SCIENCE

Dec 31 2024SCIENCE

How Tumors Change T Cell Metabolism and Affect Chemotherapy

Cancer cells are known for their clever tactics to evade the body's immune system. One of these tricks involves manipulating the metabolic processes of cells in and around the tumor. Tumors gobble up glucose, their main energy source, and produce lactate. This creates a tough environment for immune

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Dec 31 2024SCIENCE

Discovering Gas Bubbles Around Hydrophobic Particles

Scientists recently studied how water behaves when hydrophobic particles, which repel water, are added to it. They used a special kind of graphite called highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and a type of hydrophobic particle called (GA)15 fibrils. They found that within just a few hours, when

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Dec 31 2024SCIENCE

Discovering Fish Scales: A New Source of Collagen

Did you know that fish scales can be a great source of collagen? Scientists have found that collagen from the scales of Megalonibea fusca is very promising. They compared two types of collagen: one that dissolves in acid (ASC-MF) and one that dissolves in a protein-digesting enzyme called pepsin (PS

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Dec 31 2024SCIENCE

The Hidden Power of Oridonin: A New Player in Cancer Drug Design

Scientists have found a clever way to turn a natural compound into a tool for fighting cancer. This compound, called Oridonin, can help in the design of new drugs called PROTACs. PROTACs are like tiny agents that can hunt and destroy specific proteins in cancer cells. So, what makes Oridonin specia

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Dec 31 2024SCIENCE

Boosting Battery Flexibility: A New Mix of MXene and Rubber for Better Lithium Anodes

Have you ever noticed how batteries in phones or laptops can get damaged if you bend them too much? Well, scientists are working on a solution to make lithium batteries more flexible and durable. One way they are doing this is by using a mix of something called MXene and natural rubber to create a c

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Dec 31 2024SCIENCE

Bronze Age Battles: Modern Fighters Test Ancient Weapons

As 2024 draws to a close, let's take a look at some fascinating science stories that almost slipped under the radar. From recreating Bronze Age spear fights to using network theory on Bach's music, these topics cover a wide range of interests. The Bronze Age in Europe was a time of institutiona

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Dec 30 2024SCIENCE

The Wrinkled Chili Pepper Mystery: Uncovering Genes That Shape Fruit Surfaces

Ever wondered why some chili peppers have smooth surfaces while others are wrinkled? Scientists have been trying to figure this out too, especially for the Japanese pepper 'Shishito', which has a wrinkled surface. They knew it wasn't just one gene but a mix of many, so they studied the offspring of

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Dec 30 2024SCIENCE

Jimmy Carter and NASA's Turning Point

Back in 1977, President Jimmy Carter was having some beef with NASA. He thought the space shuttle program was just a way to keep the agency alive, not a genuine need. Despite his skepticism, Carter ended up saving the space shuttle project, which became one of NASA's most famous vehicles. Plus, his

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Dec 30 2024SCIENCE

Watching Killer Whales in Captivity: What They Do All Day

Did you know that killer whales in managed care have different ways of spending their days? Scientists studied a group of killer whales to see what they were up to. They recorded videos of these amazing creatures over nine months. They looked at eight different things the killer whales did, like pla

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Dec 30 2024SCIENCE

Growing Pains: Unusual Issues in Onion and Garlic Crops

Onions and garlic are big deals in the farming world. They're grown everywhere and face a bunch of problems, from pests to diseases. But there's another group of issues that can mess with their quality and yield: physiological disorders. These aren't caused by pests or diseases, but by things like h

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