Category: Research News
Molecular analysis reveals a new biosynthetic route for HDMF
Tweet In Germany, Technische Universitaet Muenchen scientists have mapped the reaction path of 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone, also known as Furaneol. Because it is not just our sense of taste that determines what a foodstuff “tastes” like, but also our sense of smell – and strawberries provide a good example of this. The characteristic aroma of a fresh [...]
Scientists launch ‘nano gold rush’ by replacing cyanide with cornstarch
Tweet In Illinois, Northwestern University scientists have discovered an inexpensive and environmentally benign method that uses simple cornstarch — instead of cyanide — to isolate gold from raw materials in a selective manner. This green method extracts gold from crude sources and leaves behind other metals that are often found mixed together with the crude [...]
Using bacteria to stop malaria
Tweet In Michigan, researchers with Michigan State University published a study in the current issue of Science shows that the transmission of malaria via mosquitoes to humans can be interrupted by using a strain of the bacteria Wolbachia in the insects. In a sense, Wolbachia would act as a vaccine of sorts for mosquitoes that [...]
Scientists alarmed by rapid spread of Brown Streak Disease in cassava
Tweet In Italy, cassava experts are reporting a triple threat against cassava, including Cassava Brown Streak Disease virus, Cassava Mosaic Disease and a possible whitefly “superbug”. CBSD alone could cause a could cause a 50% drop in cassava production. This is worrisome because agriculture experts have been looking to the otherwise resilient cassava plant—which is [...]
A new cost-effective genome assembly process
Tweet In California, the DOE Joint Genome Institute, in a collaboration with Pacific Biosciences and the University of Washington has resulted in an improved workflow for genome assembly that the team describes as “a fully automated process from DNA sample preparation to the determination of the finished genome.” The technique, known as Hierarchical Genome Assembly [...]
New plant protein discoveries could ease global food and biobased product demands
Tweet In California, UC San Diego announced that 12 scientists report that new discoveries of the way plants transport important substances across their biological membranes to resist toxic metals and pests, increase salt and drought tolerance, control water loss and store sugar can have profound implications for increasing the supply of food and energy for [...]
Scientists study shows EU needs GMO crops
Tweet In Spain, scientists have published a paper Trends in Plant Science, a Cell Press publication, based on case studies showing that the EU is undermining its own competitiveness in the agricultural sector to its own detriment and that of its humanitarian activities in the developing world. They state that the European Union cannot meet [...]
Soybeans used with molybdenum to create catalyst for hydrogen production
Tweet In New York, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed an effective catalyst could replace costly platinum in the production of hydrogen. The catalyst, made from renewable soybeans and abundant molybdenum metal, produces hydrogen, cost-effective manner, potentially increasing the use of this clean energy source. Assisting in the research [...]
Search for edible Malarial vaccine leads to other potential medical uses for algae
Tweet In California, biologists at UC San Diego are looking to answer whether or not scientists can rid malaria from the Third World by simply feeding algae genetically engineered with a vaccine. A study published on Monday demonstrated that the answer is “not yet.” However, the same method may work as a vaccine against a [...]
Scientists transform cellulose into starch
Tweet In Virginia, a team of Virginia Tech researchers has succeeded in transforming cellulose into starch, a process that has the potential to provide a previously untapped nutrient source from plants not traditionally thought of as food crops. The type of starch that Zhang’s team produced is amylose, which acts as a good source of [...]
