Science X / Phys.org

Two-step approach creates more sustainable protein nanostructures for advanced sensing and therapeutics Gas vesicles are among the largest known protein nanostructures produced and assembled inside microbial cells. These hollow, air-filled cylindrical nanostructures found in certain aquatic microbes have drawn increasing interest from scientists due to their potential for practical applications, including as part of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

A two-step genetic regulatory system enables more sustainable production of protein nanostructures, improving cell viability and yield for advanced sensing and therapeutic applications. doi.org/hbnfn4

Resilience bonds could serve as an insurance solution to address climate change risks Researchers with Lehigh University's Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience, led by anthropologist David G. Casagrande, have identified two urgent challenges the United States faces in adapting to climate change: a potential disaster insurance crisis and the lack of comprehensive relocation policies for communities facing chronic flooding.

Resilience bonds, issued through public-private partnerships, could help insurers manage climate risks while expanding coverage to vulnerable communities and supporting climate adaptation efforts. doi.org/hbnfn2

A more realistic picture of platinum electrodes Current electrochemical theory does not adequately describe realistic platinum electrodes. Scientists at Leiden University have now, for the first time, mapped the influence of imperfect platinum surfaces.

New insights into platinum electrode surfaces show that atomic-scale imperfections significantly affect electrochemical behavior, advancing understanding for applications in hydrogen production and sensors. doi.org/hbnfnx

Machine learning accelerates plasma mirror design for high-power lasers Plasma mirrors capable of withstanding the intensity of powerful lasers are being designed through an emerging machine learning framework.

Machine learning is streamlining the design of plasma mirrors for high-power lasers, enabling the development of compact, damage-resistant optical components for advanced scientific applications. doi.org/hbnfmk

New class of catalysts could dramatically change playing field in nickel catalysis Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have reported a breakthrough in nickel catalysis that harnesses a rare oxidation state of nickel that has proved challenging to control yet is highly valued for its potential to facilitate important chemical reactions.

A new class of shelf-stable Ni(I) isocyanide catalysts enables efficient, selective cross-coupling reactions and expands the potential for novel transformations in nickel catalysis. doi.org/hbnfjm

How bacteria learned to target numerous cell types Viruses attack nearly every living organism on Earth. To do so, they rely on highly specialized proteins that recognize and bind to receptors on the surface of target cells, a molecular arms race that drives constant evolution.

Bacteria have repurposed virus-like injection systems, acquiring diverse receptor-binding proteins from various organisms, enabling them to target a wide range of cell types. doi.org/hbmjcq

Synthetic compound targets malaria at multiple stages to prevent its transmission Brazilian researchers have developed a synthetic compound that has the potential to treat malaria and block its transmission.

A synthetic compound has demonstrated the ability to target malaria parasites at hepatic, blood, and transmission stages, offering a comprehensive approach to treatment and prevention. doi.org/hbnfjk

Protective mechanism discovered in female brain: Switched-off X chromosome can reactivate to reduce disease severity Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have identified a mechanism that protects the female brain from genetic diseases.

New findings show that reactivation of genes on the previously inactive X chromosome in female brain cells can reduce the severity of certain genetic brain disorders. doi.org/hbnfjj

Bigger is not always better: Smaller leaves optimize light use in soybeans In efforts to better understand how soybean plants capture and use light, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign investigated how leaf size and shape affect light distribution within the crop canopy.

Soybean plants with narrower leaves can reduce total leaf area by 13% without lowering yield, improving light penetration and resource-use efficiency within dense crop canopies. doi.org/hbnfjg

Complex tongue bones, fleshy teeth on the roof of earliest known bird's mouth might have helped it snag food Flying is really hard work. Compared to walking, swimming, or running, flying is the form of movement that takes the most energy and requires the most calories.

New analysis of Archaeopteryx fossils shows that complex tongue bones, oral papillae, and sensitive beak-tips in early birds likely aided efficient food capture and processing for flight. doi.org/hbnfjf

New genetic tools offer more accurate breast cancer prediction for women of African ancestry Despite major advances in genetic testing for breast cancer risk prediction, death rates remain disproportionately high among women of African ancestry.

New polygenic risk score models tailored for women of African ancestry significantly improve breast cancer risk prediction, supporting earlier and more personalized screening strategies. doi.org/hbnfjd

AI mapping reveals over 20,000 malaria protein interactions across parasite life cycle An international research team headed by scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and the Center for Structural Systems Biology and Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Germany has revealed fresh insights into the dynamic network of protein interactions that govern the biology of the malaria parasite.

AI-driven mapping has identified over 20,000 protein interactions throughout the malaria parasite's life cycle, offering new insights that may inform future treatment strategies. doi.org/hbnfjc

A mathematical framework for optimizing robotic joints Consider the marvelous physics of the human knee. The largest hinge joint in the body, it has two rounded bones held together by ligaments that not only swing like a door, but also roll and glide over each other, allowing the knee to flex, extend, and balance.

A new mathematical framework enables the design of robotic rolling contact joints that closely mimic human knee motion, improving efficiency and force output in robotic grippers and assistive devices.

Banning lead in gas worked: The proof is in our hair Prior to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, Americans lived in communities awash with lead from industrial sources, paint, water supply pipes and, most significantly, tailpipe emissions.

Analysis of hair samples spanning a century shows lead concentrations have dropped by about 100-fold since environmental regulations began, highlighting the impact of reducing lead in consumer products.

Some tropical land may heat up nearly twice as much as oceans under climate change, sediment record suggests Some tropical land regions may warm more dramatically than previously predicted, as climate change progresses, according to a new CU Boulder study that looks millions of years into Earth's past.

