organisms

A groundbreaking study by UMass Amherst researchers has identified how plants manage cellular processes to respond to environmental changes. By focusing on the interactions among pectin, FERONIA and LLG1 receptor proteins, and the RALF peptide, the study reveals a key molecular process that enables plants to adapt and survive various stresses, providing new insights into plant resilience mechanisms.Research provides new insights into how cells in plants coordinate their responses.A team of researchers from the University…

Many organisms, including mollusks, produce minerals like nacre through complex processes involving the extraction of calcium and carbonate ions, with the formation pathway and role of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) being key areas of research. A study has identified two chemical environments within ACC particles, offering insights into biomineralization and potential applications in materials science.How do living organisms produce minerals – for example, for their shells? Researchers have come one step closer to…

The ecological clean-up crew that breaks down dead bodies features several of the same species, and tend to always follow the same routine – regardless of location, climate or season, new research shows."These findings may contribute to society by providing potential for a new forensic tool," write the study authors, led by microbial ecologists Jessica Metcalf and Zachary Burcham from Colorado State University.Decomposers – mainly bacteria and fungi – are trying to eat us all the time, but our immune system, skin…

Liquid samples of different algal species investigated in the study, all stored in the Culture Collection of Algae at Göttingen University. Credit: Tatyana DarienkoOKA research team at Göttingen University is leading an investigation into the emergence of multicellularity.Of all the organisms that photosynthesize, land plants have the most complex bodies. How did this morphology emerge? A team of scientists led by the University of Göttingen has taken a deep dive into the evolutionary history of morphological complexity…

Credit: CC0 Public Domain With human bias removed, organizations looking to improve performance by harnessing digital technology can expect changes to how information is scrutinized. The proliferation of digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) within organizations risks removing human oversight and could lead institutions to…

Electric eels can discharge a staggering 860 volts of energy into their surroundings – over seven times that of a standard US power outlet.That's more than enough voltage to punch holes in cell membranes, allowing large polar molecules like DNA to sneak inside."Electric eels and other organisms that generate electricity could affect genetic modification in nature," says Nagoya University molecular biologist Atsuo Iida, who tested this theory with other researchers in Japan.Led by Shintaro Sakaki, the team had baby…

Foram baby of 07/10 at 21 degrees Celcius (Amphistegina lessonii). Credit: Linda Dämmer, NIOZ The fossil calciferous skeletons of single-celled foraminifers are a beautiful history book with information on CO2-levels in the oceans of the distant past. "But if you want to fully understand that history, you must first understand…

Artist’s imagination of two primordial eukaryotic organisms of the ‘Protosterol Biota’ on the ocean floor. Based on molecular fossils, organisms of the Protosterol Biota lived in the oceans about 1.6 to 1.0 billion years ago and are our earliest known ancestors. Credit: Orchestrated in MidJourney by TA 2023Researchers have discovered 1.6 billion-year-old eukaryotic organisms, the Protosterol Biota, believed to be Earth’s first predators. These ancient creatures, found through fossil fat molecules in ancient rocks, were…

Researchers have shown that returning foragers of buff-tailed bumblebees use their own passively laid out scent marks, as well as visual information from landmarks, to find their way back to the nest entrance. These results highlight the importance of both vision and odor for guiding the navigation of bumblebees.Get Ready For Another Summer of Invasive Lanternflies | Extreme EarthPut yourself in the exoskeleton of a bumblebee for a moment: your world would be a riot of colors and scents, both essential to guide your search…

Artist’s imagination of an assemblage of primordial eukaryotic organisms of the ‘Protosterol Biota’ inhabiting a bacterial mat on the ocean floor. Based on molecular fossils, organisms of the Protosterol Biota lived in the oceans about 1.6 to 1.0 billion years ago and are our earliest known ancestors. Credit: Orchestrated in MidJourney by TA 2023Until now, certain biomarkers, the “protosteroids,” have been overlooked as fossil witnesses to primordial life.Newly discovered biomarker signatures point to a whole range of…