams and rivers in cold regions. The findings are now being published in the journal BioScience.
Scientists develop improved fire management tools for Africa's savannas
Scientists at the Nairobi-based World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and partners have developed specialized graphs that map out fire behavior, known as nomographs, for landscape managers in Africa's savannas. The study, published in the February issue of the Journal of Arid Environments, pinpoints the optimal conditions for setting early-season prescribed fires—a process that when executed and timed properly, reduces the risk and impact of late dry season bushfires in increasingly fragile ecosystems, both of which are exacerbated by climate change.
Toll from Russia meteor strike 'unprecedented'
A meteor strike in central Russia on Friday that left hundreds of people injured is the biggest known human toll from a space rock, a British expert said.
Sky fall: Meteorites strike Earth every few months
(AP)—A meteor exploded in the sky above Russia's Ural Mountains on Friday, causing a shockwave that blew out countless windows and injured hundreds of people with flying glass. Here's a look at those objects in the sky:
Tunguska, 1908: Russia's greatest cosmic mystery
The stunning burning-up of a meteor over Russia on Friday that unleashed a shockwave injuring hundreds of people appears to be the country's most dramatic cosmic experience since the historic Tunguska Event of June 1908.
No health effects from Fukushima: Japan researcher
A Japanese government-backed researcher said Friday no health effects from radiation released by the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant have been seen in people living nearby.
Statistics help clear fog for better climate change picture
Statistics is an important tool in sorting through information on how human activities are affecting the climate system, as well as how climate change affects natural and human systems, according to a Penn State statistician.
Research with Yorkshire Water to reduce lead in water supplies
Research at the University of Huddersfield aims to ensure that the risk of lead being found in domestic water supplies as a result of lead plumbing is reduced even further – in line with new regulations which come into force at the end of 2013.
Meteor strike in Russia hurts almost 1,000 (w/ Video)
A plunging meteor exploded with a blinding flash above central Russia on Friday, setting off a shockwave that shattered windows and hurt almost 1,000 people in an event unprecedented in modern times.
Asteroid whizzes safely past Earth (Update)
A closely tracked asteroid, about 150-feet (45-meters) wide, whizzed safely past Earth on Friday, the same day a much smaller, previously undetected meteor hit Russia, injuring nearly 1,000 people.
Japan readies space telescope to study atmosphere
Japan is to send a space telescope into orbit around the Earth to observe Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, officials said on Friday, as they look to unlock the secrets of our own planet's atmosphere.
World's third largest asteroid impact zone found in South Australia
An asteroid measuring up to 20km across hit South Australia up to 360 million years ago and left behind the one of the largest asteroid impact zones on Earth, according to new research published today.
System would destroy asteroids that threaten Earth
As an asteroid roughly half as large as a football field—and with energy equal to a large hydrogen bomb—readies for a fly-by of Earth on Friday, two California scientists are unveiling their proposal for a system that could eliminate a threat of this size in an hour. The same system could destroy asteroids 10 times larger than the one known as 2012 DA14 in about a year, with evaporation starting at a distance as far away as the Sun.
NASA designs new space telescope optics
Although hundreds of planets orbiting other stars have been discovered in the past 15 years, we cannot yet answer the age-old question of whether any of these planets are capable of sustaining life. However, new NASA technology may change that, by giving us our first look at distant planets that not only are the right size and traveling in the temperate habitable zone of their host star, but also show signs of potential life, such as atmospheric oxygen and liquid water.
Technology news
Open-source software can help find the right space for offshore wind turbines
Offshore wind has significant potential to help the United States meet its growing energy needs, but the U.S. marine renewable energy industry has lagged behind Europe for decades.
SKorean lawmaker loses seat over Samsung wiretaps
(AP)—A South Korean lawmaker known for criticism of the Samsung conglomerate has forfeited his seat in parliament after the Supreme Court ruled he violated communications laws by publishing incriminating wiretaps of conversations between Samsung officials on the Internet.
