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Category: evolution

How a single mutation rewired a 23-species bacterial community over four years

The time-development of species communities cannot be understood solely through ecological interactions or environmental factors, as evolution can also alter community dynamics. This observation helps to understand, among other things, the consequences of antibiotic resistance.

Evolution can alter the composition of communities, but its effects are difficult to investigate in nature, as they begin to manifest only after long periods of time. However, the rapid pace of microbial reproduction makes it possible to observe evolution in the laboratory “in real time,” from one generation to the next.

“In studies focusing on the microbiome, using synthetic microbial communities, as we did in this study, has opened up new avenues for investigating key questions related to complex communities,” says Professor Teppo Hiltunen from the University of Turku.

Lunar orbiter concept could reveal five key elements across moon in two years

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used simulations to show that a newly developed, compact X-ray telescope could be used to map the chemical composition of the entire lunar surface, a vital breakthrough for understanding its geological evolution. Detailed modeling of the detector and a realistic satellite mission show that two years would be enough to map five key elements, while an array of 5-by-5 detectors could improve resolution and get results faster.

The geological evolution of the moon remains a mystery to scientists. This reflects how challenging it is to get accurate information, such as a complete map of the geochemistry of the lunar surface. Since we cannot readily go and collect samples from anywhere, scientists use a technology known as X-ray fluorescence imaging, in which detectors directed at the moon are used to pick up X-rays released by specific elements when they are hit by solar rays.

While observations during the Apollo and Chandrayaan missions have successfully yielded partial maps, we are nowhere near a comprehensive map that might illuminate lunar geology. This is due to significant technical challenges, including a lack of sufficient illumination by solar rays during the lifetime of a mission and degradation of the detector. The illumination issue is particularly pronounced in polar regions, where solar X-rays are much weaker.

Milky Way black hole’s missing wind finally found after a half-century-long search

The hunt is over. After more than 50 years of searching, astrophysicists at Northwestern University have finally discovered evidence of a powerful wind blowing from the Milky Way’s central supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A•.

According to theoretical physics and a long-accepted understanding of galaxies’ evolution, as black holes consume materials, they should produce wind or jets. Even a small amount of gas falling into a black hole should generate enough energy to push material outwards. Without wind, Sgr A* would be a unique outlier.

But, until now, no one could find it.

Saturn-sized exoplanet with Earth-like temperature reveals methane-rich atmosphere

A planet that is about the size of Saturn, but with a temperature more like Earth’s, has an atmosphere rich in methane, according to a new study using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Unlike the gas giant planets—Jupiter and Saturn—in Earth’s solar system, which are distant from the sun and therefore extremely cold, and so-called “hot Jupiters”—giant planets beyond the solar system that are scorching hot due to their proximity to the stars they orbit—the planet is one of only a handful of known temperate, giant planets and the first to have its atmosphere analyzed.

The new details about the composition of the planet’s atmosphere will inform models of planetary formation and evolution and could improve astronomers’ understanding of how Earth’s atmosphere works, according to the research team.

Scientists found a giant magnetic “twist” hidden inside the Milky Way

A hidden magnetic twist inside the Milky Way may rewrite what scientists know about how our galaxy is held together. Astronomers have uncovered a strange magnetic “flip” hidden inside the Milky Way. Using a new radio telescope, researchers mapped the galaxy’s magnetic field in unprecedented detail and discovered that a mysterious reversal in the Sagittarius Arm cuts diagonally across space. The finding could reshape how scientists understand the structure and future evolution of our galaxy.

For hundreds of years, astronomers have studied the night sky in an effort to understand the forces shaping the universe. One of the most important, yet invisible, forces inside the Milky Way is its magnetic field. Now, researchers at the University of Calgary are producing one of the clearest views yet of that hidden structure.

“Without a magnetic field, the galaxy would collapse in on itself due to gravity,” says Brown, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Calgary.

Plate tectonics shaped the Cradle of Civilization by merging two ancient rivers, study suggests

The Euphrates River is the longest river in Western Asia and runs through the eastern side of the Fertile Crescent. Flowing over 1,700 miles from Turkey through Syria and Iraq, the river played a crucial role in sustaining the region known as the “Cradle of Civilization.” Yet, researchers aren’t sure about the river’s origins or how tectonic activity might have shaped its evolution. A new study, published in Nature Geoscience, suggests that two ancient rivers, diverted by shifting plate tectonics, merged to form this vital river.

Previous research proposed two main hypotheses about where the early Euphrates river ended: the first was that the river ended in lakes in Anatolia or the Mediterranean; the second was that it flowed southeast into Arabia.

The team involved in the new study used seismic reflection and topographic data to map out and study ancient river paths and sediment deposits. They identified two ancient rivers, the Paleo-Karasu and Paleo-Murat, which appeared to flow into the Mediterranean Sea until around 3.6 million years ago. They found that the rivers were emptying into the Mediterranean in the Late Miocene, during a period in which the Mediterranean was partially dried up, referred to as the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC), lasting from 5.97–5.33 million years ago.

Atomic reshuffle leads to record-breaking catalysts for hydrogen production

Researchers have discovered that atoms can be mixed, separated, and recombined within the same experiment, providing a pathway to a record-breaking catalyst for green hydrogen production. In their study, the team created nanoscale particles containing only a few dozen platinum and nickel atoms and observed unusual dynamic behavior in direct space and in real time. As the two metals separate from one another while maintaining an interface, they become highly active for electrochemical water splitting, leading to efficient hydrogen evolution.

The project was led by the University of Nottingham in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, Diamond Light Source, and Ulm University in Germany. The study appears in Advanced Materials.

Research team leader Dr. Jesum Alves Fernandes, from the School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, said, “What makes this discovery exciting is that we can reversibly tune the structure of the particle while directly observing the process at the atomic scale. This opens a new strategy for designing adaptive catalysts for a wide range of applications.”

First direct view tracks planet-forming disk spinning around AB Aurigae

The rotation of a protoplanetary disk (a disk where planets are being formed) has been observed directly for the very first time by mapping the emissions from the dust grains within it. The disk in question surrounds the young star AB Aurigae. Although it appears to generally rotate in accordance with the laws of physics, certain regions close to the star show an unexpected departure from this behavior. A body of evidence suggests that this anomaly is caused by the presence of giant planets in the process of formation.

The study, led by scientists from the CNRS and the University of Bordeaux is published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. It sheds fresh light on the mechanisms of planetary formation and the complex dynamics of protoplanetary disks.

Thanks to the unique near-infrared capabilities of the SPHERE instrument and its exceptional spatial resolution, the team was able to accurately track the disk’s structures and their evolution during three sets of observations, collected over a 4-year period. The scientists identified a bright structure, characteristic of accretion zones where gas and dust accumulate and fall onto an object in the process of formation. This phenomenon is closely linked to the formation of gas giant planets.

The Non-Physical Beings that Ingress Into Material Reality

Michael Levin’s novel biology demonstrates how material bodies access non-physical patterns. What if we examined these patterns from their own perspective: do they actively seek to ingress into the physical world? Furthermore, how does this framework relate to the concept of angels in religious traditions?

Find the full podcast: • The Hidden Realm of Patterns Animating Lif…

My first conversation with Michael Levin: • Memory Engrams, DNA, Evolution, Platonic R…

Podcast playlist with scientists from Michael Levin’s lab: • Michael Levin+.

From whole-body to organ-specific biological age clocks

Zalesky and colleagues discuss the evolution of aging clocks into organ-specific aging readouts that harness omics and imaging data. They review the insights that this additional resolution provides on differential aging across organs within interconnected systems, as well as the methods, priorities and future directions.

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