All Asia & Oceania articles – Page 3
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NewsTurning microalgae into high-value fuels: biochar-based catalyst unlocks cleaner aromatic production
Scientists have designed a composite catalyst that significantly improves the quality of bio-oil derived from microalgae. By combining biochar with a well-known zeolite catalyst called HZSM-5, the team created a hybrid material that enhances the production of valuable aromatic hydrocarbons while minimizing unwanted byproducts.
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NewsGraphitized biochar rewires soil microbes to accelerate pollutant breakdown in rice paddies
A new study reveals that a specially engineered form of biochar can dramatically enhance the natural ability of soil microbes to break down pollutants in rice paddies, offering a promising strategy for cleaner and more sustainable agriculture.
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NewsHelping corals survive future heatwaves requires strong and strategic trait selection
A new study exploring host assisted evolution in corals have created a unique, pedigree-tracked coral population over the last eight years, allowing them to map family relationships and measure how multiple key traits—such as growth, reproduction and survival—are inherited.
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NewsHong Kong’s waters at risk from over-the-counter drug pollution
A recent study of Hong Kong’s river and estuary systems has uncovered an overlooked major source of water pollution: common over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Accessible, everyday OTC drugs accounted for up to 85% of pharmaceutical pollution in these waters during the wet season.
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NewsDon’t build the engine, grow it: biohybrid miniature robots using living organisms
By fusing living organisms like bacteria, algae, and insects with synthetic payloads, researchers are creating living biohybrid miniature robots that self-fuel, self-repair, and navigate environments that would paralyze a rigid silicon chip.
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NewsColor test ‘sniffs out’ dangerous staph strains fast
Researchers have developed a rapid colour-changing test that can distinguish between different strains of golden staph, including those likely to be virulent and antibiotic resistant.
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NewsStudy: Microbes show almost universal potential for biodegrading plastics
Researchers have identified more than 600,000 microbial proteins capable of breaking down natural and synthetic plastics, revealing a far broader biodegradation potential across microbes than previously known.
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NewsAfrican swine fever is quietly spreading across Nepal’s pig sector
A new study provides the first comprehensive analysis of African swine fever outbreaks in Nepal, revealing a disease that has quietly dismantled livelihoods, disrupted food security, and exposed deep gaps in the country’s animal health system — with no vaccine in sight.
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News American microbiologist behind global water safety breakthrough wins 2026 Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize
Professor Joan Bray Rose has been recognised for pioneering Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) as a global approach for assessing pathogen risks in water. QMRA has been adopted into global drinking water standards and enabled safe water reuse.
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NewsGene sheds light on how parasites exit host cells
Researchers have elucidated the parasite exit process - known as egress - after identifying an essential gene, MIC11. To clearly explain egress, the behaviors of Toxoplasma gondii were assessed.
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NewsFunctional traits, not phylogeny, drive gut microbial assembly in estuarine fish
By examining the gut microbiota of 61 sympatric fish species within the ecologically diverse Pearl River Estuary, researchers utilized this “natural laboratory” to disentangle complex biological drivers without the interference of geographical variation.
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NewsNameko mucilage: An eco-friendly solution for microplastic pollution
Researchers use natural mucilage from nameko mushrooms for the removal of micro- and nano-plastics from water. The mucilage is rich in polysaccharides, particularly pectin—a naturally occurring plant-based compound—which is known for its particle-binding properties.
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NewsCat viruses offer window into human oncogenesis
Cats are not just beloved companions; they are emerging as key “research partners” in unravelling viral cancer mechanisms. A new review explores how feline tumour viruses offer vital insights into human oncology and viral carcinogenesis from a comparative oncology perspective.
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NewsIntegration of two genes: A valuable strategy for developing virus-resistant tomatoes
Researchers have demonstrated that integration of Ty-1/Ty-3 and Ty-6 resistance genes in tomato plants can confer highly robust resistance to begomoviruses.
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NewsLonger-term plankton species diversity is independent of ocean mixing
A new study identifies correlations between turbulence, plankton diversity and aggregate abundance in marine coastal regions over longer time periods, providing new insights into marine ecosystems.
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NewsUnraveling the complexities of the Borna disease virus 1
Researchers have published the first detailed structural description of the nucleoprotein-RNA complex in the family Bornaviridae. Their observations revealed the three-dimensional structure of this nucleoprotein-RNA complex, showing ring-like assemblies and viral RNA binds in the inner groove.
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NewsExtracellular vesicle RNAs offer new hope for diagnosing and treating chronic inflammatory bowel disease
Extracellular vesicle-associated RNAs can serve as non-invasive biomarkers for early inflammatory bowel disease detection and disease monitoring, and also hold great potential as targets for next-generation targeted therapies, according to a new review.
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NewsAutism and ADHD: Epigenetic changes at birth associated with an infant’s microbiome and neurodevelopment
Epigenetic changes present at birth can impact how an infant’s gut microbiome develops during their first year. Researchers also identified specific epigenetic changes and gut microbes that were associated with signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD when the children were three years old.
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NewsTiny plankton have big impact on harmful algal bloom predictions
While some computer models can forecast potential algal blooms, their accuracy is limited.. A new study shows that coupling three models and accounting for how different algae species interact can significantly improve predictions.
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NewsNative bacteria may break down dioxins without genetic modification
Researchers have demonstrated that native soil bacteria, when treated with decoy molecules, can degrade non-native compounds, including persistent pollutants such as dioxins, without genetic modification.