Facebook wins German court fight on fake names ban
(AP)—Facebook has won a court battle against a German privacy watchdog that challenged the social networking site's policy requiring users to register with their real names.
Shell, BASF offer millions in class action suit
(AP)—Shell Brasil SA and BASF SA have offered more than $20 million to settle a class-action lawsuit with former workers allegedly contaminated at a pesticide plant in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil's top labor court said Friday.
Google under fire for sending users' information to developers
Sebastian Holst makes yoga mobile applications with his wife, a yoga instructor.
Facebook users can pay to promote friends' posts
Facebook on Friday said it is letting users pay to ensure that messages posted by friends at the leading social network get more attention.
Famous last tweets captured for posterity
Someone's famous last words are now likely to be famous last tweets.
Researcher at UPNA develops 3-D reconstruction algorithms less complex and more accurate
In his PhD thesis, Leonardo de Maeztu-Reinares is proposing 3D reconstruction algorithms; they are on a par with the results of the best available techniques and can be executed more rapidly on a computer. His work is based on stereoscopic vision, a technique for obtaining three-dimensional images and which, in order to get accurate results, calls for a computationally heavy load and considerable algorithmic complexity. His work has been published in international journals like the IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence.
UK's RobotCar demonstrated (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—A group of scientists at Oxford University in the UK have demonstrated their version of the self-driving car, which promises to be much cheaper than similar cars being developed elsewhere.
Researchers build self-repairing "systemic" computer
(Phys.org)—Computer scientists Christos Sakellariou and Peter Bentley working together at University College in London, have built a new kind of computer that runs instruction segments randomly, rather than sequentially, resulting in a computer than in theory, should never crash.
Medicine & Health news
Study finds strong link between income inequality and readmission risk, but not mortality
The authors estimate nearly 40,000 extra admissions to hospital as a result of income inequality over the three year study period.
UN warns risk of hepatitis E in S. Sudan grows
(AP)—The United Nations says an outbreak of hepatitis E has killed 111 refugees in camps in South Sudan since July, and has become endemic in the region.
No need to panic over horsemeat scandal: EU official
The EU's top health official on Friday said there was no need to panic over a Europe-wide horsemeat scandal, saying it was a labelling rather than a health issue.
Most docs able to explain gaps in quality of rheumatology care
(HealthDay)—Data from the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) for osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) care in Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries show that up to one-quarter of physicians provided reasons in the system explaining why care was considered but not provided, according to research published in the February issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Cured of cancer but in poor health
The majority of people afflicted with cancer now recover with treatment. Many of these, however, subsequently experience new health problems due to the cancer and/or the treatment. Norwegian researchers want to find out why.
Study shows rise in teachers' health insurance costs
A new study by a University of Arkansas professor and doctoral student found that school district costs for teachers' health insurance in 2012 were, on average, 26 percent higher than those for private-sector professional employees.
British-Chinese adoption study
Research by Professor Alan Rushton, King's College London and the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) gives new insight into the long-term effects and outcomes for children adopted from abroad.
Healthcare services for rural Sub-Saharan Africa within reach, according to new study
A new paper published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization has determined that providing rural sub-Saharan Africans a close-to-client health system by paid, full-time community health workers by 2015 would cost $2.6 billion per year, or just $6.86 per person covered by the program.
This is why it takes so long to get over tendon injuries
getting over damage to tendons can be a long and painful process. By combining the nuclear tests of the 1950s with tissue samples and modern technology, a research collaboration between the Aarhus University and University of Copenhagen now reveals why the healing process is so slow.
Study finds that 'Big Pharma' fails at self-policing ED drug advertising
The pharmaceutical industry's efforts to self-regulate its direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising are "an industry-sponsored ruse," intended to deflect criticism and collectively block new Federal regulation, a study released today in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law found.
Researchers test tool for screening cancer patients for malnutrition
Considering the many things a cancer patient has to think about, it's easy to understand why maintaining proper nutrition may not be top of mind.
