Nature
Research shows how bacteria communicate with each other
Jerusalem, March 1, 2011 — A pathway whereby bacteria communicate with each other has been discovered by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The discovery has important implications for efforts to cope with the spread of harmf…
Solving the riddle of nature’s perfect spring
Scientists have unravelled the shape of the protein that gives human tissues their elastic properties in what could lead to the development of new synthetic elastic polymers.
University of Manchester researchers, working with colleagues in Austral…
Is organic farming good for wildlife? It depends on the alternative
Even though organic methods may increase farm biodiversity, a combination of conventional farming and protected areas could sometimes be a better way to maintain food production and protect wildlife.
The findings come from a study of butterfly pop…
Protein made by breast cancer gene purified
A key step in understanding the origins of familial breast cancer has
been made by two teams of scientists at the University of California,
Davis. The researchers have purified, for the first time, the protein
produced by the breast cancer suscep…
Researchers uncover novel self-assembly of Alzheimer’s amyloid fibrils
Researchers at Emory University and Argonne National Laboratory have discovered a new method to manipulate the self-assembly and formation of amyloid fibrils, a major component of brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease, thereby opening new avenues for examination of their formation and for the construction of robust nanotubes that have potential applications in research, industry and medicine.
Key to baby-soft skin could be cheesy
For nine months before birth, infants soak in a watery, urine-filled environment. Just hours after birth, however, they have near-perfect skin. How is it that nature enables infants to develop ideal skin in such seemingly unsuitable surroundings? A new study by researchers at the Skin Sciences Institute of Cincinnati Children?s Hospital Medical Center shows that the answer may be vernix — the white, cheesy substance that coats infants for weeks before they are born, then is wiped off and discarded immediately after birth. If they?re right, the healthcare implications for newborns and adults could be remarkable.