Early dark energy could resolve cosmology's two biggest puzzles

Physicists propose that a mysterious force known as early dark energy could solve two of the biggest puzzles in cosmology and fill in some major gaps in our understanding of how the early universe evolved.

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Microbe dietary preferences influence the effectiveness of carbon sequestration in the deep ocean

The movement of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the surface of the ocean, where it is in active contact with the atmosphere, to the deep ocean, where it can be sequestered away for decades, centuries, or longer, depends on a number of seemingly small processes. A key microscale process in the ocean is the dietary preferences of bacteria that feed on organic molecules called lipids.

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Plant-derived secondary organic aerosols can act as mediators of plant-plant interactions

A new study reveals that plant-derived secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) can act as mediators of plant-plant interactions. This research was conducted through the cooperation of chemical ecologists, plant ecophysiologists and atmospheric physicists.

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Folded or cut, this lithium-sulfur battery keeps going

Most rechargeable batteries that power portable devices, such as toys, handheld vacuums and e-bikes, use lithium-ion technology. But these batteries can have short lifetimes and may catch fire when damaged. To address stability and safety issues, researchers have designed a lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery that features an improved iron sulfide cathode. One prototype remains highly stable over 300 charge-discharge cycles, and another provides power even after being folded or cut.

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Bacteria work together to thrive in difficult conditions

In a new study, researchers have determined through both statistical analysis and in experiments that soil pH is a driver of microbial community composition -- but that the need to address toxicity released during nitrogen cycling ultimately shapes the final microbial community.

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Research reveals reality of Ice Age teen puberty

Landmark new research shows Ice Age teens from 25,000 years ago went through similar puberty stages as modern-day adolescents.

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Light pollution a new Alzheimer's risk factor

Outdoor light at night could be a significant risk factor in Alzheimer's disease, according to new research from Rush.

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Microscale robot folds into 3D shapes and crawls

Researchers have created microscale robots less than 1 millimeter in size that are printed as a 2D hexagonal 'metasheet' but, with a jolt of electricity, morph into preprogrammed 3D shapes and crawl.

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Genes with strong impact on menopause timing also link to cancer risk

The team first looked at variation in data from genetic sequencing of 106,973 post-menopausal female participants in the UK Biobank study. Researchers focused on rare types of genetic changes which cause a loss of the protein, and investigated their effect on the timing of menopause. The genetic changes studied are all rare in the population, however their influence on menopause is five times greater than the impact of any previously identified common genetic variant.

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Scientists expand the genetic alphabet to create new proteins

It's a dogma taught in every introductory biology class: Proteins are composed of combinations of 20 different amino acids, arranged into diverse sequences like words. But researchers trying to engineer biologic molecules with new functions have long felt limited by those 20 basic building blocks and strived to develop ways of putting new building blocks -- called non-canonical amino acids -- into their proteins. Now, scientists have designed a new paradigm for easily adding non-canonical amino acids to proteins.

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Atypical metabolite levels at birth may increase SIDS risk

Newborns who had an atypical pattern of metabolites were more than 14 times as likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), compared to infants who had more typical metabolic patterns, according to a new study. Metabolites are molecules produced by the body's various chemical reactions. Researchers found that infants who died of SIDS had a specific pattern of metabolites compared to infants who lived to their first year. The researchers believe that checking for this pattern could provide a way to identify infants at risk for SIDS.

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Brain-wide decision-making dynamics discovered

Neuroscientists have revealed how sensory input is transformed into motor action across multiple brain regions in mice. The research shows that decision-making is a global process across the brain that is coordinated by learning. The findings could aid artificial intelligence research by providing insights into how to design more distributed neural networks.

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Methane emissions are rising faster than ever

Methane concentrations in Earth's atmosphere increased at record speed over the past five years. At least two-thirds of annual methane emissions now come from human activities, including fossil fuel use, agriculture, and landfills and other waste.

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