(Phys.org) —In humans, a polymer called melanin determines skin, eye and hair color—the darker the skin, the more melanin in a person's body. For insects, melanin is a major aspect of their immune defense ...

Chemistry - Biochemistry

7 hours ago 3 / 5 (1) 0 |

Though the price makes you wince, you might just buy that bottle of your favorite olive oil anyway. Perhaps it's exactly what you want for the salad dressing you're making tonight and for your special stir-fry ...

Biology - Plants & Animals

7 hours ago not rated yet 0

(Phys.org) —Ammonia must overcome an energy barrier to join sulfuric acid and water to create clusters that can lead to cloud formation, according to scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory ...

Chemistry - Materials Science

7 hours ago not rated yet 0 |

Harvard physicists have developed a novel technique that can detect molecular variants in chemical mixtures – greatly simplifying a process that is one of the most important, though time-consuming, processes ...

Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry

May 22, 2013 5 / 5 (1) 0 |

Many molecules have a right and a left form, just like shoes. In pharmaceuticals, it is important that the correct form of the molecule is used. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have been ...

Chemistry - Materials Science

May 22, 2013 5 / 5 (2) 0

Ocean acidification is damaging some marine species while others thrive, say scientists. An international team studied the effect of ocean acidification on plankton in the North Sea over the past forty years, ...

Biology - Ecology

May 22, 2013 5 / 5 (2) 1 |

(Phys.org) —Northwestern University researchers have developed a new method for delivering molecules into single, targeted cells through temporary holes in the cell surface. The technique could find applications ...

Nanotechnology - Bio & Medicine

May 21, 2013 not rated yet 1 |

Food industries are now turning meat left-over into high-protein content ingredients for food supplements, or to be added to processed food. But a EU-wide regulation covering them is still lacking.

Chemistry - Other

May 21, 2013 1 / 5 (7) 7

A new study of both computer-created and natural proteins suggests that the number of unique pockets – sites where small molecule pharmaceutical compounds can bind to proteins – is surprisingly small, meaning drug side ...

Chemistry - Biochemistry

May 20, 2013 5 / 5 (13) 1 |

A new study published in PNAS argues that for fisheries policies to be effective they must take in to account not just fish stock conservation and environmental issues, but also research data on the patterns and dynamics of fis ...

Biology - Ecology

May 20, 2013 1 / 5 (1) 0

(Phys.org) —The production of biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass would benefit on several levels if carried out at temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Celsius. Researchers with the Energy Biosciences ...

Biology - Biotechnology

May 16, 2013 4 / 5 (1) 0 |

The omega-3 fatty acids contained in fatty salt-water fish are an important component of a healthy diet in humans. Despite being aware of this fact, Germans still do not eat enough fish. Now Fraunhofer researchers have developed ...

Chemistry - Other

May 15, 2013 not rated yet 0

Carbon footprints are a familiar way to assess how green your lifestyle is, but now you can also measure your nitrogen footprint using a new tool, the N-Calculator.

Space & Earth - Environment

May 15, 2013 5 / 5 (1) 0

Nearly 85 percent of seafood enjoyed by U.S. consumers is imported, and almost half of that is farm raised through a process called "aquaculture," according to the National Aquaculture Association, based ...

Biology - Other

May 14, 2013 1 / 5 (1) 0

Although thousands of entire genomes have been sequenced, our understanding of their detailed workings remains far from complete. Researchers continue to find new genes, determine their function, and map ...

Biology - Biotechnology

May 10, 2013 not rated yet 0