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Scientists Uncover New Activation Mechanism of the Human Sweet Taste Receptor

Sweet taste receptors are proteins in taste buds that detect sugar and other sweeteners, but the mechanism underlying how they elicit a sweet response has been unclear.

5 Aug 2025

Small Changes in Brain Enzyme May Have Shaped Modern Human Behavior

The evolutionary success of our species may have hinged on minute changes to our brain biochemistry after we diverged from the lineage leading to Neanderthals and Denisovans about half a million years ago.

5 Aug 2025

Hemostatic Dressing Developed for Severe Burn Injuries

A team led by Dr. Chao Zhong and Bolin An of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, along with Dr. Yan Liu of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, created a novel hemostatic dressing based on bacterial cellulose (BC) that allows for quick and long-lasting bleeding control.

4 Aug 2025

Research Reveals How Gut Bacteria Interact to Maintain Intestinal Balance

Intestinal bacteria are important for human health as they help digest food and regulate immune function.

4 Aug 2025

AI-Powered Protein Design Opens Doors to New T-Cell Based Immunotherapies

A new paper published today in Cell highlights how researchers have leveraged AI-based computational protein design to create a novel synthetic ligand that activates the Notch signaling pathway, a key driver in T-cell development and function.

4 Aug 2025

New Insights Reveal How Cell Membranes Follow Unified Biophysical Laws

Cell membranes cradle, protect, and gatekeep living cells. Membranes can even affect how a cell behaves.

4 Aug 2025

New Genetic Research Reveals Hibernation Secrets Hidden in Human DNA

Animals that hibernate are incredibly resilient. They can spend months without food or water, muscles refusing to atrophy, body temperature dropping to near freezing as their metabolism and brain activity slow to a crawl.

1 Aug 2025

Newly Evolved Genes in Peach Offer Clues to Crop Adaptation

The emergence of new genes plays a critical role in driving species-specific traits and adaptive evolution.

1 Aug 2025

AI Tool Accelerates Hunt for Elusive Genome‐Encoded Microproteins

Proteins sustain life as we know it, serving many important structural and functional roles throughout the body.

1 Aug 2025

Neuroscientists Uncover Separate Brain Regions for Recognizing Liquids and Solid Objects

Imagine a ball bouncing down a flight of stairs. Now think about a cascade of water flowing down those same stairs.

1 Aug 2025

Gut Bacteria Breakthrough Could Help Fight Chronic Diseases

An international research team led by scientists from the University of Copenhagen has discovered a common gut bacterium that lowers body weight and blood sugar while increasing bone density.

1 Aug 2025

Mitochondrial Gene Found to Regulate Wood Formation in Poplar

Mitochondria are widely known as the "powerhouses" of the cell, generating the energy needed for life. But in plants, their role goes far beyond metabolism.

31 Jul 2025

Cancer Cells Trigger Instant Energy Surge When Squeezed

Cancer cells mount an instant, energy‑rich response to being physically squeezed, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications.

31 Jul 2025

Thalamus Found to Modulate Cortical Sensitivity to Touch

The cerebral cortex processes sensory information via a complex network of neural connections. How are these signals modulated to refine perception? A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has identified a mechanism by which certain thalamic projections target neurons and modify their excitability.

31 Jul 2025

How a Graduate Student Delivered a Real-Time Soil Moisture Map

The launch of an AI-powered soil moisture mapping tool created by University of Sydney researchers could transform irrigation, fuel reduction burning, and pasture management across Tasmania and beyond.

31 Jul 2025

Gene-Edited Mosquitoes Block Malaria Transmission

Genetic modification of mosquitoes with the FREP1Q224 allele shows significant promise for malaria elimination, maintaining fitness and reducing infections.

31 Jul 2025

Researchers Identify Key Gene for Restoring Fertility in Hybrid Peppers

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) systems have revolutionized hybrid seed production by eliminating the need for manual pollen removal.

30 Jul 2025

Genetic Mapping Uncovers Six New Species of Glasswing Butterflies

Some butterflies can smell others of the same species, allowing them to identify each other in areas where multiple species all look the same, new research finds.

30 Jul 2025

Living Bacterial Sensors Translate Environmental Signals into Electrical Data

Researchers at Rice University have engineered E. coli to act as living multiplexed sensors, allowing these genetically modified cells to detect and respond to multiple environmental toxins simultaneously by converting their biological responses into readable electrical signals.

30 Jul 2025