Sediment records indicate that tropical land areas may warm nearly twice as much as tropical oceans under climate change, highlighting significant regional impacts for densely populated regions.

Why we sleep poorly in new environments: A brain circuit that keeps animals awake You check into a hotel and toss and turn all night, but your sleep improves the following night. Scientists at Nagoya University wanted to understand why this happens.

A brain circuit involving neurotensin helps maintain alertness in unfamiliar environments, offering insight into why sleep is often disrupted on the first night in a new place.

Air pollution causes social instability in ant colonies, triggering attacks on returning nest mates A research team from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology has shown in a new study that ants returning from habitats affected by air pollution are attacked when they re-enter the colony.

Air pollution alters ants’ chemical signals, leading to aggression and social instability within colonies as returning members are mistaken for intruders due to disrupted odor profiles.

Common procedure does not prevent recurrent pancreatitis, trial finds A multicenter clinical trial published in JAMA has found that a long-used endoscopic procedure does not prevent recurrent pancreatitis in adults with an anatomic anomaly, challenging decades of conventional wisdom.

A large clinical trial indicates that ERCP with minor papillotomy does not significantly reduce recurrent pancreatitis in adults with pancreas divisum and may carry additional risks. doi.org/hbnfjb

Reshaping gold leads to new electronic and optical properties By changing the physical structure of gold at the nanoscale, researchers can drastically change how the material interacts with light—and, as a result, its electronic and optical properties.

Altering gold’s nanoscale structure significantly changes its electronic and optical properties, enabling enhanced light absorption and energy transfer for advanced technological applications. doi.org/hbnd93

Childhood lead exposure associated with increased depressive symptoms in adolescence While lead exposure in children has been associated with cognitive and behavioral problems, few studies have examined later psychiatric symptoms.

Childhood lead exposure is linked to increased depressive symptoms in adolescence, with exposures around age 8 showing particularly strong associations with later mental health outcomes. doi.org/hbnfh8

AI streamlines deluge of data from particle collisions Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-based method to dramatically tame the flood of data generated by particle detectors at modern accelerators.

A new AI-driven algorithm efficiently compresses vast, sparse data from particle collisions, enabling faster processing and more comprehensive recording for advanced physics research. doi.org/hbnfh7

Earth's largest volcanic event reshaped an oceanic plate, seismic wave analysis reveals A research group has revealed through seismic wave analysis that the oceanic plate beneath the Ontong Java Plateau—the world's largest oceanic plateau—was extensively altered by massive volcanic activity during its formation.

Seismic wave analysis shows that massive volcanic activity during the formation of the Ontong Java Plateau extensively altered the underlying oceanic plate, highlighting complex plate modification processes. doi.org/hbnfh6

Lab-grown algae remove microplastics from water A University of Missouri researcher is pioneering an innovative solution to remove tiny bits of plastic pollution from our water.

Genetically engineered algae can capture and remove microplastics from water, offering a potential method to clean wastewater and repurpose collected plastics into bioplastic products. doi.org/hbnfhh

Open-source HemoLens cuts pressure myography costs from $40,000 to $750 Before tissue-engineered blood vessels reach the clinic, they must withstand the mechanical stresses of the vascular system—an assessment that is essential, but often expensive.

An open-source system called HemoLens reduces the cost of pressure myography from $40,000 to $750, making advanced vascular research tools more accessible to laboratories. doi.org/hbnfhg

Study finds visceral pain boosts empathy more than skin pain Interoceptive, visceral pain from within the body is perceived more unpleasant than exteroceptive pain from outside the body.

Visceral pain is perceived as more unpleasant than skin pain and elicits stronger empathic responses, especially toward loved ones, even when the pain is imagined rather than directly experienced. doi.org/hbnfhf

A portable ultrasound sensor may enable earlier detection of breast cancer For people who are at high risk of developing breast cancer, frequent screenings with ultrasound can help detect tumors early.

A portable ultrasound system, small enough to connect to a laptop, may enable more frequent and accessible breast cancer screening, potentially supporting earlier tumor detection. doi.org/hbnfhd

NASA fuels its moon rocket in a crucial test to decide when Artemis astronauts will launch NASA fueled its new moon rocket in one final make-or-break test Monday, with hopes of sending astronauts on a lunar fly-around as soon as this coming weekend.

NASA completed a critical fueling test of its Artemis moon rocket, a key step toward determining the timing of the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years.

Analyzing an enigmatic enzyme with potential for new antibiotic drug discovery An analysis of an unusual enzyme could result in a new generation of antimicrobial medicines to counter antibiotic resistance.

Structural analysis of a unique enzyme involved in nocardicin A biosynthesis offers new strategies for developing antibiotics to address rising drug-resistant bacterial infections. doi.org/hbnfhb

New database reveals how Americans use water Water powers our lives. It feeds our crops, keeps factories running, generates electricity, and fills our taps. But until now, no one had a clear, national picture of how much water we're using—and for what.

A new nationwide database details water withdrawals across the United States, offering comprehensive insights into who uses water, how much is used, and for what purposes.

A second set of eyes for nurses: Intelligent camera system helps monitor premature babies Cambridge researchers have become the first to combine multiple image types—RGB (that mimics human vision), depth and infra-red—in a 3D camera set up to monitor premature babies in neonatal intensive care.

A 3D camera system combining RGB, depth, and infrared imaging enables continuous, non-contact monitoring of premature babies in neonatal intensive care, supporting clinical decision-making. doi.org/hbnfgx