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- Mighty powerful microbes: New insights into microbes that breathe rocks
- On the spot drug delivery with light-controlled organic microswimmers
- New power transfer technology provides unprecedented freedom for wireless charging
- Treatment keeps alcoholic monkeys from drinking as much
- Early humans placed the hearth at the optimal location in their cave -- for maximum benefit and minimum smoke exposure
- Human gut bacteria have 'sex' to share vitamin B12
- First records of killer whales hunting largest animals on Earth
| Mighty powerful microbes: New insights into microbes that breathe rocks Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:39 AM PST Microbes may be miniscule, but they have a massive impact on Earth and its habitability. They are uniquely different from animals, plants, and other eukaryotic organisms in that they can gain energy from 'breathing' a surprisingly wide range of surfaces and materials. Microbes also drastically re-shape their environment as they feast on these energy sources, making microbes major players in the cycling and availability of nutrients on Earth. One especially well-known example was the rise of oxygen on Earth due to the metabolism of photosynthetic bacteria. |
| On the spot drug delivery with light-controlled organic microswimmers Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST Scientists have developed organic microparticles that can steer through biological fluids and dissolved blood in unprecedented ways. Even in very salty liquids, the microswimmers can be propelled forward at high speed by visible light, either individually or as a swarm. Additionally, they are partially biocompatible and can take up and release cargo on demand. The material properties are so ideal they could pave the way toward designing semi-autonomous microrobots applied in biomedicine. |
| New power transfer technology provides unprecedented freedom for wireless charging Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST So far, safely charging devices anywhere in a large area has been a challenge, but researchers have developed a transfer technology that can direct power to individual devices without needing to know their location. The technology has already been tested with commercial robots, and it can also be used to charge phones, laptops, or household appliances. No plugs, no tracking, and no complex computing -- just clever use of electromagnetics. Devices can be charged while they are moving, so with a bit more development this technology could even charge electric cars on the road. |
| Treatment keeps alcoholic monkeys from drinking as much Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:06 AM PST A hormone produced by the liver called fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) suppresses alcohol consumption in primates, finds a new study. Vervet monkeys with a strong preference for ethanol that were given an FGF21 analogue consumed 50% less alcohol. The study also studied the brain circuits involved in mice and found that the protein, known to also reduce sugar intake, acts on different circuits to reduce alcohol and sugar consumption. |
| Posted: 01 Feb 2022 04:45 AM PST A new study provides evidence for high cognitive abilities in early humans who lived 170,000 years ago. Researchers discovered that the early humans who occupied a cave had placed their hearth at the optimal location -- enabling maximum utilization of the fire for their activities and needs while exposing them to a minimal amount of smoke. |
| Human gut bacteria have 'sex' to share vitamin B12 Posted: 01 Feb 2022 04:45 AM PST Your gut bacteria need vitamin B12 just as much as you do. Though DNA is usually passed from parent to child, new research shows gut bacteria transfer genes through 'sex' in order to take their vitamins. |
| First records of killer whales hunting largest animals on Earth Posted: 31 Jan 2022 08:05 AM PST In late March 2019, researchers performing annual whale and dolphin research surveys discovered the first ever record of killer whales hunting and killing an adult blue whale. Just two weeks later a blue whale calf was taken by many of the same individuals. Since then, an additional event of another blue whale calf predation was recorded in 2021. |
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