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Robot identifies plants by 'touching' their leaves

Researchers in China have developed a robot that identifies different plant species at various stages of growth by "touching" their leaves with an electrode. The robot can measure properties such as surface texture and water ...

Using CRISPR to decipher whether gene variants lead to cancer

In recent years, scientists have created a range of new methods based on CRISPR-Cas technology for precisely editing the genetic material of living organisms. One application is in cell therapy: A patient's immune cells can ...

Bioengineered yeast mass produces herbal medicine

Herbal medicine is difficult to produce on an industrial scale. A team of Kobe University bioengineers manipulated the cellular machinery in a species of yeast so that one such molecule can now be produced in a fermenter ...

Could microbes help create sustainable electronics?

Imagine a world where electronic devices are powered by living organisms and biodegrade after use, eliminating the problem of electronic waste. This isn't the plot of a futuristic sci-fi movie—it's a real, growing area ...

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Biotechnology
New CRISPR system for gene silencing doesn't rely on cutting DNA
Cell & Microbiology
Markers in iPSC quality control—a new approach to enhance standardization
Ecology
Miniature tag offers unique insight into the movement of hummingbirds
Biotechnology
AI-powered model enhances rice lodging detection for improved agricultural outcomes
Cell & Microbiology
No more shaking it up: An innovative method for culturing microbes in static liquid medium
Cell & Microbiology
Scientists discover yeast-green algae mix improves water treatment
Biotechnology
New research could simplify genetic transfer of nitrogen fixation to food crops
Biotechnology
Biorefining process could make grass digestible for pigs, chickens, and fish
Biotechnology
RNA-targeting CRISPR reveals that hundreds of noncoding RNAs are essential—not 'junk'
Biotechnology
A new GPS system for microorganisms could enhance forensic investigations
Biotechnology
Plant engineering method promises to dramatically improve biofuel and bioproduct development
Ecology
Advancing biodiversity monitoring with a network of automated wildlife cameras
Biotechnology
Artificial receptors made from coronavirus DNA open up new avenues for research
Biotechnology
Genetic repair via CRISPR can inadvertently introduce other defects, researchers show
Cell & Microbiology
Pathogens that cling to microplastics may survive wastewater treatment
Biotechnology
Lab-cultured plant yogurt rivals dairy creaminess
Biotechnology
Spraying rice with zinc oxide nanoparticles protects yields during heat waves, study finds
Biotechnology
Reconstructing plesiosaur swimming styles with a bio-inspired control system
Biotechnology
First tests of oral anthrax vaccine are successful in white-tailed deer
Biotechnology
Validation testing of next-gen genome analysis platform reveals potentially disruptive tech

Other news

Astronomy
Astronomers discover two galaxies aligned in a way where their gravity acts as a compound lens
Quantum Physics
Physicists create the first fully mechanical qubit
Astronomy
Survey captures image sequence of galactic neighbors in the local universe
Condensed Matter
Mechanical metamaterial enables long-distance component interaction for unique stretching properties
Plasma Physics
New family of optimized omnigenous magnetic fields could display enhanced fusion plasma confinement
Earth Sciences
As climate warms, California wildfires are becoming more severe, killing more trees
Planetary Sciences
Chang'e-6 lunar samples reveal 2.83-billion-year-old basalt with depleted mantle source
Planetary Sciences
Astronomers discover ultra-dense 'super-Earth' with outer companion offering clues about its formation
Evolution
3D virtual skulls study maps missing piece of brain evolution
Plants & Animals
Mountain lions in LA coexist with outdoor recreationists by taking the night shift
Condensed Matter
New route to quantum spin liquid materials discovered
Space Exploration
China tests building moon base with lunar soil bricks
General Physics
A proposed experiment to test whether gravity behaves as a quantum entity when measured
Mathematics
Mathematical approach can predict crystal structure in hours instead of months
Mathematics
A 41-million-digit prime number is the biggest ever found—but mathematicians' search for perfection will continue
Social Sciences
Shakespeare or ChatGPT? Study finds people prefer AI over real classic poetry
Astronomy
Hubble sees aftermath of galaxy's scrape with Milky Way
Environment
Climate impact of carbon crediting projects is substantially overestimated, analysis shows
Earth Sciences
Electric field signals reveal early warnings for extreme weather, study reveals
Plasma Physics
Kinetic Alfvén waves may be key to mystery of solar corona heating

Study finds ways to enhance transcription factor activity

Transcription factors regulate gene expression by binding specific sequences on DNA, which is an essential step to producing messenger RNAs from protein-coding genes. Denes Hnisz's lab, in collaboration with Martin Vingron's ...

Engineers find a way to protect microbes from extreme conditions

Microbes that are used for health, agricultural, or other applications need to be able to withstand extreme conditions, and ideally the manufacturing processes used to make tablets for long-term storage. MIT researchers have ...

Strawberries under the high-tech magnifying glass

Sweet flavors and healthy ingredients make strawberries one of the world's most popular berries. The complex biochemical compounds that determine the flavor and nutritional value of a strawberry—known as biomarkers—can ...

New mRNA technology turns cells into long-lasting drug factories

A team of researchers has established a ribonucleic acid (RNA)-based method that drives cells in the body to produce therapeutic proteins and secrete them into the bloodstream. The approach could potentially extend the lifespan ...

Researchers capture never-before-seen view of gene transcription

Every living cell transcribes DNA into RNA. This process begins when an enzyme called RNA polymerase (RNAP) clamps onto DNA. Within a few hundred milliseconds, the DNA double helix unwinds to form a node known as the transcription ...