Archives: The Scientist
Seventeen “Extinct” European Plant Species Found Alive
Plant species officially reported to be lost are in fact persevering in the wild, in seed banks or botanical gardens, or as other species now recognized to be taxonomic synonyms.
Extreme Exercise Carries Metabolic Consequences
Healthy people put through high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, displayed insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction after working out excessively.
Lightning Might Have Sparked Early Life on Earth
Electrical storms, rather than meteorites as scientists had previously thought, could have unlocked phosphorus necessary for the development of ancient life, according to a new study.
Bispecific Antibodies Treat Cancer in Mouse Models
A trio of papers shows that specialized antibodies can direct T cells to destroy cells that display portions of mutant cancer-related proteins, as well as T cells that have become cancerous themselves.
Dogs Pass Test for Awareness of Their Own Bodies
Pets asked by their owners to pick up an object attached to a mat they were sitting on understood they needed to move in order to complete the task, researchers report.
Are Climate-Driven Shifts in Bat Diversity to Blame for COVID-19?
A study proposes that habitat for bats—and their accompanying coronaviruses—has increased in southern Asia over the last century, but experts debate the reliability of the analysis.
Human Cells Can Synthesize DNA in Their Cytoplasm
While studying a degenerative eye disease, researchers find the first evidence that cells produce endogenous DNA in the cytoplasm. Drugs that block this activity are linked with reduced risk of atrophic age-related macular degeneration.
Reduced Adult Neurogenesis Linked with Alzheimer’s Disease
Manipulating the production of new neurons can improve cognition in animal models of the disease, raising the possibility that figuring out a way for humans to make more neurons could make a difference for people with dementia.
A Guide to Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Scientists across the world are closely tracking the spread of mutations in the coronavirus and investigating whether they could render current vaccines less effective.
Identical Twins Accumulate Genetic Differences in the Womb
DNA replication errors during cell division cause monozygotic twins to diverge from each other even during the earliest stages of development, a new study finds.