science on localnews page 400

science

Visible Light Polymerization: A Game-Changer with an Acid Boost

December 26, 2024

Photoiniferter (PI) polymerization offers a smart way to make polymers, but it usually needs powerful UV light. This isn’t very practical or safe. Researchers have found a clever solution by using visible light instead. They added a tiny bit of citric acid, which boosted the process. This simple add

science

How Phosphorus Boosts Nickel-Iron's Oxygen Evolution

December 26, 2024

Scientists have long known that nickel-iron catalysts are great at producing oxygen from water, especially in alkaline conditions. But how they do it so well was a mystery—until now. A recent study looked at a special catalyst, nickel-iron phosphide (NiFeP), which is super active and stable. It only

science

The Evolutionary Journey of NAC Genes in Plants

December 25, 2024

Imagine taking a trip back in time to see how plants adapted to life on land. One key player in this story is the NAC transcription factor. NAC genes are like the conductors of an orchestra, directing how plants grow, develop, and respond to stress. We looked at plants from green algae to today's cr

science

Gold's Building Blocks: Solving the Nanocluster Puzzle

December 25, 2024

Ever heard of gold nanoclusters? They're tiny gold particles, wrapped in protective layers called ligands. These clusters are made up of smaller gold units, often triangular or tetrahedral in shape. Think of them as miniature building blocks. Scientists have been trying to figure out how these block

science

Exploring NLR Genes: The Secret Weapons of a Threatened Crop

December 25, 2024

Imagine a low-profile, yet crucial, crop called Dioscorea alata. This plant is under attack by a nasty disease called anthracnose, caused by a tiny critter named Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The problem? D. alata is having trouble fighting back, and identifying the right genes to help it do so is

science

Unlocking Palm Kernel Meal's Potential: A New Bacteria and Its Enzyme

December 25, 2024

Palm kernel meal (PKM) is tough for non-ruminant animals to digest due to its high fibre content, mostly mannan. A new way to tackle this problem is by using bacteria to break down these fibres. Scientists found a powerful bacteria called Bacillus subtilis F6 that can effectively degrade mannan. In

science

The Best Temperature for Growing Mealworms

December 25, 2024

Mealworms, also known as Tenebrio molitor, are superstars in the insect farming world. But to thrive, they need just the right temperature. Farmers usually aim for around 29 to 31°C. A recent study wanted to find the perfect temperature for these little critters to grow, develop, and have lots of ba

science

Boosting Water Splitting: A New Take on Ru-Based Catalysts

December 25, 2024

Scientists are always on the hunt for better ways to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This time, they've designed special Ru-B-Cr parts within RuO₂ nanofibers to make the Ru sites more active. This overcomes the hurdles of RuO₂ catalysts, which usually aren't very good at producing hydrogen and

science

The Fungus-Aphid-Wheat Connection: A Closer Look

December 25, 2024

A tiny fungus called Claroideoglomus etunicatum is creating quite a buzz in the world of plants and insects. This fungus lives symbiotically with wheat, which means it helps the plant grow and deal with stress, like lack of water. Researchers wanted to see what happens when this fungus teams up with

science

How Cue Accuracy Shapes Learning in Visual Tasks

December 25, 2024

Imagine searching for something in a super crowded place. Over time, you get better at spotting it because you remember where it usually is. But what if the clues aren't always right? That's exactly what researchers looked into. They found that the more reliable the clues (like, how often they point