Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Nanostructures in deep ocean floor hint at origin of life

These nanostructures are self-organized and act as selective ion channels.

A discovery by researchers in Japan has unveiled inorganic nanostructures surrounding deep-ocean hydrothermal vents. These structures bear a striking resemblance to the molecules crucial for life as we know it. Remarkably, these nanostructures are self-organized and serve as selective ion channels, generating energy that can be transformed into electricity. Not only does this finding revolutionize our comprehension of life’s origins, but it also holds immense potential for industrial blue-energy harvesting.

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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.

Science
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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.

dendritic spines

Using light to precisely control cold receptors

LMU researchers have developed a molecule that allows an important ion channel to be regulated.

In the cell membrane, TRPM8 acts as a receptor for cold, enabling humans to sense cold. Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat have developed a photoswitchable TRPM8 channel activator based on the natural cooling agent menthol. This molecule called azo-menthol precisely controls TRPM8 channels using light. Azo-menthol can be switched ON and OFF with the precision of light.

New tool to analyze embodied carbon in more than 1 million...

First ever visual analysis tool

However, due to a lack of data, the impact of embodied carbon in the built environment has been challenging to assess. To address that knowledge gap, Notre Dame researchers have created the first-ever visual analysis tool to evaluate embodied carbon in more than 1 million buildings in Chicago. Their research identifies 157 different architectural housing types in the city. It provides the first-ever visual analysis tool to evaluate embodied carbon at a granular level and to help inform policymakers seeking to strategically plan for urban carbon mitigation.