Hospitals may be unfairly punished for high readmission rates
(Medical Xpress)—When hospital patients have to be readmitted soon after discharge, hospitals look bad.
Evolutionary origins of human dietary patterns
William Leonard has conducted extensive research on the diets and ways of prehistoric populations. A paper on his research will be presented Friday, Feb. 15, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The research shows that the transition from subsistence to a modern, sedentary lifestyle has created energy imbalances that have increased rapidly—evolutionarily speaking—in recent years and now play a major role in obesity.
Runners and riders in Europe's horsemeat scandal
(AP)—The European Union agreed Friday to begin random DNA checks on meat products in a bid to put a lid on a spreading scandal over horsemeat, while British authorities announced traces of horse had been found in school meals, restaurant dishes and hospital food, as well as supermarket products.
Fourth case of SARS-like virus hits Britain
A third member of a family has been diagnosed in Britain with a potentially fatal SARS-like virus, officials said Friday, bringing the number of confirmed cases worldwide to 12.
Dutch plant raided for 'mixing horse and beef': prosecutor
Dutch officials on Friday raided a meat processing plant in the south of the Netherlands believed to be mixing horsemeat and beef and selling it on as pure beef, the public prosecutor said.
Health care-associated infections decreased in 2011
(HealthDay)—In 2011, decreases were noted for some health care-associated infections (HAIs), according to a report prepared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
General anesthesia ups knee replacement complications
(HealthDay)—For patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, use of general anesthesia is associated with a significant increase in complications compared with spinal anesthesia, according to a study published in the Feb. 6 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Cell phone cameras improve self-reported dietary recall
(HealthDay)—Pictures taken on cell phone-based digital cameras can function as a memory prompt to more accurately recall fruit and vegetable intake, according to a study published in the February issue of Applied Nursing Research.
Smoking bans linked with 'successive reductions' in preterm birth
The study supports the notion that smoking bans have public health benefits from early life.
Open windows, lower risk for preterm birth: study
(HealthDay) —Opening the windows at home may help pregnant women reduce their risk for preterm birth or low birth weight, a new study indicates.
Researchers find potential new therapeutic target for treating non-small cell lung cancer
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have found a potential targeted therapy for patients with tobacco-associated non-small cell lung cancer. It is based on the newly identified oncogene IKBKE, which helps regulate immune response.
Research finds promising approaches to prevent Latino childhood obesity
Guided grocery store trips, menu labeling at restaurants, community gardens, and video-game-based exercise programs are among several promising, culturally appropriate ways to prevent obesity among Latino children, according to a new collection of studies from Salud America! The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children published in a supplement to the March issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Challenge to cancer gene patent fails in Australia
An Australian court Friday dismissed a challenge against the patenting of human genetic material in a landmark case which has devastated a cancer group that says it could stifle research.
Having multiple sex partners linked to later drug and alcohol problems
The more sex partners young adults have the more likely they are to go on to develop alcohol or cannabis dependence disorders in young adulthood, according to new University of Otago research.
Depressed patients less likely to complete cardiac rehab
(HealthDay)—Depressed patients are less likely to complete exercise-based, cardiac rehabilitation programs, regardless of whether they are taking antidepressants, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
By determining structural effects of tumor-causing mutations, scientists obtain valuable information for drug discovery
(Medical Xpress)—For many patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), tumorigenesis is fueled by mutations that hyperactivate the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling protein. These individuals may benefit from treatment with drugs such as gefitinib, a chemical inhibitor of EGFR, although additional mutations in EGFR can render the cancer drug-resistant.
Cervical cancer: First 3-D image of an HPV oncoprotein
(Medical Xpress)—For the first time, researchers from the Laboratoire biotechnologie et signalisation cellulaire at the Strasbourg-based Ecole supérieure de biotechnologie (CNRS/Université de Strasbourg) and Institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire (CNRS/Université de Strasbourg/Inserm) have solved the three-dimensional structure of an important oncoprotein involved in cell proliferation and in the development of the human papilloma virus (HPV). Type 16 (HPV 16), which causes cervical cancer, is the most dangerous of human papilloma viruses. This work, published in Science on 8 February 2013, should make it possible to identify and improve medication to block the protein and prevent it from causing tumors.
