127 articles from WEDNESDAY 1.3.2023

Guarding the genome: Researchers uncover full 3D structure of p53 protein

The tumor suppressor protein p53, known as "the guardian of the genome," protects the body's DNA from daily stress or long-term damage by triggering the cells to make repairs or to self-destruct. But mutations in the p53 gene that codes for the protein can prevent it from performing its job, making errors accumulate in the genetic code and leading to diseases like cancer.

Why seagrass needs space

Seagrass: green leaves swaying in the currents. Fish weave their way through, and sea turtles graze. They're always on their guard, watching out for any encroaching sharks. The seagrass' roots are hidden in the seabed, where they anchor the sand, securing the coastline. The best-kept secret is the amount of carbon these plants store: even more than trees do. But seagrasses are facing a barrage of...

Researchers create metasurface that enables multichannel terahertz transmission

Researchers have designed and demonstrated two all-silicon terahertz metasurface devices that can be used to create four optical channels for simultaneously implementing different optical functions. This capability could be useful for a variety of applications such as communication, terahertz imaging, particle manipulation or encoding quantum information.

A racing heart makes the mind race, too, mouse study finds

Many of us are familiar with the anxiety and dread that can consume us ahead of speaking or performing in public. Throats run dry, sweat drips profusely, and it can feel like everyone hears your quickly thumping heart. But scientists wondered: Is the anxiety driving the heart to beat faster or could an increased heart rate cause anxiety? A new study published today...

How to generate new neurons in the brain

Some areas of the adult brain contain quiescent, or dormant, neural stem cells that can potentially be reactivated to form new neurons. However, the transition from quiescence to proliferation is still poorly understood. A team has discovered the importance of cell metabolism in this process and identified how to wake up these neural stem cells and reactivate them. Biologists succeeded in...

Hubble captures movie of DART asteroid impact debris

In 2022 NASA embarked on a bold experiment to see if they could change an asteroid's velocity by smacking it with a ballistic probe -- kind of like hitting it with a hammer. This experiment was to test a potential technique to someday deflect an asteroid on a collision course to Earth. Perhaps, for the first time in the history of the universe, an intelligent planetary species sought ways to avoid...

Study forecasts tile drainage and crop rotation changes for nitrogen loss

Midwestern agriculture contributes the vast majority of nitrogen in the Gulf of Mexico, causing an oxygen-starved hypoxic zone and challenging coastal economies. State and federal policies have tried for decades to provide solutions and incentives, but the hypoxic zone keeps coming back. A recent study offers a new way to understand Midwestern nitrogen dynamics and forecasts future nitrogen loads...

Waxing and waning of environment influences hominin dispersals across ancient Iran

A world-first model of paleoclimate and hydrology in Iran has highlighted favourable routes for Neanderthals and modern human expansions eastwards into Asia. The findings reveal that multiple humid periods in ancient Iran led to the expansions of human populations, opening dispersal route across the region, and the possible interactions of species such as Neanderthals and our own Homo sapiens.

Seismic imaging provides insight into the Earth's subsurface

The seismic reflection method involves sending acoustic waves thousands of meters under the Earth's surface. The reflected signals provide scientists with information about the characteristics of the subsurface. This is how oil and gas deposits can be discovered. While these will eventually no longer be extracted as we move away from fossil fuels, accurate knowledge of rock structures is important...

Study forecasts tile drainage and crop rotation changes for nitrogen loss

Midwestern agriculture contributes the vast majority of nitrogen in the Gulf of Mexico, causing an oxygen-starved hypoxic zone and challenging coastal economies. State and federal policies have tried for decades to provide solutions and incentives, but the hypoxic zone keeps coming back. A recent study from the University of Illinois offers a new way to understand Midwestern nitrogen dynamics and...

What distinguishes fans from celebrity stalkers?

A survey study of U.S. college students provides new insights into factors associated with the tendency to engage in celebrity stalking behaviors. Maria Wong (Idaho State University, U.S.), Lynn McCutcheon (North American Journal of Psychology, U.S.), Joshua Rodefer (Mercer University, U.S.) and Kenneth Carter (Emory University, U.S.) present these findings in the open-access journal PLoS ONE on...

#StopAsianHate study sheds light on overlooked aspect of activism

A recent analysis of the online #StopAsianHate movement finds that the frameworks scholars use to understand social justice movements need to address the extent to which activists reflect on their own involvement and derive satisfaction from the process of activism itself—as opposed to focusing solely on progress toward the goal of social change.