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Graphene Oxide: Nano-Warrior Reduces the Toxicity of Alzheimer’s Proteins

Lead Image: Graphene oxide (orange) can effectively enter yeast cells and reduce the toxicity of harmful protein aggregates (light grey), by promoting disassembly and then degradation of the aggregates. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a yeast model, which mimics the neurons in a human brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease, to demonstrate this. Moreover (not shown by the illustration), graphene oxide treatment can alter the metabolism of the cells to increase their capacity to cope with stress. Credit: Chalmers University of Technology / Katharina Merl A probable early driver of Alzheimer’s disease is the accumulation of molecules called…

Stanford Scientists Discover Cellular “Neighborhoods” in Our Gut

Lead Image: These images are produced using advanced imaging techniques that enable us to study the cells found in the human intestine. By utilizing a combination of microscopy and robotic technology, these scientific visuals offer a window into the intricate world of cellular diversity. The various colors in the image represent specific molecules that are expressed within different cell types. These molecules, such as proteins, play a crucial role in determining the identity and function of each cell within the intestine. By “painting” or “tagging” specific cells with different colors, we gain valuable insights into the complex interactions and structures…

Breaching the Limit: Global Concerns Rise As Six Key Planetary Boundaries Are Exceeded

Lead Image: The new update on the Planetary Boundaries framework shows that six of the nine boundaries are transgressed. Credit: Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, based on analysis in Richardson et al 2023. A new study updates the planetary boundary framework and shows human activities are increasingly impacting the planet and, thereby, increasing the risk of triggering dramatic changes in overall Earth conditions. For over 3 billion years, the interaction between life (represented by the planetary boundary, Biosphere Integrity) and climate have controlled the overall environmental conditions on Earth. Human activities, for example replacing nature with other land uses, changing…

Groundbreaking Study Uncovers Origin of “Conscious Awareness”

Lead Image: A recent study used infants to investigate the origins of purposeful action, showing that agency emerges from the relationship between an organism and its environment. Using a baby-mobile experiment, researchers demonstrated that when infants recognize their ability to cause motion in the mobile through their movement, they transition from spontaneous to intentional behavior, marking the “birth of agency.” The research on infants provides the first quantified observations showing the ’emergence’ of agency or purpose in humans. Living things act with purpose. But where does purpose come from? How do humans make sense of their relation to the world…

Gobbling Galaxies: Black Holes’ Speedy Feast Shocks Scientists

Lead Image: A new study shows that, by dragging space-time, supermassive black holes can rip apart the violent whirlpool of debris (or accretion disks) that encircle them, resulting in an inner and outer subdisk. Credit: Nick Kaaz/Northwestern University New research reveals that supermassive black holes consume surrounding material faster than previously believed. This insight, derived from high-resolution simulations, could explain why quasars flare and fade so quickly. A new Northwestern University-led study is changing the way astrophysicists understand the eating habits of supermassive black holes. While previous researchers have hypothesized that black holes eat slowly, new simulations indicate that black…