'Rapid response' pathway for immune cell development may improve body's ability to fight recurring infectious threats
Efficient immune protection requires the ability to rapidly recognize intruders that the body has encountered in the past. This is achieved via 'memory' B cells, which develop following immune system activation by a virus, bacterium or other threat.
Cost-effective interventions to help reduce early deaths from chronic NCDs
Three top priority cost-effective interventions to counter non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are recommended as essential for health policy by an Auckland researcher in a recent paper published in the medical journal, the Lancet.
Not all fat is packaged the same way, researchers find
Fat is stored in the body in two distinct ways, Yale researchers have discovered. While the finding may not help people shed excess pounds, it may shed light on how to prevent health problems associated with weight gain.
Researchers link stress and pancreatic cancer in new paper
Pancreatic cancer is a deadly disease with increased incidences in the recent years. According to NDSU researchers, epidemiological data show chronic stress in a negative social and psychological state such as depression might serve as a risk factor for cancer development and progression. However, the underlying biological mechanisms are not well understood.
New hope for early diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's
Flinders University researchers have discovered that a protein in the brain may play a role in the development of Parkinson's disease – a common degenerative neurological disorder which affects the control of body movements.
Study identifies ways to increase IUD use in developing countries
Boosting demand for intrauterine devices, commonly referred to as IUDs, and improving access to them can significantly increase their use in developing countries, where they have traditionally been an unpopular method of birth control, a new study says.
Pioneering study reveals association of chronic pain and broad epigenetic changes
Injuries that result in chronic pain, such as limb injuries, and those unrelated to the brain are associated with epigenetic changes in the brain which persist months after the injury, according to researchers at McGill University. Epigenetics explores how the environment – including diet, exposure to contaminants and social conditions such as poverty – can have a long-term impact on the activity of our genes.
Poor stress responses may lead to obesity in children
Children who overreact to stressors may be at risk of becoming overweight or obese, according to researchers at Penn State and Johns Hopkins University.
Academics launch new clinically approved diet, that can help lower the risk of breast cancer
Two academics from The University of Manchester have come up with a new diet which they believe can help lower the risk of breast cancer.
NIH study shows big improvement in diabetes control over past decades
More people are meeting recommended goals in the three key markers of diabetes control, according to a study conducted and funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers identify new enzyme that acts as innate immunity sensor
Two studies by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center could lead to new treatments for lupus and other autoimmune diseases and strengthen current therapies for viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections.
Neuronal activity induces tau release from healthy neurons
Researchers from King's College London have discovered that neuronal activity can stimulate tau release from healthy neurons in the absence of cell death. The results published by Diane Hanger and her colleagues in EMBO reports show that treatment of neurons with known biological signaling molecules increases the release of tau into the culture medi-um. The release of tau from cortical neurons is therefore a physiological process that can be regulated by neuronal activity.
Artificial platelets could treat injured soldiers on the battlefield
When it comes to healing the terrible wounds of war, success may hinge on the first blood clot – the one that begins forming on the battlefield right after an injury.
Dreams of ideal flu vaccine are closer to reality
Despite modern advances, the half-century-old method of producing flu vaccine still takes six months and requires hundreds of millions of fertilized chicken eggs.
Research uncovers a potential link between Parkinson's and visual problems
The most common genetic cause of Parkinson's is not only responsible for the condition's distinctive movement problems but may also affect vision, according to new research by scientists at the University of York.
