Researchers studied an ancient forest of bald cypress trees preserved in subfossil form at the mouth of Georgia’s Altamaha River. Using radiocarbon dating and tree-ring analysis, they revealed a dramatic shift in growth patterns: around 500 A.D., these trees began growing faster – but living far shorter lives. Their average lifespan plunged from more than 470 years to just 186, coinciding with the Vandal Minimum,  a sixth century climate crisis marked by global cooling and upheaval, likely caused by volcanic eruptions and possibly even a comet impact.

During embryonic development, thousands of cells divide and move as one. Understanding the mechanisms that coordinate this collective behavior remains a significant challenge in biology and the physics of living systems. Researchers from UC San Diego have discovered that avian embryos control their size and shape using modular, independent physical mechanisms. This work may help develop strategies for engineering synthetic biomaterials.

A team led by Rutgers University-New Brunswick engineers has developed a portable device capable of detecting rare genetic mutations from a single drop of blood.

The instrument, described in a study published in Communications Engineering of the Nature Publishing Group, was shown in lab experiments to quickly and accurately test for a genetic condition called hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, which can cause heart problems.

Researchers have completed the first comprehensive exploration of itaconate, a natural compound involved in metabolism, in plants. The researchers found that itaconate helps plants grow, a finding that offers new possibilities for maximizing crop growth to support growing global populations.

Scientists with the global Event Horizon Telescope project have learned new secrets about the black hole at the center of our Milky Way, with the help of high-throughput computing advances pioneered in Wisconsin.

Electronic implants are commonly used to diagnose and treat various diseases and to restore lost motor and sensory functions. Conductive hydrogels increase an implant’s electrical conductivity and flexibility within the body, improving the overall effectiveness of electronic implants. However, traditional electrically conductive hydrogels contain toxic additives that may have negative impacts on patients after long-term use. In a recent study published in Science Advances, researchers led by Dr. Limei Tian reported on a sweet solution to this problem: replacing these toxic additives with D-sorbitol, a safe sugar alternative commonly found in chewing gum.

New research from USC Dornsife scientists reveals how cells fix dangerous DNA damage in hard-to-repair areas of the genome — a process that, when it goes wrong, can lead to cancer and other life-threating diseases. The researchers discovered that a protein called Nup98 helps coordinate DNA repair by moving broken genetic material out of densely packed regions where fixing it is more prone to errors. Nup98 forms liquid droplets around the damaged DNA, creating a protected space that keeps out the wrong repair tools and helps prevent harmful genetic mistakes. The findings offer new insight into how cells maintain genome stability and may help explain how certain mutations in Nup98 contribute to diseases like acute myeloid leukemia.