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This giant virus just gave up its atomic blueprint

A research group has successfully determined, for the first time in the world, the capsid (outer shell) structure of Melbournevirus—a member of the giant virus family—at a resolution of 4.4 Å using cryo-electron microscopy ...

Examining embryo model ethics beyond box-checking

In science, ethical guidelines ensure that research takes place in a way that respects public trust and is conducted responsibly. Traditional ethics approval procedures work well for projects following established practices, ...

A 'stemness checkpoint' helps control stem cell identity

A study published in Cell Research advances a central idea in stem cell biology by identifying a checkpoint that controls the identity of many different types of stem cells across developmental stages. For nearly two decades, ...

Glucose transport may hinge on a fleeting transition-like state

Stockholm University and SciLifeLab researchers have uncovered how glucose transporters move nutrients into cells, bridging a long-standing gap between structure and function in membrane biology. "Our study shows that these ...

AI uncovers hidden immune defenses inside bacteria

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have discovered thousands of new proteins that protect bacteria from virus attacks using an AI system called DefensePredictor. What would usually take months ...

Split shift: A surprising twist in the biology of aging

A new Yale study of flatworms, a species with the unique ability to regenerate, reveals that disruptions in the body's internal map of cellular organization may play a part in age-related decline.

Researchers clarify how cells remove damaged endoplasmic reticulum

The cell's endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a central role in protein synthesis, folding, and calcium (Ca²⁺) storage. When damaged, ER-phagy (self-eating) removes affected ER regions via double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes. ...

Cell 'snowball' may be answer to large-scale tissue engineering

Cell cultures—single layers of cells grown in a small dish—have enabled researchers to study biological growth, develop or test drugs and even discover what causes some diseases. Cell spheroids, 3D versions of cell cultures ...

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Cell & Microbiology
Stopping algae blooms with bacteria-busting buoys
Cell & Microbiology
Bacterial enzyme uses a donut-shaped ring to shred tough collagen, study reveals
Cell & Microbiology
How mitochondria organize our 'second genome'
Plants & Animals
Cell lineage tracing reveals early‑segregated germline in plants
Cell & Microbiology
This tiny organism simply loves corners, using geometry to sense its world
Cell & Microbiology
Engineered E. coli dependency may help contain microbes to defined areas
Cell & Microbiology
DNA-binding protein blocks virulence cascade in a diarrhea pathogen outside hosts, study finds
Cell & Microbiology
Precision work prior to cell division: How enzymes optimize DNA structure
Cell & Microbiology
Atomic-level simulations reveal rotational mechanism behind a critical biomolecular motor
Cell & Microbiology
One of cholera's great enemies is found in the human gut
Cell & Microbiology
Soil biodiversity linked to lower human infectious disease risk
Cell & Microbiology
How plants fight back against bacteria that promote waterlogging in leaves
Ecology
Air surveillance reveals hidden reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes
Cell & Microbiology
SimCells successfully target and kill drug-resistant bacteria
Cell & Microbiology
Forest soil on doormats rebalances urban homes' indoor microbiome, study suggests
Ecology
Getting a glimpse of viral dances in the dark in the Sargasso Sea
Cell & Microbiology
Targeting the tiniest divide: Research reveals potential vulnerability in bacterial reproduction
Cell & Microbiology
Viruses 'eavesdrop' on each other—but it can backfire
Cell & Microbiology
Study reveals mechanisms underlying oxygen-tolerant energy conversion in a marine photosynthetic bacterium
Ecology
Gut bacteria may influence social behavior through smell

Other news

Plants & Animals
How an internal plant 'thermostat' guides root growth in unpredictable temperatures
Nanomaterials
Carbon nanotube fiber sensors achieve record measurement error below 0.1%
Analytical Chemistry
Hydroxyl radicals in UV-exposed water reveal surprising reaction pathway
Analytical Chemistry
Plant-inspired water membrane filters CO₂ with constant selectivity and adjustable permeance
Evolution
Mammal ancestors laid eggs—and this 250-million-year-old fossil proves it
Plants & Animals
Chimpanzee empire falls apart in rare instance of division and deadly violence
Molecular & Computational biology
A smarter way to build vaccines: Scientists harness AI to target emerging alphaviruses
Archaeology
No more giants, no more heavy handaxes: Why early humans downsized their stone tools
Plants & Animals
Oxygen sensing helps explain why amphibians regenerate limbs but mammals cannot
Astronomy
What if dark matter came in two states?
Earth Sciences
Deadly heat thresholds have already being crossed in six recent heat waves, study shows
Mathematics
Mathematical signature spots when competition is fair, winner-take-all, or too soft
Biochemistry
How surface chemistry impacts the performance of malaria nets
Plants & Animals
Ant larvae control parental care by using odor signals
Soft Matter
New AI method flags fluid flow tipping points before simulations break down
Evolution
Great apes mirror facial expressions with surprising precision, study shows
Molecular & Computational biology
One DNA letter can trigger complete sex reversal
Earth Sciences
Rock bonding changes understanding of earthquake mechanics
Space Exploration
Houston, we have a problem ... with the toilet
Environment
High levels of forever chemicals found in Svalbard reindeer

One of Earth's most abundant organisms is surprisingly fragile

A group of ocean bacteria long considered perfectly adapted to life in nutrient-poor waters may be more vulnerable to environmental change than scientists realized. The bacteria, known as SAR11, dominate surface seawater ...

Bacterial 'brains' operate on the brink of order and disorder

The sensory proteins that control the motion of bacteria constantly fluctuate. AMOLF researchers, together with international collaborators from ETH Zurich and University of Utah, found out that these proteins can jointly ...

Crosstalk inside cells helps pathogens evade drugs, study finds

Biologists have uncovered a new mode of communication inside cells that helps bacterial pathogens learn how to evade drugs. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, describe how these mechanisms drive ...