Biology

Secrets of the endurance athlete and how to become one

People often perceive endurance as an ability that takes significant time and patience to develop or something limited only to those with “good” genetics. While both can be true, anyone can become a solid endurance athlete with the right training. Performance training that targets metrics that scientists use to assess fitness is one place to […]

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Marine snow: How deep-sea snow storms cool the planet

Snow falls 24 hours a day in the depths of the oceanic twilight zone. White flurries saturate the marine landscape, appearing in all different shapes and sizes. Unlike crystallized water droplets that fall from the sky, marine snow is made from a variety of different organic compounds. It sustains life in the deep ocean where

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How bioengineered microbes could buy time in the fight against desertification

The effects of human activity on the global climate are numerous and far-reaching; most people are already aware of the threats of global warming, sea level rising, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. A lesser-known process being accelerated by human activity is desertification — in which fertile, vegetated biomes become desert due to drought,

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Are Pearls the Key to the Next Supermaterial?

The outsides of oysters appear rugged and dreary, but embedded inside lie beautiful, iridescent pearls. Their beauty has made them a sought-after object of vanity and aesthetics in the jewelry industry. However, this gem might be good for more than just earrings and necklaces; scientists are currently investigating its complex formation and how the organization

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Freezing Pharma

Due to advances in both chemistry and technology, modern drug development is increasingly utilizing synthetic chemical compounds as the basis for our lifesaving and innovative drugs.  However, many of the pharmaceuticals we have today are still derived from naturally occurring compounds or organisms, and recently, there has been a renewed interest in looking to nature

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