Researchers have developed a discovery platform to probe the function of genes involved in metabolism — the sum of all life-sustaining chemical reactions. The investigators used the new platform, called GeneMAP (Gene-Metabolite Association Prediction), to identify a gene necessary for mitochondrial choline transport. ​Researchers have developed a discovery platform to probe the function of genes …

GeneMAP discovery platform will help define functions for ‘orphan’ metabolic proteins Read More »

Ammonites were not in decline before their extinction, scientists have found. ​Ammonites were not in decline before their extinction, scientists have found. Ammonites were not in decline before their extinction, scientists have found. 

Slush — water-soaked snow — makes up more than half of all meltwater on the Antarctic ice shelves during the height of summer, yet is poorly accounted for in regional climate models. The findings could have profound implications for ice shelf stability and sea level rise. ​Slush — water-soaked snow — makes up more than …

Antarctic ice shelves hold twice as much meltwater as previously thought Read More »

While ultra-processed food is the latest buzzword in nutrition, the scientific evidence for how it affects our health continues to point in different directions. Why can’t researchers just tell us the perfect diet? ​While ultra-processed food is the latest buzzword in nutrition, the scientific evidence for how it affects our health continues to point in …

Is ultra-processed food unhealthy? Here’s why no one can agree Read More »

Genotyping techniques can be used to select fruit trees with desired traits at the seedling stage, increasing the efficiency of fruit tree breeding. However, so far, there are multiple different genotyping systems, each generating distinct datasets. In a recent study, Japanese scientists revealed that integrating genomic data obtained with different genotyping systems can effectively combine …

Genomic data integration improves prediction accuracy of apple fruit traits Read More »

A recent study explored the relationship between corporate climate change mitigation actions and the cost of capital for 2,100 Japanese listed companies from 2017 to 2021. The findings reveal that companies that maintain lower carbon intensity and disclose more climate-related information can reduce their capital costs. Conversely, mere commitments to climate change without actionable measures …

Companies that mitigate climate change reduce their cost of capital Read More »

Chemists have discovered a way to use visible light to synthesize a class of compounds particularly well suited for use in pharmaceuticals. The class of compounds, called azetidines, had been previously identified as a good candidate to build therapeutic drugs, but the compounds are difficult to produce in chemical reactions. Now, a team has developed …

Using visible light to make pharmaceutical building blocks Read More »

Bowel cancer cells have the ability to regulate their growth using a genetic on-off switch to maximise their chances of survival. ​Bowel cancer cells have the ability to regulate their growth using a genetic on-off switch to maximise their chances of survival. Bowel cancer cells have the ability to regulate their growth using a genetic on-off …

Bowel cancer turns genetic switches on and off to outwit the immune system Read More »

Climate change is likely to drive tree species towards colder and wetter regions. ​Climate change is likely to drive tree species towards colder and wetter regions. Climate change is likely to drive tree species towards colder and wetter regions.