The height disparity between males and females in northern Europe during the Early Neolithic (8,000–6,000 years before present) might not be solely attributed to genetic and dietary factors, according to a study published in Nature Human Behaviour. The research suggests a potential influence of cultural elements on height differences during this period. In the contemporary … Read more
Today, medicines based on antibodies—proteins that fight infection and disease—are prescribed for everything from cancer to COVID-19 to high cholesterol. The antibody drugs are supplied by genetically-engineered cells that function as tiny protein-producing factories in the laboratory. Meanwhile, researchers have been targeting cancer, injuries to internal organs and a host of other ailments with new … Read more
Researchers recently unveiled the discovery of a Japanese mosasaur, a prehistoric marine reptile akin to a great white shark in size, that prowled the Pacific seas around 72 million years ago. This formidable creature, named Wakayama Soryu, meaning blue dragon, due to its origin in Wakayama Prefecture, boasted unique features setting it apart from other … Read more
Researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) have unearthed a groundbreaking plasma instability, promising to reshape our comprehension of cosmic ray origins and their dynamic influence on galaxies. In the early 20th century, Victor Hess’s exploration led to the revelation of cosmic rays, earning him the Nobel Prize. His high-altitude balloon flights determined … Read more
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reveals that smoking is likely associated with a reduction in brain size. The study, published in Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science, highlights that while quitting smoking can prevent further loss of brain tissue, it doesn’t restore the brain to its original size. Smoking appears to … Read more
Despite previous disappointments in using immunotherapy for prostate cancer treatment, a recent study from Columbia University indicates promising potential for these powerful treatments, especially as the disease progresses. Published in Cancer Cell, the study reveals that metastatic prostate tumors harbor a diverse array of immune cells that could be activated by immunotherapy to target and … Read more
When brain oxygenation is cut off for a prolonged period, the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex is quickly reduced to zero. But that’s not the end of the story. Researchers at the Paris Brain Institute, coordinated by Séverine Mahon, have shown that the “wave of death” appearing on the flat electroencephalogram is initiated deep … Read more
Researchers have developed a suite of free tools for analyzing vast amounts of brain dissection photographs at brain banks worldwide to enhance understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. The study, published today as a Reviewed Preprint in eLife, is described by the editors as providing a valuable open-source tool for researchers in the neuropathology and neuroimaging field, … Read more
Small nuclear RNA (snRNA) is a group of short RNA molecules found within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. Despite their modest size, snRNAs play crucial roles in various aspects of gene expression, particularly in the processes of pre-mRNA splicing and gene regulation. This class of RNA molecules is part of a larger family of non-coding … Read more
SR proteins, or serine/arginine-rich proteins, are a family of essential splicing factors that play a crucial role in the regulation of alternative splicing—a process vital for the diversity and complexity of eukaryotic proteomes. The intricate dance of splicing, the removal of non-coding introns and joining of coding exons, is orchestrated by a complex machinery, where … Read more