All USA & Canada articles
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NewsScientists probe how microbial communities and environmental factors impact cotton development
Soil microbial communities play a vital role in plant health, influencing root development, disease resistance, nutrient and soil water uptake and more.Scientists are investigating how these microbial communities impact cotton development and overall yield across diverse climates, agricultural practices and environmental stressors.
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NewsAI uncovers hidden rules of some of nature’s toughest protein bonds
Scientists have shown how artificial intelligence can reveal the hidden rules of one of biology’s strangest phenomena: catch-bonds – molecular interactions that get stronger when pulled. Their findings shed light on how bacteria cling to surfaces, how tissues resist tearing, and how new biomaterials might be designed to harness force.
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NewsMethod probing dark matter uncovers hundreds of new bacteria, and two potential antibiotics
A new approach to exploring untapped soil resources circumvents the need to grow bacteria in the lab by extracting very large DNA fragments directly from soil to piece together the genomes of previously hidden microbes, and then mines resulting genomes for bioactive molecules.
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NewsUS COVID-19 school closures were not cost-effective - but other non-pharmaceutical interventions were
School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic imposed enormous long-term costs while other measures delivered better health outcomes for far less money, according to new research analysing non-pharmaceutical interventions in the United States.
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NewsSwitch on, switch off: the dynamic defense of a deadly plant disease
Even strains of Phytophthora infestans considered sensitive to mefenoxam can rapidly develop resistance after a single exposure to a low dose. Researchers have uncovered the dynamics of this defense mechanism, revealing a foe that is more adaptable than previously thought.
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NewsResearchers uncover how COVID-19 may linger in cancer patients and affect treatment outcomes
New research is providing important insights into how COVID-19 persists in cancer patients even long after testing positive. Researchers studied three cancer patients who had undergone transplant therapies and were hospitalized with severe COVID-19 infections.
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NewsScientists probe tool used by harmful bacteria to hijack crops
Researchers have identified a tool that helps the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae turn a plant’s fundamental biology against itself. The findings could eventually lead to new approaches to protecting crops.
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NewsMD Anderson and Nature to co-host conference on the tumor ecosystem
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Springer Nature will co-host a free, in-person conference to explore the latest research on the tumor ecosystem, highlighting how its components influence cancer development, progression, diagnosis and treatment.
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NewsScientists report the first use of CRISPR activation to treat a cardiac disease in mice
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that CRISPR-based gene activation (CRISPRa) can be used to treat genetic heart disease in vivo. The study paves the way for novel targeted therapies for patients with genetic cardiac disorders.
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NewsResearchers uncover potential biosignatures in Bright Angel formation on Mars
A new study has revealed potential chemical signatures of ancient Martian microbial life in rocks examined by NASA’s Perseverance rover.
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NewsResearchers capture new antibiotic resistance mechanisms with trace amounts of DNA
Scientists have developed a method to isolate genes from amounts of microbial DNA so tiny that it would take 20,000 samples to weigh as much as a single grain of sugar.
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NewsAlkali waste dumped in the Pacific Ocean created alkalophilic microbial ecosystems
Barrels filled with industrial waste that were dumped in the sea near Los Angeles more than 50 years ago are creating new microbial ecosystems adapted to highly alkaline conditions.
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NewsExtreme diatoms inside the Arctic ice glide into the record books
Diatoms found in polar ice are active until temperatures drop to -15 C - the lowest ever recorded for movement by a eukaryotic cell.
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NewsLiving ink containing bacteria could help rebuild coral reefs
Researchers created a living material that encourages coral larvae to attach and settle down. Bacterial Reef Ink (BRINK) is a photopolymerized hydrogel hosting two native Hawaiian settlement-inducing bacterial strains.
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NewsResearchers reveal infection risks oral mucositis poses to stem cell transplant patients, introduce a superior AI tool to predict them
Researchers have completed a series of studies that reveal how much painful mouth sores known as oral mucositis increase infection risks in stem cell transplant patients and how artificial intelligence can be used to more accurately predict those risks.
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NewsFrom quantum mechanics to quantum microbes: A Yale scientist’s journey of discovery
Faced with a microbial mystery hidden deep in the soil, Nikhil Malvankar returned to his roots - with results that could shape the field of quantum computing.
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NewsPediatric investigation study re-examines chikungunya in neglected pediatric victims
Researchers and policymakers must recalibrate their outlook on pediatric chikungunya to develop effective control measures, a new paper warns.
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NewsWarming climate drives disease surge, study shows
Projections suggest future warming could raise dengue incidence by 49%–76%, depending on emissions scenarios, if other factors remain constant. Cooler areas are expected to see the biggest increases, while hotter locations may experience slight declines.
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NewsResearcher developing electronic nose to detect foodborne illness
A researcher is working on developing an electronic nose (e-nose) to detect abnormalities from their version of the sniff test. The method would revolutionize food safety by relying on what the e-nose can detect rather than only the appearance of the food.
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NewsBlood test identifies HPV-associated head and neck cancers up to 10 years before symptoms
Researchers show that a novel liquid biopsy tool called HPV-DeepSeek can identify HPV-associated head and neck cancer up to 10 years before symptoms appear.