337 articles from WEDNESDAY 5.5.2021

Strange isotopes: Scientists explain a methane isotope paradox of the seafloor

Methane, a chemical compound with the molecular formula CH4, is not only a powerful greenhouse gas, but also an important energy source. It heats our homes, and even seafloor microbes make a living of it. The microbes use a process called anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM), which happens commonly in the seafloor in so-called sulfate-methane transition zones—layers in the seafloor where sulfate...

Adolescents who are relatively older than their classmates are more popular

A survey study of adolescents in Europe suggests that students who are older relative to their peers are more likely to be popular in their school class. Danelien van Aalst of the University of Groningen and Frank van Tubergen of Utrecht University present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on May 5, 2021.

MIT turns 'magic' material into versatile electronic devices

In a feat worthy of a laboratory conceived by J.K. Rowling, MIT researchers and colleagues have turned a "magic" material composed of atomically thin layers of carbon into three useful electronic devices. Normally, such devices, all key to the quantum electronics industry, are created using a variety of materials that require multiple fabrication steps. The MIT approach automatically solves a...

Crohn's disease patients have specific IgG antibodies to human bacterial flagellins

Last year, researchers used a mouse model that included immune-reactive T cells from patients with Crohn's disease in a proof-of-principle demonstration that a flagellin-directed immunotherapy might provide similar benefits in patients. Now they have moved a step closer to possible clinical testing of this treatment, with a study that describes IgG antibodies in Crohn's disease specific for...

New ant species named in recognition of gender diversity

A rare and unusual newly discovered ant from Ecuador has been named Strumigenys ayersthey, with the suffix '-they' chosen in contrast to traditional naming practices which, to date, fail to recognize gender diversity formally. The new species is distinguished by its predominantly smooth and shining cuticle surface and long trap-jaw mandibles.

Our immune systems blanket the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with antibodies

A previously underappreciated part of the body's natural defense against SARS-CoV-2, called non-RBD-directed antibodies, actually plays a major role in combating the virus, according to a new study. That's good news for scientists designing the next generation of vaccines to protect against variants of the virus or future emerging coronaviruses.

Stabilization of the borafluorene anion with carbenes

The incorporation of boron into polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon systems leads to interesting chromophoric and fluorescing materials for optoelectronics, including organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDS) and field-effect transistors, as well as polymer-based sensors. A research team has now introduced a new anionic organoborane compound. Synthesis of the borafluorene succeeded through the use of...

Novel switch found in proteins with wide-ranging implications for medical treatments

Proteins perform a vast array of functions in the cell of every living organism with critical roles in biological processes. There are numerous chemical switches that control the structure and the function of proteins, which were thought to be well understood: so a team of researchers were surprised to discover a completely new on/off switch that seems to be a ubiquitous regulatory element in...

New ant species named in recognition of gender diversity

A newly discovered miniature trap jaw ant from the evergreen tropical forests of Ecuador bears the curious Latin name Strumigenys ayersthey, among hundreds, which are also named in honor of people, but end with -ae (after females) and -i (after males). This makes the newly described ant perhaps the only species in the world to have a scientific name with the suffix -they, thus celebrating gender...

Researchers create leather-like material from silk proteins

Leather is an ever growing multi-billion dollar industry requiring more than 3.8 billion bovine animals—equal to one for every two people on earth—to sustain production each year. And while the products—clothing, shoes, furniture and more—can be quite elegant and durable, the environmental impact of leather production has been severe, leading to deforestation, water and land overuse,...

Stabilization of the borafluorene anion with carbenes

The incorporation of boron into polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon systems leads to interesting chromophoric and fluorescing materials for optoelectronics, including organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDS) and field-effect transistors, as well as polymer-based sensors. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, a research team has now introduced a new anionic organoborane compound. Synthesis of the borafluorene...

How mitochondria make the cut: When and where the powerhouse of the cell divides

Mitochondria either split in half to multiply within the cell, or cut off their ends to get rid of damaged material. That's the take-away message from EPFL biophysicists in their latest research investigating mitochondrial fission. It's a major departure from the classical textbook explanation of the life cycle of this well-known organelle, the powerhouse of the cell. The results are published...

Coalitions and conflict among men

As in many other socially-living species, humans form coalitions to gain advantage in conflicts or to seek or maintain social status. However, studying coalition formation in human societies is complicated by the formal institutions—such as businesses, courts, and governments—that structure social relationships and conflict resolution. But even in small-scale human societies with a relative...

Deliberate ignorance: How we avoid information and why it's sometimes useful to do so

We live in a knowledge society in which science and education is of particular importance. Knowledge is also considered a key driver for economic growth. But under certain circumstances, we all benefit from deliberate ignorance. Ralph Hertwig, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, and Christoph Engel, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods,...

Scientists model Saturn's interior

New Johns Hopkins University simulations offer an intriguing look into Saturn's interior, suggesting that a thick layer of helium rain influences the planet's magnetic field.

A new window to see hidden side of magnetized universe

New observations and simulations show that jets of high-energy particles emitted from the central massive black hole in the brightest galaxy in galaxy clusters can be used to map the structure of invisible inter-cluster magnetic fields. These findings provide astronomers with a new tool for investigating previously unexplored aspects of clusters of galaxies.