The evolution of complex and physiologically remarkable structures such as the vertebrate eye has long been a focus of intrigue and theorizing by biologists. In work reported this week in Current Biology, the evolutionary history of a critical eye protein has revealed a previously unrecognized relationship between certain components of vertebrate eyes and those of the more primitive light-sensing systems of invertebrates. The findings help clarify our conceptual framework for understanding how t
Cells can reuse the chemical messengers that carry genetic information to the machinery that makes proteins. Sometimes cells shuttle the messengers to storage and later reactivate them to make proteins, according to new research.
Learning how cells regulate the newly discovered “mRNA cycle” may provide insights into how the cellular machinery runs amok in diseases like cancer.
Scientists had previously thought the messenger molecules, known as mRNAs, were manufactured, u
The design, development and manufacturing of revolutionary products such as the automobile, airplane and computer owe a great deal of their success to the large-scale material testing systems (MTS) that have provided engineers and designers with a fundamental understanding of the mechanical behavior of various materials and structures.
In the world of nanotechnology, however, where the mechanical characterization of materials and structures takes place on the scale of atoms and
The cider sector has undergone considerable changes over the last few years. With technological advances, the traditional, at times conservative, methods have experienced great changes. New systems have been introduced into the tolares (the cider-making plants), incorporating the continuous washing of the apples, new types of pressing and polyester-coated stainless steel recipients, refrigeration, etc. Also the idea that certain cultural concepts based on concrete observations often need scien
Shared-memory computing applications have never taken particularly well to operating on distributed-memory systems, at least until now. A possible solution has emerged, of interest to NASA and IBM, and is being tested on their distributed computing systems.
Funded under the European Commission’s IST programme, the POP project focused on generating an environment to allow applications designed using the OpenMP Application Program Interface (API) to operate on distributed-memory
CryoSat’s 8 October flight atop its Rockot launcher will be of historical significance in more ways than one. In a striking juxtaposition of new and old, the ESA’s ice satellite mated to a newly-finished Breeze-KM upper stage will be hauled most of the way to orbit by a vintage SS-19 two-stage rocket, first assembled two decades ago to serve as a weapon of nuclear war.
ESA satellites have flown from Russia’s Plesetsk Cosmodrome before (as well as the Russian-operated
One of the remaining challenges for evolutionary developmental studies of mammals, whose evolution is best known from their teeth, is how their tooth shape is altered during development. Researchers of the University of Helsinki together with their Japanese colleagues from the University of Kioto now propose a ‘balance of induction’ mechanism directing the placement of tooth shape features called cusps. Position and shape of cusps determine whether a tooth shape belongs to human or mouse, for exampl
The CryoSat validation programme took another important step forward on Wednesday with the official handover of a unique set of data that had been collected by the intrepid Dutch Polar Explorer Marc Cornelissen on behalf of ESA during his recent expedition to the North Pole.
In March this year, Marc Cornelissen left Cape Arctichesky in northern Russia to lead the Pole Track 2005 expedition on a 1,000 km ski trek to the geographic North Pole. Along the way, the expedition team depl
An unusual relationship between bacteria and a newly discovered group of marine worms is the only known partnership (or symbiosis) which uses sunken marine mammals as its sole source of nutrition.
In the September issue of Environmental Microbiology, Dr Shana Goffredi and her colleagues reveal this unique partnership between bacteria and the Osedax (bone-devouring) group of marine worms.
Symbiosis, or the living together of different organisms, allows some species to live
ESA’s Mars Express mission has been extended by one Martian year, or about 23 months, from the beginning of December 2005.
The decision, taken on 19 October by ESA’s Science Programme Committee, allows the spacecraft orbiting the Red Planet to continue building on the legacy of its own scientific success. Co-ordinated from the beginning with the Mars science and exploration activities of other agencies, Mars Express has revealed an increasingly complex picture of Mars.
To mark its 20th anniversary, EUREKA has published an illustrated report on the impact of this intergovernmental research initiative. The 60-page publication shows how, for two decades, EUREKA has supported members in achieving their research and development (R&D) goals and made a substantial contribution to increasing European competitiveness. It also indicates how EUREKA pioneered research co-operation between east and west Europe far in advance of EU enlargement.
“This report ex
A motorcycling jacket using space technology is on hand to chill MotoGP riders racing this weekend in Malaysia and next weekend in Qatar, should the heat require it.
The Anatomic Intercooler System (AIS) jacket was developed by Italian bike clothing company Spidi and was used last year by Spanish rider Sete Gibernau at the world’s hottest motorbike Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit in Qatar.
It keeps the rider cool inside the suit, helping to maintain a low body temperature
In a study that will help the food industry understand the effects of processing on allergens, IFR scientists have discovered how an apple allergy protein retains its potency.
Apples are the most widely grown and consumed fruit in Europe. At the same time, around 1 million people in Europe are allergic to apples. As well as being consumed whole, apples are processed for desserts, sauces, juices and infant foods. This is the first time that the effects of heat and the presence of s
When Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web 15 years ago, he always intended that it should be easy for people to write to it, not just read from it. But if websites are opened up to anyone, they often get vandalised by people with axes to grind. Now, a researcher from Manchester has brought together two of computing’s current buzzwords – the Grid, and Wikis – to overcome this problem.
A Wiki is a web site where users can easily add and edit its content. Although some Wikis a
Astronomers throughout the UK now have a valuable new research tool at their disposal which may lead to new discoveries and improved understanding of the physics of the Universe. Launched this week, AstroGrid provides a unique way of accessing, processing and storing astronomical data obtained from a diverse range of data archives held anywhere on Earth. AstroGrid will open the way for virtual observing on individual computers, enabling astronomers to compare and manipulate a wide range of astr
ALAS, scientists at the GBF reveal the structure of a life-sustaining enzyme
Heme is the pigment responsible for the red colour of blood. All humans and animals need heme because it alone transports life-sustaining oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body. Scientists of the GBF and the Technical University in Braunschweig have resolved the 3-dimensional structure of the enzyme that catalyses the first step in the synthesis of heme. “This project completes a page in the
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