Monday, March 24, 2025

How plants produce a novel anti-stress molecule

Genes that enable plants to make a novel anti-stress molecule

New research has revealed the genes responsible for helping plants thrive in the most challenging conditions. Led by the University of East Anglia (UEA), this study has uncovered the genes that empower plants to produce a remarkable anti-stress molecule known as dimethylsulfoniopropionate, or DMSP. This discovery has significant implications for the future of agriculture, offering the potential to develop more resilient and sustainable food crops in the face of our changing climate. The study demonstrates that high-level DMSP production enables plants to flourish in harsh environments, such as coastal regions with high salinity.

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Hydrogen

A cost-effective catalyst to revolutionize hydrogen production

A low-cost palladium-based nanosheet

Researchers from the Tokyo University of Science developed a new catalyst called bis(diimino)palladium coordination nanosheets (PdDI). These low-cost palladium-based nanosheets perform as well as platinum in producing hydrogen. Created using a simple synthesis process with minimal precious metals, the nanosheets reduce metal usage and lower hydrogen production costs.

Science
Human Eye

Our breathing affects our vision

Breathing shapes what we see.

A study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that breathing influences pupil size. The pupil is smallest during inhalation and largest during exhalation. This effect is always present and doesn't require external stimuli. Breathing's impact on brain activity and cognitive functions suggests this could help regulate vision and attention.

A woman kneels in a quiet cemetery placing flowers at a gravestone

Loneliness after losing a spouse, study

Persistent Loneliness After Spousal Loss, Despite Social Support

Researchers at Monash University found that losing a spouse causes one to feel more lonely and isolated despite support. Based on data taken from nearly 750 people who had lost their spouses, they found that loneliness and grief affected both genders similarly, with no significant differences based on wealth or health status.

jupiter-citsci

A long-standing Jupiter’s cloud mystery solved

A misunderstanding about the composition of Jupiter’s clouds resolved.

A collaboration between amateur and professional astronomers has led to a major discovery about Jupiter's clouds, challenging a long-standing belief. Thanks to amateur astronomer Dr. Steven Hill, it’s now found that the clouds are not made of ammonia ice, but rather a mix of ammonium hydrosulphide and smog.

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