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Earth Sciences Aug 16, 2012

UNL discovery has implications for finding life on Earth, Mars

(Phys.org) -- Moqui marbles, unusual balls of rock that can be found rolling around the southwestern U.S. sandstone regions, were formed roughly 2 million years ago with the help of microorganisms. This discovery by a University ...

Plants & Animals Jul 27, 2012

Researchers find shark teeth made of natural fluoride

(Phys.org) -- German researchers studying shark teeth have found at least two species that have fluorinated calcium phosphate - mineral fluoroapatite, as a main component, one of the main ingredients in toothpaste, which ...

Biochemistry Jun 8, 2012

Synthetic cells used to bioengineer new forms of silica

(Phys.org) -- Scientists do not fully understand how nature uses proteins to develop new materials and minerals, but learning more about the natural processes could lead to bioengineering methods such as the biological synthesis ...

Nanophysics May 24, 2012

First direct observation of oriented attachment in nanocrystal growth

Berkeley Lab researchers have reported the first direct observation of nanoparticles undergoing oriented attachment, the critical step in biomineralization and the growth of nanocrystals. A better understanding of oriented ...

Cell & Microbiology May 11, 2012

New bacterium forms intracellular minerals

A new species of photosynthetic bacterium has come to light: it is able to control the formation of minerals (calcium, magnesium, barium and strontium carbonates) within its own organism. Published in Science on April 27, ...

Earth Sciences May 3, 2012

Stable isotopes provide “signature” for researchers to study animals

Researchers have many tools available in studying and observing mammals. One is quite small—the stable isotope. Exploring ecological questions through analysis of stable isotopes is a rapidly developing area of research.

Earth Sciences Apr 18, 2012

Great Unconformity: Evidence for a geologic trigger of the Cambrian explosion

(Phys.org) -- The oceans teemed with life 600 million years ago, but the simple, soft-bodied creatures would have been hardly recognizable as the ancestors of nearly all animals on Earth today.

Cell & Microbiology Mar 20, 2012

Studying slimy substances for a cleaner environment

Extracellular polymeric substances, or EPS, are the slimy material that bacteria excrete and surround themselves with as they form biofilms. EPS are mostly water (up to 95%), but the remaining ingredients include a complex ...

Analytical Chemistry Feb 14, 2012

X-rays reveal why sea urchins are no easy prey

(PhysOrg.com) -- The spine of a sea urchin is 99.9% chalk, a very common material forming tiny crystals that are very hard but easy to break apart. Scientists have now discovered how these marine animals use chalk or lime ...

Cell & Microbiology Dec 23, 2011

New bug eats sulfates, makes two kinds of magnet

(PhysOrg.com) -- A bacterium recently discovered near Death Valley has some very unusual properties according to a report published in the December 23 issue of Science magazine. While some ‘bugs’ are like migratory ...

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