Scientists find promising new approach to preventing progression of breast cancer
February 15, 2013 – Doctors currently struggle to determine whether a breast tumor is likely to shift into an aggressive, life-threatening mode—an issue with profound implications for treatment. Now a group from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has identified a mechanism through which mitochondria, the powerhouses of a cell, control tumor aggressiveness. Based on their findings, the team developed a simple treatment that inhibits cancer progression and prolongs life when tested in mice.
Study finds possible link between diabetes and increased risk of heart attack death
Having diabetes doubles a person's risk of dying after a heart attack, but the reason for the increased risk is not clear. A new University of Iowa study suggests the link may lie in the over-activation of an important heart enzyme, which leads to death of pacemaker cells in the heart, abnormal heart rhythm, and increased risk of sudden death in diabetic mice following a heart attack.
Research takes a new approach to identifying 'food deserts'
(Medical Xpress)—University of Cincinnati-led research takes a new direction in examining the availability of healthy foods for urban populations by examining the commuting patterns of its residents.
The same genetic defect causes Pompe disease in both humans and dogs
Pompe disease, a severe glycogen storage disease appearing in Lapphunds is caused by a genetic defect in acid α-glucosidase gene. The same genetic mutation also causes the equivalent disease in humans. Based on this finding, canine Pompe disease can now be diagnosed with a genetic test.
Self-rated health measure can predict outcomes in knee OA
(HealthDay)—For patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA), a single-item measure of self-rated health can be used to predict mental and social health outcomes, according to a study published in the February issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Proscar won't boost prostate cancer survival, study finds
(HealthDay)—Men with prostate cancer taking the drug finasteride (Proscar) don't survive longer than similar men not taking the drug, a new study finds.
Meta-analyses of bisphenol A studies show human exposure is likely to be too low for estrogenic effects
A controversial component of plastic bottles and canned food linings that have helped make the world's food supply safer has recently come under attack: bisphenol A. Widely known as BPA, it has the potential to mimic the sex hormone estrogen if blood and tissue levels are high enough. Now, an analysis of almost 150 BPA exposure studies shows that in the general population, people's exposure may be many times too low for BPA to effectively mimic estrogen in the human body.
Experts tell flatulent flyers: let rip
A group of medical specialists has provided an answer to a dilemma that has faced flyers since the Wright brothers took to the air in 1903—is it okay to fart mid-flight?
Researchers find genetic key to preventing spine tumours
Genetic medicine experts from Manchester Biomedical Research Centre at Saint Mary's Hospital and The University of Manchester have identified a new gene responsible for causing an inherited form of tumour, known as spinal meningioma.
Ills of aging blood: Short-circuited stem cell programming linked to failing blood development
As blood stem cells age, changes in the epigenome—the system that regulates which genes are switched on and which are switched off throughout the body—alter these cells in ways that lead to reduced immune response, increased anemia and rising risk of certain leukemias, researchers have found.
Following the footprints of positive selection
For decades, the human genome could only tell us what we already suspected about the evolution of certain traits. Researchers were able to trace the genetic origin stories of lactose tolerance (as opposed to lactose intolerance), malaria resistance, and more only after observing these successful traits in specific populations. Now, the study of positive selection – the ability to determine which genetic changes have conferred an evolutionary advantage – has reached a turning point: the genome itself can be used as a starting point to guide scientists to important genetic locations, leading to hypotheses about human health and disease.
Go with your gut: Research sheds light on how microbes can interact with drugs
Scientists are already working to develop treatments that can be tailored to an individual's genetics, but what about tailoring treatments based on the genetics of the trillions of microbes that live in a person's gut?
Researchers uncover new findings on genetic risks of Behçet's disease
Researchers don't know the exact cause of Behçet's disease, a chronic condition that leads to oral and genital sores and serious complications such as blindness, but new research brings better understanding to what makes some people more susceptible to being affected.
Biology news
Agrichemical giant Syngenta faults EU bee plans
Swiss-based agrichemical giant Syngenta on Friday urged Brussels to withdraw plans to restrict the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, saying blaming them for the death of bees was wrongheaded.
