News: SciNews

CDI Scientists Introduce New Engineered Drug Candidate for Mycobacterium abscessus to Save Lives

Hackensack Meridian Health — Thu, 01 May 2025 18:40:05 EST

Cousin to TB is growing threat to vulnerable Cystic Fibrosis patients

Sam and Carol Nappi Donate $2 Million to Fund Algal Bloom Research Initiative on Skaneateles Lake

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry — Thu, 01 May 2025 18:25:06 EST

A $2 million gift from Sam and Carol Nappi to the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) will support expanded research into the cause of algal blooms - both harmful (HAB) and non-toxic - can impact recreation, aesthetics, and human health on Skaneateles Lake and its watershed as a living laboratory.

NASA's Chandra Diagnoses Cause of Fracture in Galactic 'Bone'

Chandra X-ray Observatory — Thu, 01 May 2025 18:15:07 EST

Astronomers have discovered a likely explanation for a fracture in a huge cosmic "bone" in the Milky Way galaxy, using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and radio telescopes.

Space Conference Blasts Off with Promising Innovations

Ohio State University — Thu, 01 May 2025 18:05:55 EST

Global interest in human spaceflight has ignited passions for the emerging commercial space ecosystem, and efforts to expand space research and related manufacturing are taking center stage in Ohio.

What Rare Earth Elements Are and Why They Matter

Tufts University — Thu, 01 May 2025 17:05:30 EST

Rare earth elements are critical to many industries--used in electric motors, medical imaging and diagnostics, oil and gas refining, and computer and phone screens. Deposited in just a few accessible locations across the globe from billions of years of geological movement, they are at the center of several political and economic conflicts.

QSA Drives Breakthroughs with Superconducting Qubits

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — Thu, 01 May 2025 16:45:46 EST

Teams working on superconducting qubit platforms enable the simulation of complex phenomena and pave the way for versatile quantum systems. Their collaborative efforts are accelerating progress toward fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Unique Molecule May Lead to Smaller, More Efficient Computers

University of Miami — Thu, 01 May 2025 10:25:24 EST

A team of physicists from the University of Miami, with two collaborators, developed a new type of molecule that could offer a groundbreaking material for computer chips.

FSU Scientists Discover Exotic States of Matter in Graphene, Offering New Possibilities for Quantum Computing

Florida State University — Thu, 01 May 2025 09:55:43 EST

Florida State University Assistant Professor of Physics Zhengguang Lu and fellow researchers have discovered new states of matter in graphene -- a form of carbon made from a single layer of atoms -- with unusual electrical properties that could make them a valuable tool for building more powerful electronics and quantum computers.

'It's Not Vets Alone Who Are Saving Rhinos' - UP Wildlife Vet on the Collective Effort to Counter Poaching

University of Pretoria — Thu, 01 May 2025 08:05:50 EST

With World Veterinary Day having been commemorated on 26 April, and Save the Rhino Day coming up on 1 May, this is an opportune time to reflect on the efforts of conservation teams, which include veterinarians, to combat the scourge of rhino poaching.

Unlocking Water Lily Hybridization: Scientists Decode Key Molecular Barrier

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Thu, 01 May 2025 06:25:43 EST

Hybridizing tropical and hardy water lilies holds great potential for creating new varieties with both cold tolerance and vibrant colors. However, prefertilization barriers between different subgenera have severely limited breeding success. A new study uncovers that the NpCIPK6-NpSnRK1-NpNCED2 molecular module in water lily stigmas interferes with abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation that blocks incompatible pollen germination. By elucidating this cellular signaling pathway, the research provides crucial insights into overcoming reproductive barriers in water lilies and offers a conceptual framework that could enhance breeding efficiency and expand the genetic diversity of ornamental aquatic plants.

Boosting Lemon Immunity: A Gene Unlocks Resistance Against Viral Threats

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Thu, 01 May 2025 06:20:44 EST

Researchers have uncovered how the gene ClGDPD1 strengthens Eureka lemon's defense against citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV). By facilitating the accumulation of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P), ClGDPD1 triggers systemic immune responses that significantly reduce viral load and disease symptoms.

Unlocking Tomato Potential:SlAAP6 Gene Powers Growth and Salinity Resistance

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 20:25:52 EST

Researchers have identified a critical amino acid transporter, SlAAP6, that enhances tomato growth and salt tolerance by mediating the uptake and distribution of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Overexpressing SlAAP6 elevated BCAA levels, boosted plant biomass, and improved stress resistance, while knockout mutants exhibited stunted growth and heightened salt sensitivity.

