Science

Researchers have detected organic compounds and minerals necessary for life in unprecedented samples collected from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, adding evidence to the idea that asteroids likely delivered the building blocks of life to our planet early in its history.

The samples are also providing a window into understanding what kind of chemical and biological processes were already underway as space rocks chaotically ricocheted around during the early days of the solar system.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have pinpointed the Andes Mountains as the birthplace of the infamous Irish potato famine pathogen, Phtytophthora infestans.

This pathogen, responsible for devastating potato and tomato crops globally, originated in South America and spread across continents in the mid-19th century.

A global team has made a significant advance in understanding how bacterial plasmids contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Their findings reveal a complex mechanism involving the proteins KorB and KorA, which could lead to innovative treatments to weaken drug-resistant bacteria.

Natural compounds derived from plants and animals have long been a source of inspiration when developing drugs and dietary supplements. Many well-established medical substances are derived from compounds isolated from plants, with morphine, aspirin, and paclitaxel being prime examples.

Unfortunately, despite their long history of human consumption for their beneficial properties, mushrooms, and their varied chemical repertoire have received much less attention from biochemists.

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/31538381

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/24943429

Human ancestors like Australopithecus – which lived around 3.5 million years ago in southern Africa – ate very little to no meat, according to new research published in the scientific journal Science. This conclusion comes from an analysis of nitrogen isotope isotopes in the fossilized tooth enamel of seven Australopithecus individuals. The data revealed that these early hominins primarily relied on plant-based diets, with little to no evidence of meat consumption.

Researchers have obtained the first conclusive evidence of an elusive third class of magnetism, called altermagnetism. Their findings, published Dec. 11 in the journal Nature, could revolutionize the design of new high-speed magnetic memory devices and provide the missing puzzle piece in the development of better superconducting materials.