Metal-tolerant plants could change the future of mining
Researchers demonstrated that some plant species store high amounts of nickel in their biomass, making them good candidates for metal…
Category: Biology
Artificial cells that reproduce without biology
Researchers used simple molecules to create cell-like bubbles that grow and divide on their own, without the need for DNA or enzymes.
Lava tubes contain unknown “microbial dark matter”
Researchers discovered lava tubes on Mauna Loa containing previously unknown microorganisms with metabolisms and communities that could…
This ant queen gives birth to a different species
Researchers found that the queen of one ant species can produce both her own species and another by cloning the males of the other species…
How molecules copy themselves with fewer errors
Researchers found a new way molecules self-replicate with fewer errors, by selecting similar ingredients. This “selective binding”…
Do microbes prefer biodegradable plastic?
Researchers found that microbes living on biodegradable plastics have more genes for plastic degradation than those living on traditional…
3D-printed spinal cord organoids aid spinal recovery in rats
Scientists grew miniature spinal cords from stem cells and implanted them into rats with spinal cord injuries. The cells formed functional…
Could cells form in Venus’s clouds?
Astrobiologists demonstrated that cell membrane structures can form in high concentrations of sulfuric acid similar to the clouds of Venus.
Poor sleep can cause illness
New research examining sleep data suggests poor sleep in terms of length, depth, and waking in the night is associated with illnesses like…
Can 300-year-old Antarctic microbes help us understand climate change?
Researchers demonstrated that microbial DNA from a 300-year-old ice core can help track how microbes respond to global change.