EU-project on deep-sea organisms
The collaborative project PharmaSea will bring European researchers to some of the deepest, coldest and hottest places on the planet. Scientists from the UK, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Denmark will work together to collect and screen samples of mud and sediment from huge, previously untapped, oceanic trenches. The large-scale, four-year project is backed by more than €9.5 million of EU funding and brings together 24 partners from 14 countries from industry, academia and non-profit organisations.
Evolutionary biologists urged to adapt their research methods
To truly understand the mechanisms of natural selection, evolutionary biologists need to shift their focus from present-day molecules to synthesized, ancestral ones, says Shozo Yokoyama, a biologist at Emory University.
Decoys could blunt spread of ash-killing beetles
As the emerald ash borer ravages North American ash trees, threatening the trees' very survival, a team of entomologists and engineers may have found a way to prevent the spread of the pests.
Spectacular forcepfly species discovered for the first time in South America
Forcepflies are usually known as earwigflies, because the males have a large genital forceps that resembles the cerci of earwigs. A new species of forcepfly Meropeidae (Mecoptera) from Brazil was described, representing only the 3rd extant species described in this family and the 1st record of the family from the Neotropical region. The distribution and biogeography of the family are discussed and it is even proposed that Meropeidae originated before continental drift and then divided into two branches, northern and southern, with the breakup of the old supercontinent Pangea. The study was published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
Avoiding virus dangers in 'domesticating' wild plants for biofuel use
In our ongoing quest for alternative energy sources, researchers are looking more to plants that grow in the wild for use in biofuels, plants such as switchgrass.
'The Scars of Human Evolution' briefing explores physical fallout from 2-footed walking
From sore feet to backaches, blame it on human evolution. "Because we are the only mammals to walk on two feet," says Bruce Latimer, an anthropologist from the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine.
Slithering towards extinction: Almost 1 in 5 reptiles are struggling to survive
Nineteen percent of the world's reptiles are estimated to be threatened with extinction, states a paper published today by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in conjunction with experts from the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC).
Deadly bacteria attack not only us, but each other as well, with remarkable precision
Vibrio cholerae, the scourge of nations lacking clean water. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the microbe that plagues people with cystic fibrosis. Acinetobacter species, opportunistic organisms that can infect vulnerable people. Escherichia coli, a culprit in food-borne illnesses.
How cilia get organized: Researchers unlock architectural secrets of ciliary partitioning
Just about every cell in your body contains microscopic organelles called cilia. Primary cilia act like antennas, detecting and relaying molecular signals from a cell's external environment. Motile cilia paddle together in a single direction, like oars on a rowboat, either moving a cell along or regulating the flow of fluids around the cell. Properly functioning cilia are critical to good health. For cilia to function properly, however, the hundreds of proteins that comprise them must be appropriately partitioned and compartmentalized. How this process is carried out is largely unknown – but scientists have now taken a significant step towards understanding the process.
Study reveals genetic diversity of genes in peppers
From the small, spicy Thai chiles to the portly, mild bell pepper, researchers at the University of California, Davis, have developed a "family tree" of sorts for peppers and characterized the diversity of genes found in a collection of common cultivated pepper varieties.
The discovery of a new genus of crustacean and 5 new species
Experts from the Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes and the University of Barcelona (UB) collected and studied different crustacean specimens during recent expeditions to Madagascar, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, the Philippines and French Polynesia.
We are living in a bacterial world, and it's impacting us more than previously thought
(Phys.org)—Throughout her career, the famous biologist Lynn Margulis (1938-2011) argued that the world of microorganisms has a much larger impact on the entire biosphere—the world of all living things—than scientists typically recognize. Now a team of scientists from universities around the world has collected and compiled the results of hundreds of studies, most from within the past decade, on animal-bacterial interactions, and have shown that Margulis was right. The combined results suggest that the evidence supporting Margulis' view has reached a tipping point, demanding that scientists reexamine some of the fundamental features of life through the lens of the complex, codependent relationships among bacteria and other very different life forms.
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