A new study from the Cellular Ageing and Senescence laboratory (www.rallislab.org) at Queen Mary University of London’s Centre for Molecular Cell Biology, reveals how caffeine —the world’s most popular neuroactive compound—might do more than just wake you up. The study in the journal Microbial Cell [link] shows how caffeine could play a role in slowing down the ageing process at a cellular level.

A new study led by researchers at Baylor University and University of Rhode Island and supported by a scientist with Georgia Aquarium has uncovered surprising details about leopard seals’ hunting habits, revealing that while the species is broadly considered a generalist predator, individual seals tend to specialize in their diets—sometimes with major consequences for other animals in the ecosystem.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research have developed a novel three-dimensional modeling method that accurately quantifies how microalgae affect underwater light conditions—one of the most critical factors in aquatic ecosystem health.

A multinational team of researchers, co-led by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, has developed and tested a new AI tool to better characterise the diversity of individual cells within tumours, opening doors for more targeted therapies for patients.

RNAi technologies have been exploited to control viruses, pests, oomycetes and fungal phytopathogens that cause disasters in host plants, including many agronomically significant crops. However, it is unclear what process mediates RNA uptake by fungi. Here, the authors utilized live-cell imaging technology combined with molecular biology experiments to demonstrate that exogenous RNA is indiscriminately absorbed by Verticillium dahliae, the notorious plant pathogenic fungus. The uptake of exogenous RNA by fungal cells is predominantly mediated through endocytosis. This study not only provides a new theoretical foundation for applying trans-kingdom RNA interference technology in crop protection but also lays the groundwork for research and applications of exogenous RNA in plant-fungi interaction systems.

New research suggests that amyloid-beta (Aβ) oligomers and the vascular protein fibrinogen may, when forming a complex, contribute to Alzheimer's disease.

On the Galápagos archipelago, wild-growing tomatoes are doing something peculiar. They’re shedding millions of years of evolution, reverting to a more primitive genetic state that resurrects ancient chemical defenses.