ScienceDaily: Plants & Animals News

When fawns perceive constant danger from many sources, they almost seem to relax

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 12:38 PM PDT

Burnout. It is a syndrome that is said to afflict humans who feel chronic stress. But after conducting a novel study using trail cameras showing the interactions between white-tailed deer fawns and predators, a researcher suggests that prey animals feel it, too.

A genome of photosynthetic animals decoded

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:24 AM PDT

Some sea slugs take up chloroplasts from the algae that they consume into their cells. These chloroplasts retain their ability to perform photosynthetic activity within the animal cells for several months, and thus provide them with photosynthesis-derived nutrition. Researchers have published the genome of the sea slug, Plakobranchus ocellatus.

High-ranking hyena mothers pass their social networks to their cubs

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:23 AM PDT

Hyenas inherit their social networks from their mothers, according to new research. The study found this network inheritance effect strongest for offspring of higher-ranking mothers. The finding has implications for how social groups are structured and evolve, the researchers say.

Human cells harness power of detergents to wipe out bacteria

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:23 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered that a molecule found within many of the body's cells kills germs by dissolving their protective membranes.

How spiders distinguish living from non-living using motion-based visual cues

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:23 AM PDT

Jumping spiders can distinguish living from non-living objects in their peripheral vision using the same cues used by humans and other vertebrate animals, according to a new study.

Accurate protein structure prediction now accessible to all

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:23 AM PDT

Protein design researchers have created a freely available method, RoseTTAFold, to provide access to highly accurate protein structure prediction. Scientists around the world are using it to build protein models to accelerate their research. The tool uses deep learning to quickly predict protein structures based on limited information, thereby compressing the time for what would have taken years of lab work on just one protein. Predicting intricate shapes of proteins vital to specific biological processes could speed treatment development for many diseases.

'Get out of the water!' Monster shark movies massacre shark conservation

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:23 AM PDT

Undeniably the shark movie to end all shark movies, the 1975 blockbuster, Jaws, not only smashed box office expectations, but forever changed the way we felt about going into the water - and how we think about sharks.

Fossil rodent teeth add North American twist to Caribbean mammals' origin story

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:45 AM PDT

Two fossil teeth from a distant relative of North American gophers have scientists rethinking how some mammals reached the Caribbean Islands.

Modified yeast inhibits fungal growth in plants

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:45 AM PDT

Engineers and plant pathologists have developed a way to engineer a protein that blocks fungi from breaking down cell walls, as well as a way to produce this protein in quantity for external application as a natural fungicide. The work could lead to a new way of controlling plant disease that reduces reliance on conventional fungicides.

Human waste contaminating urban water leads to 'superbug' spread

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:45 AM PDT

Contamination of urban lakes, rivers and surface water by human waste is creating pools of 'superbugs' in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) - but improving access to clean water, sanitation and sewerage infrastructure could help to protect people's health, a new study reveals.

Hollow nano-objects made of DNA could trap viruses and render them harmless

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:30 AM PDT

To date, there are no effective antidotes against most virus infections. Scientists have now developed a new approach: they engulf and neutralize viruses with nano-capsules tailored from genetic material using the DNA origami method. The strategy has already been tested against hepatitis and adeno-associated viruses in cell cultures. It may also prove successful against corona viruses.

Bioengineering discovery paves way for improved production of bio-based goods

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:30 AM PDT

Scientists have uncovered a way to control many genes in engineered yeast cells, opening the door to more efficient and sustainable production of bio-based products.

Researcher creates cell lines to help treat mitochondrial diseases in children

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:30 AM PDT

The mitochondrion has garnered quite the reputation for its role as the 'powerhouse of the cell.' These tiny, but mighty organelles play various life-sustaining roles, from powering our own cells and organs to fueling chemical and biological processes. But when they aren't working properly, a number of rare diseases can occur.

Thinking without a brain

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:08 AM PDT

If you didn't have a brain, could you still navigate your surroundings? Thanks to new research on slime molds, the answer may be 'yes.' Scientists discovered that the brainless Physarum polycephalum uses its body to sense mechanical cues in its environment, and decides where to grow based on that information. This finding provides a model for understanding different types of cognition, including our own.

Study shows strong association between perceived risk, availability and past-year cannabis use

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:08 AM PDT

Combined perceptions of the risk and availability of cannabis influence the risk of cannabis use more than perceived risk and perceived availability alone, according to a new study. Researchers observed that those who perceived cannabis as low-risk and available were more likely to report using the drug in the past year and almost daily compared to those individuals who perceived cannabis as high-risk and unavailable. This is the first study to consider the joint effects of perceived risk and perceived availability.

A new avenue for fighting drug-resistant bacteria

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:08 AM PDT

A small regulatory RNA found in many problematic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, appears to be responsible for managing the response of these bacteria to environmental stresses. Researchers see a promising avenue for more effective treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

New method makes vital fertilizer element in a more sustainable way

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 12:11 PM PDT

Scientists and engineers have devised a new method for making urea that is more environmentally friendly than today's process and produces enough to be competitive with energy-intensive industrial methods.

Roadless forests see more blazes and greater severity, but fire resilience is the result

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 12:11 PM PDT

Roadless national forests in the American West burn more often and at a slightly higher severity than national forests with roads, but the end result for the roadless forests is greater fire resilience, researchers say.

How climate change and fires are shaping the forests of the future

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:19 AM PDT

As temperatures rise, the risk of devastating forest fires is increasing. Researchers are using artificial intelligence to estimate the long-term impact that an increased number of forest fires will have on forest ecosystems. Their simulations show how Yellowstone National Park in the USA could change by the end of the century.

Study shows Cannabis terpenes provide pain relief, contribute to 'entourage effect'

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 08:04 AM PDT

Researchers have found that terpenes mimic cannabinoids and produce similar pain-relieving effects, which are amplified when the two are used together.