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Ancient DNA Suggests Woolly Mammoths Roamed the Earth More Recently Than Thought

Genetic material found in permafrost sediments from the Yukon contains rich information about ancient ecosystems. Credit: Julius Csotonyi/Government of Yukon In 2010, small cores of permafrost sediments were collected by a team at the University of Alberta from gold mines in the Klondike region of central Yukon. They had remained in cold storage until paleogeneticists at the McMaster Ancient DNA Centre applied new genomics techniques to better understand the global extinction of megafauna that had culminated in North America some 12,700 years ago. These tiny sediment samples contain an immense wealth of ancient environmental DNA from innumerable plants and animals…

Vitamin D Supplements Decrease Risk of Autoimmune Diseases

Vitamin D supplementation over five years reduced autoimmune disease rate by 22 percent compared to placebo. Autoimmune diseases (AD) such as rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, autoimmune thyroid disease and psoriasis, are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality as people age. Few effective treatments are available for AD, but some preclinical studies have hinted that supplements, including vitamin D and omega-3 (or n-3) fatty acids, may have beneficial effects. In a new study published in BMJ, investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital evaluated whether taking vitamin D and/or omega fatty acid supplements could affect rates of AD. The team tested…

Sustainable Materials: Creating Valuable Plastics and Chemicals From Waste

One of the end-products the UD researchers and colleagues are investigating is the creation of bio-resins for 3D printing. Credit: Photo courtesy of Paul Pranda University of Delaware researchers report low-pressure method to convert industrially processed biomass into plastics, chemicals. It’s no secret that we need more sustainable materials if we hope to help the planet. Bio-derived materials are one potential option, but they must be economical if anyone is going to use them. For instance, a better bio-based milk jug would be great. However, if the milk sells for $20 per gallon because the cost of the jug increases…

Climate and Health Impacts of Natural Gas Stoves Are Much Greater Than Previously Thought

Stanford researchers found that gas stoves emit far more methane than once thought, and most of the emissions occur while the stove is off. During combustion, stoves also emit dangerous levels of nitrogen oxides, a toxic air pollutant. Study estimates that methane leaking from stoves inside US homes has the same climate impact as about 500,000 gasoline-powered cars and the stoves can expose people to respiratory disease-triggering pollutants. Natural gas stoves release methane – a potent greenhouse gas – and other pollutants through leaks and incomplete combustion. Stanford researchers estimate that methane leaking from stoves inside U.S. homes has the…

Scientists Regrow Frog’s Lost Leg With a Five-Drug Cocktail

Frogs briefly treated with a five-drug cocktail administered by a wearable bioreactor on the stump were able to regrow a functional, nearly complete limb. For millions of patients who have lost limbs for reasons ranging from diabetes to trauma, the possibility of regaining function through natural regeneration remains out of reach. Regrowth of legs and arms remains the province of salamanders and superheroes. But in a study published in the journal Science Advances, scientists at Tufts University and Harvard University’s Wyss Institute have brought us a step closer to the goal of regenerative medicine. On adult frogs, which are naturally unable…