7 Finalists for Climate Launch Prize to Present at Wilkes Summit

University of Utah — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:40:47 EST

One of the largest university-affiliate climate awards in the world, the prize is specifically calibrated to support unconventional or first-of-a-kind projects that often have difficulty getting funding.

Idaho and Trump Administration Sign Agreement to Support US Nuclear Energy Future

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:20:22 EST

Idaho and Trump Administration sign agreement to support US nuclear energy future

Semiconductor Takes an Unconventional Path from Insulator to Metal

Department of Energy, Office of Science — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:20:14 EST

Scientists have discovered that Mn3Si2Te6 changes from an insulator to an electrically conductive metal when exposed to a magnetic field. In Mn3Si2Te6, applying a magnetic field causes a weak metallic state with trapped electrical changes to form in the material. This study examined the processes that cause this behavior.

Celebrating First 100 Days of Accomplishments

Department of Energy, Office of Science — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:10:52 EST

Over the past 100 days, the Department of Energy's Office of Science has seen the pay off in results from decades of research investments and supported new efforts to move forward with cutting-edge technologies.

'Scratching' More Than the Ocean's Surface to Map Global Microplastic Movement

Florida Atlantic University — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:05:12 EST

An international team of scientists has moved beyond just "scratching the surface," to understand how microplastics move through and impact the global ocean. For the first time, scientists have mapped microplastic distribution from the surface to the deep sea at a global scale - revealing not only where plastics accumulate, but how they infiltrate critical ocean systems.

The Wistar Institute Announces the Appointment of Xiaoyu (Ariel) Zhou, Ph.D., to Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center

Wistar Institute — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 18:50:25 EST

The Wistar Institute has recruited Xiaoyu (Ariel) Zhou, Ph.D., as assistant professor in the Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center.

Nuclear Chemistry Research Gets an Efficiency Boost

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:55:11 EST

Heavy actinides -- elements at the bottom of the periodic table, after plutonium -- are radioactive, rare and chemically complex, making them notoriously difficult to study.

Rutgers Ascends in NAI Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents Rankings

Rutgers University's Office for Research — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:45:56 EST

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, improved its standing in the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Universities Granted Utility Patents rankings, moving up five spots to come in 68th in the world and 43rd among U.S. institutions in this year's list.

Federal Tribe Uses Ancient DNA to Establish Genetic Link to Ancestral Sacred Sites

Southern Methodist University — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 11:00:00 EST

In a rare collaboration with geneticists and archaeologists, a federally recognized tribe in the United States has utilized ancient DNA to establish a genetic link to an important ancestral heritage site, Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon.

Epigenetic Insights Reveal How Grapes Ripen Faster

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 10:25:14 EST

Early fruit ripening is a valuable trait for grape cultivation, but the underlying epigenetic mechanisms have remained elusive. A new study uncovers how CHH site hypermethylation influences the early ripening phenotype of 'Fengzao', a bud mutant of the popular 'Kyoho' grape. Using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, researchers demonstrated that higher promoter methylation, particularly at the JOX1 gene, plays a critical role in accelerating ripening. These findings offer fresh insights into the epigenetic regulation of berry development and could inform strategies to control fruit ripening in viticulture.

Three Rutgers-New Brunswick Professors Are Named Guggenheim Fellows

Rutgers University-New Brunswick — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 10:00:55 EST

A painter, an astronomer and a photographer - all professors at Rutgers University-New Brunswick - have been named to the 100th class of Guggenheim Fellows, which recognizes trailblazing artists and scholars and provides a stipend toward their work. The three - Marc Handelman, Saurabh Jha and Miranda Lichtenstein - are among 198 fellows selected this year from a pool of nearly 3,500 across 53 disciplines, according to the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, which recently announced the winners.

Unlocking Apple Texture: A Genetic Key to Firmness and Ripening

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:45:49 EST

Fruit firmness plays a critical role in apple quality, influencing both shelf life and consumer preference. Scientists have now identified a natural genetic variation in the MdNAC5 gene that governs differences in apple firmness and ripening speed. By resequencing hundreds of apple hybrids, researchers mapped a key genetic locus and pinpointed a single A-to-T mutation that affects fruit texture. Functional experiments showed that different MdNAC5 variants distinctly regulate ethylene biosynthesis, a central pathway in fruit softening. This discovery offers new insights into the genetic control of apple ripening and opens up potential strategies for breeding apples with optimized firmness and storage properties.

Expert Pitch: M&S Cyber Attack

University of Portsmouth — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:35:34 EST