Full-transcriptome sequencing of hard-to-access cells in intact tissues facilitates deeper understanding of disease and biology. Under the microscope, researchers often observe different cell types organizing themselves in peculiar patterns within tissues, or sometimes a rare cell type that stands out by occupying a unique position, exhibiting an unusual shape, or expressing a specific biomarker molecule. To determine the deeper meaning of their observations, they have developed approaches to also access cells’ gene expression patterns (transcriptomes) by analyzing the gene-derived RNA…
Human-induced climate change has already had a major impact on Earth’s biodiversity. The habitat of many species – including those in the oceans – Is disappearing, and invasive species are conquering new regions. In a comprehensive data analysis, a team of researchers from Bremen and Oldenburg has studied how species communities in the North Atlantic have changed over a period of 24,000 years – since the last ice age. As expected, species have migrated northward, but new communities have also…
New technology developed at the University of Waterloo could make a significant difference in the fight against climate change by affordably converting harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuels and other valuable chemicals on an industrial scale. Outlined in a study published today in the journal Nature Energy, the system yields 10 times more carbon monoxide (CO) – which can be used to make ethanol, methane and other desirable substances – than existing, small-scale technologies now limited to testing in laboratories. Its individual…
Study identifies cause of lake’s water loss. The Salton Sea, California’s most polluted inland lake, has lost a third of its water in the last 25 years. New research has determined a decline in Colorado River flow is the reason for that shrinking. As the lake dries up, the concentration of salt and chemicals in the remaining water has increased dramatically, causing a mass die-off of fish and birds, including endangered species. The dry lakebed, coated in the salty, toxic…
Researchers working in the field of navigation and supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation have developed methods that allow several low-cost inertial sensors working in combination to replace a single expensive sensor. Inertial sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes are used nearly everywhere, from smartwatches to submarines, drones, spacecraft, vacuum cleaners and even game controllers. The purpose of these sensors is to indicate the position, speed or direction of an object. Their drawback is their lack of precision, at…
The approach to an airport runway is a real challenge for pilots: reducing speed, extending flaps and speed brakesand much more – all with as little noise and fuel consumption as possible. Moreover, air traffic control restricts the approach profile, and weather conditions are sometimes only vaguely known. In short, in addition to wind and other factors, the skills of the flight crew are a key factor in determining how well an approach meets all these requirements. To optimize this…
Millions in funding for the Kiel-based CAPTN initiative. Reduction of CO2 emissions from shipping through innovations in Schleswig-Holstein Participants: alliance comprising the Kiel University, Fachhochschule Kiel – University of Applied Sciences, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH, DSN, Ministry for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature, Wissenschaftszentrum Kiel and 50 other partners The use of green hydrogen, hydrogen derivatives or other renewable energy sources will contribute significantly towards making shipping in the Kiel Canal as well as the North Sea and…
A research network led by the DZNE is investigating whether blood tests can be used to diagnose and predict Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore about 3.000 blood samples will be analyzed. A new examination method could significantly simplify the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. For some time now, there have been data suggesting that the determination of protein changes in the blood could possibly make the examination of the cerebrospinal fluid superfluous. A research consortium led by the DZNE now wants to analyze…
A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, shows in a new study how leaf beetles could successfully use new and previously indigestible food sources in the course of evolution. The insects acquired enzymes from microorganisms via horizontal gene transfer that enabled them to degrade pectins, solid components of the plant cell wall. Since the degradation products resulting from pectin digestion are not per se crucial for the growth and development of the beetles,…
Proteins in the gut of the nematode C. elegans are not degraded when its temperature sensors are disturbed / At the same time, the worm’s lifespan is extended. Scientists from the group of Professor Dr. Thorsten Hoppe at the Cologne Cluster of Excellence for Aging Research CECAD have found that in the nematode C. elegans, the perception of changes in ambient temperature via a defined network of sensory neurons is important for the maintenance of protein degradation in the gut….
How tardigrades survive freezing temperatures. Tardigrades are excellent at adapting to harsh environmental conditions. Back in 2019, Ralph Schill, a professor at the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems at the University of Stuttgart, proved that anhydrobiotic (dried) tardigrades can survive undamaged for many years without absorbing water. Whether they age faster or slower in a frozen state, or whether aging even comes to a halt, was previously unclear. But the mystery has now been solved: Frozen tardigrades do not…
An efficient contrast agent method for MRI imaging developed by Max Planck researcher Stefan Gloeggler raises hopes of being able to distinguish tumors from healthy tissue on the basis of their metabolic activity. The ForTra gGmbH für Forschungstransfer of the Else Kroener-Fresenius Foundation (ForTra) and the European Research Council (ERC) are now providing funding to further develop the method for clinical patient studies. Cancer cells consume vast amounts of energy: They grow and divide much faster and more frequently than…
How can pure hydrogen be produced in a climate-neutral process, independent of solar radiation or wind strength, and then utilized to operate fuel cells or for application in the semiconductor industry? This is the question being addressed by a current research project involving the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST, the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT, and Veolia Umweltservice Süd GmbH & Co. KG. Their plan is to use organic waste as a…
… Achieves New Efficiency Record. Currently heat pump manufacturers are mainly focusing on cost reductions and sustainable refrigerants. In the project “LC150” (Low Charge 150 g), the Fraun-hofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and a consortium of heat pump manufacturers are developing a standardized and refrigerant-reduced propane refrigeration circuit. The team has now succeeded in setting a new efficiency record: A heating capacity of 12.8 kilowatts was achieved with only 124 grams of propane, which results in a specific…
Rising amounts of renewable energy coupled with an increase in decentralised power generation call for the modernisation and significant expansion of the European grids. The EU project SCARLET (“Superconducting cables for sustainable energy transition”) unites 15 partners from 7 countries around the goal of designing and industrially manufacturing superconducting cables to enable more efficient and less costly power transmission from renewable electricity generation sites. Superconductivity is a phenomenon occurring when specific materials are cooled to very low temperatures, allowing for…
Novel navigation strategies for microscopic swimmers. Whereas the shortest way between two points is a straight connection, it might not be the most efficient path to follow. Complex currents often affect the motion of microswimmers and make it difficult for them to reach their destination. At the same time, making use of these currents to navigate as fast as possible is a certain evolutionary advantage. Whereas such strategies allow biological microswimmers to better access food or escape a predator, microrobots could…
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