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Proteins work properly only if they have the correct three-dimensional atomic structure. It is now possible to look at the structures and dynamics of these biological macromolecules as they function inside cells.
The discovery of embryos in certain fossil fishes not only shows that internal fertilization and live birth evolved early in vertebrate history, but also raises questions about the origin of jawed vertebrates.
More than 20 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease, yet its causes remain mostly uncertain. Fresh findings provide molecular clues, linking this disease to another neurodegenerative disorder.
A study of the main asteroid belt, which lies between Mars and Jupiter, reveals an excess depletion of asteroids that was triggered by the migration of giant planets in the early history of the Solar System.
The collapse of the Soviet Union had diverse consequences, not least the abandonment of crop cultivation in many areas. One result has been the vast accumulation of soil organic carbon in the areas affected.
The bipolar see-saw hypothesis provides an explanation for why temperature shifts in the two hemispheres were out of phase at certain times. The hypothesis has now passed a test of one of its predictions.
Apparently pristine African tropical forests are increasing in tree biomass, making them net absorbers of carbon dioxide. Is this a sign of atmospheric change, or of recovery from past trauma?
Striking instances of larval metamorphosis, and of adult sexual dimorphism, are not uncommon in the animal world. But especially dramatic examples of these phenomena have emerged from the deep sea.
Neurodegeneration often has disease connotations. However, it is also a developmental process for fine sculpting of the nervous system. One signalling cascade might mediate the process in both circumstances.
The known world of RNA is expanding faster than that of any other cellular building block. The latest additions are types of long and short non-coding RNAs formed by bidirectional transcription and unusual processing.
An innovative approach for exciting and detecting signals in magnetic resonance imaging not only improves image quality but also enables radical changes in scanner design by freeing up space around the patient.
Organic semiconductors that operate through the conduction of positive charges are the first choice for use in printable electronic circuitry. A device that uses electrons instead has just joined the rankings.
The Lamb shift, a minute change in certain energy levels of quantum systems that was first measured in atomic hydrogen some 60 years ago, has now been observed in a solid-state superconducting system.
Life is full of stress, and all life forms — from bacteria to humans — have evolved ways of sensing and responding to it. The latest findings shed light on how cells deal with stress.
The enduring controversy about the appearance of animals in the evolutionary record takes a fresh twist with an analysis of molecular fossils that places the rise of the sponge lineage before 635 million years ago.
