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Auxin makes the spirals in gerbera inflorescences follow the Fibonacci sequence
The meristem of the gerbera is patterned on the molecular level already at a stage where no primordia or other changes are discernible by even an electron microscope. «Actually, that structure is the flower head, or the capitulum, which may be composed of hundreds of flowers, also known as florets. The surrounding ‘petals’ are florets…
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Epigenetics linked to genetic differences between domesticated and wild chickens
Some of the genetic differences that have arisen between domesticated chickens and their wild ancestors, the red junglefowl, are linked to epigenetic changes, according to a new study. Scientists have discovered a small number of ‘hotspots’ in the DNA that control epigenetic changes at hundreds of other locations throughout the genome. Humans started to domesticate…
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Fresh groundwater flow important for coastal ecosystems
Groundwater is the largest source of freshwater, one of the world’s most precious natural resources and vital for crops and drinking water. Researchers have developed the first global computer model of groundwater flow into the world’s oceans. Their analysis shows 20% of the world’s coastal ecosystems — such as estuaries, salt marshes and coral reefs…
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Sense of smell is our most rapid warning system
The ability to detect and react to the smell of a potential threat is a precondition of our and other mammals’ survival. Using a novel technique, researchers have been able to study what happens in the brain when the central nervous system judges a smell to represent danger. The study indicates that negative smells associated…
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What happens to marine life when oxygen is scarce?
In September of 2017, marine biologists were conducting an experiment in Bocas del Toro, off the Caribbean coast of Panama. After sitting on a quiet, warm open ocean, they snorkeled down to find a peculiar layer of murky, foul-smelling water about 10 feet below the surface, with brittle stars and sea urchins, which are usually…
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Coumarin compounds from oak barrels could contribute to bitter taste in wine and spirits
Wine and spirits are complex mixtures of flavor and aroma compounds, some of which arise during aging in wooden barrels. Among other compounds, oak wood releases coumarins, but how they affect wine’s sensory properties is unclear. Now, researchers have detected and measured six coumarins in oak wood, wine and spirits, showing that a combination of…
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A tiny ancient relative of dinosaurs and pterosaurs discovered
Dinosaurs and pterosaurs may be known for their remarkable size, but a newly described species that lived around 237 million years ago suggests that they originated from extremely small ancestors. The fossil reptile, named Kongonaphon kely, or ‘tiny bug slayer,’ would have stood just 10 centimeters tall. The study may help explain the origins of…
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Antiviral drug baloxavir reduces transmission of flu virus among ferrets
Baloxavir treatment reduced transmission of the flu virus from infected ferrets to healthy ferrets, suggesting that the antiviral drug could contribute to the early control of influenza outbreaks by limiting community-based viral spread. Influenza viruses cause seasonal outbreaks and pose a continuous pandemic threat. Although vaccines are available for influenza control, their efficacy varies each…
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Atmospheric dust levels are rising in the Great Plains
A study finds that atmospheric dust levels are rising across the Great Plains at a rate of up to 5% per year. The trend of rising dust parallels expansion of cropland and even seasonal crop cycles. And if the Great Plains becomes drier, a possibility under climate change scenarios, then all the pieces are in…
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Gut bacteria linked to immune suppression in pancreatic cancer
Researchers have shown how probiotic bacteria in the gut could undermine immunity in pancreatic cancer, pointing toward more personalized cancer treatments. Lactobacillus — a type of bacteria thought to promote gut health — can alter the function of immune cells called macrophages in the pancreatic tumour environment and spur cancer growth, the researchers found. «Most…