living organisms
Neural plasticity depends on this long noncoding RNA’s journey from nucleus to synapse
Making memories involves more than seeing friends or taking photos. The brain constantly adapts to new information and stores memories by building connections among neurons, called synapses. How neurons do…
How cells transport molecules with ‘active carpets’
New research provides insights into the process of diffusion in living systems, with implications from novel active coatings to understanding how pathogens are cleared from lungs. A drop of food…
Scientists discover compounds that could have helped to start life on Earth
Compounds discovered on the shores of the Dead Sea. Phosphorus is an element essential for life. It is fundamental to all living organisms, and is a key component of RNA,…
Breaking the ice on melting and freezing
A better understanding of iceberg melting and lake ice formation could provide new indicators of climate change. Eric Hester has spent the last three years chasing icebergs. A mathematics graduate…
Water at the end of the tunnel
We humans need oxygen to breath – for a lot of microbes it is a lethal poison. That is why microorganisms have developed ways to render oxygen molecules harmless. Microbiologists…
Intelligent software tackles plant cell jigsaw puzzle
Imagine working on a jigsaw puzzle with so many pieces that even the edges seem indistinguishable from others at the puzzle’s centre. The solution seems nearly impossible. And, to make…