Sulfuric acid clouds of Venus can’t dissolve life, new experiments find

Venus may be a hellscape by our standards, but there’s a chance that some forms of life could evolve there. A new MIT study has now found that the building blocks of life are surprisingly stable in highly concentrated sulfuric acid – which Venus’ cloud… Continue reading Sulfuric acid clouds of Venus can’t dissolve life, new experiments find

Reducing intake of one amino acid improves longevity & health in mice

New research has found that reducing the intake of a single amino acid, isoleucine, by two-thirds, improved the lifespan, weight, and health of middle-aged mice without requiring a drop in calorie intake. The findings suggest that limiting dietary leve… Continue reading Reducing intake of one amino acid improves longevity & health in mice

Could taurine be the new fountain of youth?

Aging is an inevitable part of living. But inevitable as it is, many are keen to find ways to reverse – or at least slow – it. A new study found that a naturally occurring amino acid was linked to the aging process in mice, monkeys and worms, and think… Continue reading Could taurine be the new fountain of youth?

AI runs 10,000 experiments a day on bacteria to speed up discoveries

Scientific work often involves sifting through enormous amounts of data, a task that’s overwhelmingly mundane for humans but a piece of cake for artificial intelligence. A new platform dubbed BacterAI can conduct as many as 10,000 experiments per day t… Continue reading AI runs 10,000 experiments a day on bacteria to speed up discoveries

Special diet triggers self-destruction of brain cancer cells in mice

By removing certain amino acids from the diets fed to rodents suffering from a deadly form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma, researchers found that destructive cells began dying through a process called ferroptosis. What’s more, the mice that were… Continue reading Special diet triggers self-destruction of brain cancer cells in mice

Ancient protein study reveals how natural selection predates life itself

Exactly how life arose out of non-living matter is a major mystery, and a new study has found that natural selection may have played a role before life itself even existed on Earth. By recreating the primordial soup, scientists identified how a cocktai… Continue reading Ancient protein study reveals how natural selection predates life itself

Newly discovered chemical reactions could explain the origin of life

Exactly how non-living molecules sparked into life is one of the most puzzling mysteries of science. Now scientists at Scripps Research have discovered a new set of chemical reactions that can produce the building blocks of life out of materials though… Continue reading Newly discovered chemical reactions could explain the origin of life

Newly discovered chemical reactions could explain the origin of life

Exactly how non-living molecules sparked into life is one of the most puzzling mysteries of science. Now scientists at Scripps Research have discovered a new set of chemical reactions that can produce the building blocks of life out of materials though… Continue reading Newly discovered chemical reactions could explain the origin of life

A Fascinating Plot Twist as Researchers Recreate Classic “Primordial Soup” Experiment

Science is built on reproducibility; if someone else can replicate your results, chances are pretty good that you’re looking at the truth. And there’s no statute of limitations on reproducibility; …read more Continue reading A Fascinating Plot Twist as Researchers Recreate Classic “Primordial Soup” Experiment

Self-replicating protocells created in lab may be life’s “missing link”

Exactly how life first emerged from non-living matter is one of the most enduring mysteries of science. In a new study, Japanese scientists have created self-replicating protocells in the lab, which they say could represent the “missing link” between c… Continue reading Self-replicating protocells created in lab may be life’s “missing link”