Latest

An illustration showing a DNA strand and a cancer cell.

How Some Cancer Cells Survive Chemotherapy

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | Nov 26, 2024 | 4 min read

Chemotherapy drugs can kill cancer cells by halting DNA replication, but a glucose-depleted environment can help cancer cells overcome this effect and resist death.

Image of a showerhead with running water. There is a soap dispenser and toothbrush on a wire shelf in the shower.

A Viral Investigation of Bathroom Biomes

Laura Tran, PhD | Nov 26, 2024 | 4 min read

Hidden on toothbrushes and showerheads, bacteriophages reveal a viral ecosystem and its potential to create healthier living spaces.

Probing the Structure of mRNA Molecules

Shimadzu | Nov 25, 2024 | 1 min read

Learn how scientists examine mRNA quality using an easy-to-operate LC-MS system.

An orange Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium with white flagella on a blue background.

Pseudomonas Bacteria Escape Immunity by Disrupting Energy Production in Macrophages

Kamal Nahas, PhD | Nov 25, 2024 | 4 min read

Pseudomonas infections are tough to treat, but a new study reveals a chemical they use to subdue macrophages, suggesting new therapeutic avenues.

A photograph of a man sleeping on a couch next to a plate with a poultry leg on it.

Why Does Thanksgiving Dinner Make Some People Sleepy?

Shelby Bradford, PhD | Nov 25, 2024 | 4 min read

Urban myths cry turkey, but the science behind why Thanksgiving feasts induce sleep suggests otherwise.

A brittle star with its thin, serpent-like arms against a black background.

Diving Into the Brittle Star Genome to Understand the Evolution of Regeneration

Sneha Khedkar | Nov 22, 2024 | 4 min read

The sequenced genome of the brittle star revealed unique gene arrangements and provides insights into ancient genes involved in limb regeneration.

A pink and yellow protein held together by a gray circle pull a piece of blue DNA into a loop.

Combining Bacterial Systems Offers a New Approach to Gene Regulation

Shelby Bradford, PhD | Nov 22, 2024 | 4 min read

Researchers turned programmable proteins into a novel genetic tool, potentially enabling tighter control of gene expression.

A fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) sitting on a green grass blade with a green background.

How the Fly Brain Knows When to Release Insulin

Sneha Khedkar | Nov 21, 2024 | 4 min read

An enzyme synthesized in the fly gut travels to the brain, where it induces insulin-like peptide secretion.

A small furry shrew pokes its head out from a pile of vegetation.

Gene Expression Shifts as Shrews Shrink and Regrow Their Brains

Hannah Thomasy, PhD | Nov 20, 2024 | 5 min read

Transcriptomic studies of the shrew’s remarkably plastic brain could provide new insights into neurodegenerative diseases.

A cartoon of pills and bacteria along the human intestine.

An Antibiotic That Distinguishes Friend from Foe

Sneha Khedkar | Nov 19, 2024 | 4 min read

A novel compound targets an essential transport system found only in disease-causing bacteria, leaving commensal bacteria unharmed.

Multiple panels of a magnetic resonance imaging brain scan.

Blocking Scar Formation Prevents Glioblastoma Recurrence

Rebecca Roberts, PhD | Nov 18, 2024 | 5 min read

A combination of three therapies prevented scar tissue and stopped glioblastoma in its tracks in mice.

An illustration showing reduction in muscle mass and weight from cachexia.

The Neural Circuitry Driving Cancer-Related Wasting Disease

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | Nov 18, 2024 | 4 min read

In mice, dampening the activity of area postrema neurons diminished cancer-induced muscle and fat loss and increased lifespan.

A person works with their sourdough starter in the kitchen.

Science Crossword Puzzle

Stella Zawistowski | Nov 15, 2024 | 1 min read

Put on your thinking cap, and take on this fun challenge.

Bakers Rise Up to Tackle Sourdough Mysteries

Laura Tran, PhD | Nov 15, 2024 | 2 min read

Donated sourdough starters helped researchers uncover the factors that influence microbial communities in these living cultures.

Conceptual image of DNA sequencing map with concentric multicolor squares on a white background.

Streamlining NGS Sample Preparation with Automation

The Scientist Staff | Nov 15, 2024 | 2 min read

Cutting-edge microfluidics enables full automation of NGS protocols.