Hi there. If you didn’t watch the Oscars last night, this really isn’t the place to get caught up — but… one of the big winners was science! That is, if you consider ‘Oppenheimer’ a form of science communication (albeit not a very positive one). Regardless, who could’ve predicted a historical drama about a physicist gaining mainstream popularity and winning gold as the film of the year?

Perhaps we have Barbie to thank for that.

Anyways, here’s some interesting stuff that happened in the world of science this week:

MARINE BIOLOGY

The “janitors of the sea” play a crucial role in coral reef health

Corals reefs are the foundation of ocean life. They create habitats for 25% of all marine organisms, and also offer coastal protection and local economic benefits through fishing. But coral reefs are in trouble — and it’s not just rising ocean temperatures that are a threat. Coral diseases are hurting reefs as well, and we’re beginning to understand more about them.

What does this have to do with janitors?

Sea cucumbers are detritivores — meaning they feed on dead or decaying organic matter. They’re the “janitors of the sea”. They crawl along the sea floor eat the debris found in the sandy sediment, including microbes that cause coral diseases. With that in mind, researchers hypothesized that sea cucumber populations may have an affect on the health of the surrounding coral reef, and set out to French Polynesia and Palmyra Atoll to conduct a study.

What did they find?

They found that the removal of sea cucumbers led to a dramatic increase in coral mortality. The researchers suggest that restoring sea cucumber populations could enhance reef resilience and suppress disease outbreaks. And it makes sense! Imagine how unhealthy we’d be without janitors…

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45730-0

ASTROPHYSICS

Breaking up the fog with cosmic lighthouses

Scientists working with data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) just observed some of the earliest starlight in the universe. The light is coming from tiny, faint galaxies created less than a billion years after the Big Bang — which is a big deal.

How so?

By analyzing the spectra of these young, low-mass galaxies, the scientists showed that they’re strong enough to produce the “something” that sparked the reionization of the universe — which is where a series of chemical reactions led to the lifting of the primordial fog. They theorize that the light produced by these tiny galaxies heated the dense gas around them and cleared it, allowing light to travel freely through “clear” space for the first time.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07043-6

BIOLOGY

Opening cellular gates with radio waves

Streaming music and downloading podcasts are all the rage now, but radio still has a place in the world. There’s a new function for radio waves, but it’s not gimmicky morning shows — it’s in cellular biology.

Radio waves in biology?

Yes! Researchers have used high-frequency radio waves to alter the DNA of bacterial cells. Instead of opening bacteria cell walls with harsh chemicals or high temperatures to insert DNA, the team used radio waves to temporarily “open the gates” in E. coli bacterial cell walls long enough for genetic material to be inserted. Then, the cells closed and continued healthy function. Now, the scientists hope this new technology can pave the way for new cell and gene therapies.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03464

CHEMISTRY

Are there molecules of life in the atmosphere of ancient Mars?

Billions of years ago, Mars wasn't the cold, dry place it is today. Geological evidence suggests it likely had an atmosphere and a much warmer climate, with liquid water on its surface. And perhaps… life. Scientists believe the answer to the mystery may lie in organic compounds like formaldehyde.

There was organic chemistry on Mars?

Scientists have recently investigated whether the early conditions on Mars had the potential to create biomolecules — which are chemical compounds that are essential for life, like sugars and amino acids. They used an advanced computer model to simulate the atmosphere of early Mars and explore the potential of formaldehyde production. And the results pointed to yes — hinting that the organic materials we've found on the Martian surface might have come from the planet's own atmosphere.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52718-9

BIOLOGY

So, where’d our tails go?

The fact that humans evolved from primate ancestors makes a lot of sense. Mammals — yep. Opposable thumbs — check. Tails — wait a minute. Where’d our tails go?

Why don’t I have a tail?

Well, a new study suggests that a genetic change in our ancient ancestors may partly explain why we don’t have tails like monkeys. The researchers compared the DNA of humans and tail-less apes to the DNA of tailed monkeys, and found an insertion of code shared by apes and humans, but missing in monkeys. The team then inserted this extra DNA into mice to see if the insertion, in a gene called TBXT, affected their tails. They found a variety of tail effects — including some mice born without tails.

But wait, there’s more

Along with losing their tails, these genetically-altered mice also ended up with neural tube defects. A faulty neural tube is serious — it can have major downstream affects on the development of the brain and the spine. And interestingly, it’s a defect that occurs in about 1 in every 1,000 newborn humans today. So perhaps, this genetic change not only robbed us of our tree-swinging abilities, but introduced a health challenge that we still face today.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07095-8

TOP HEADLINES

Science in the News

• The aorta is now recognized as an independent organ.

• New evidence suggests that neurons help flush waste out of the brain during sleep.

• Astronomers have spotted the oldest “dead” galaxy ever observed.

• Researchers have used low-temperature plasma to remove E. coli from hydroponic crops.

• 18 new species of gut microbes have been discovered.

• A new method of 3D tongue modeling may help us understanding the origins of human speech.

• Bioluminescent plants have successfully been developed, paving the way for glowing gardens and flowers.

• MIT researchers have simulated peripheral vision in an AI model.

IN THE MICROSCOPE

What’s developmental biology?

Developmental biology is the branch of biology that studies how organisms grow and develop. In other words, it’s the science behind how living things are built. It explores how cells differentiate into different types, how tissues and organs form, and how organisms get their size and shape. A lot of this happens through complicated cell signaling pathways.

Researchers study developmental biology in a bunch of different ways, such as by observing embryos, analyzing genetics, and even studying animals that regenerate, such as starfish and salamanders, to learn about how they “remember” to re-build entire limbs.

Developmental biology is an important field because it helps us understand how living things get put together. It also shows us how humans and other organisms develop birth defects, inherit diseases, and age over time (because aging, in a way, is the opposite of development). Plus, by studying how other living things develop, we can expand our understanding of evolution and perhaps steal their strategies for our own use in medicine.

So while we can’t prevent certain birth defects or grow back our own limbs (yet), one day we might. And developmental biologists will likely be the likely be the ones behind it.

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