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Captivity Can Turn Fish Into Cannibals

Lead Image: Cannibalism was widely thought to be common in nature, however, recent research suggests differently. According to recent research, wild fish cannibalism is uncommon. Even though mosquitofish and guppies are known to be cannibalistic in captivity, it is very improbable that they would engage in cannibalism in the wild. Instead, the few instances of cannibalism in these fish are probably the result of an intense struggle for food. The results of a recent study led by researchers from the United States and the United Kingdom could not only have implications for fish lovers and researchers who use mosquitofish as models…

Common Viruses May Be Triggering Alzheimer’s Disease

Lead Image: Varicella zoster virus (VZV), which commonly causes chickenpox and shingles, activates herpes simplex virus (HSV) from dormancy in neural tissue grown in vitro, which then leads to an increase in plaque deposits and decrease in neural signaling — hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Credit: Tufts University Shingles infection may awaken dormant neurological herpes viruses, causing inflammation and accumulation of Alzheimer’s associated proteins in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults and the 7th leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Institute on Aging. It is a debilitating…

Science Reveals That This Type of Diet Can Increase Your Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

Lead Image: A recent study has linked high-fat diets and increased risk of pancreatic cancer. According to a new study, substances that are said to boost athletic performance can also activate a receptor that speeds up the development of pancreatic cancer in mice. The progression of precancerous pancreatic lesions into pancreatic cancer is fueled by a cell nuclear receptor that is activated by high-fat diets and synthetic compounds found in unregulated sports performance enhancers, according to research from the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. Strategies to prevent and treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, a particularly fatal type of cancer with…

Saved From Extinction: How the Gulf of Mexico Escaped Global Warming 56 Million Years Ago

Lead Image: The picture above depicts the Mississippi River flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. According to researchers at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, river sediments and ocean currents helped simple sea life in the Gulf survive a deep-ocean mass extinction 56 million years ago. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey Research shows how the Gulf of Mexico survived a prehistoric mass extinction. According to research by the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG), an ancient bout of global warming 56 million years ago that acidified oceans and wiped out marine life had a gentler impact in the Gulf…

New MIT Computer Model Helps Identify Mutations That Drive Cancer

Lead Image: An MIT-led team has built a new system that rapidly scans the genome of cancer cells and could help researchers find targets for new drugs. Credit: Dylan Burnette and Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, National Institutes of Health, edited by MIT News The system rapidly scans the genome of cancer cells and could help scientists find targets for new drugs Cancer cells can have thousands of DNA mutations. However, only a small number of those actually drive the progression of cancer; the rest are just along for the ride. Researchers could identify better drug targets if they are able to distinguish…