Led by graduate student Shannon Keenan, the team used light to activate chemical signals in developing fruit flies and traced the effects on a protein called Capicua, or Cic. Located in a cell's nucleus, Cic binds to DNA and performs the specialized task of silencing genes.
articles
A New Method to Improve Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecasts
In numerical weather forecasting research, how to improve short-term forecasts of tropical cyclone intensity is a challenging problem that has long plagued meteorologists and operational forecasters, despite meteorologists having greatly increased the accuracy of the initial field through increasing observations.in either quantity or quality.
Federally Protected Lands Reduce Habitat Loss and Protect Endangered Species, Study Finds
Using more than 30 years of earth satellite images, scientists at Tufts University and the non-profit conservation organization Defenders of Wildlife have discovered that habitat loss for imperiled species in the U.S. over this period was more than twice as great on non-protected private lands than on federally protected lands.
Rain, More Than Wind, Led to Massive Toppling of Trees in Hurricane Maria, Says Study
A new study says that hurricanes Irma and Maria combined in 2017 to knock down a quarter of the biomass contained in Puerto Rico’s trees — and that massive rainfall, more than wind, was a previously unsuspected key factor.
Unexpected Discovery: Blue-Green Algae Produce Oil
Cyanobacteria - colloquially also called blue-green algae - can produce oil from water and carbon dioxide with the help of light.
More Taxpayers’ Money for the Environment and Public Benefit
Scientists from across Europe call for swift and effective action from the EU with regard to its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).