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Category: sustainability – Page 7

Evolution is traditionally associated with a process of increasing complexity and gaining new genes. However, the explosion of the genomic era shows that gene loss and simplification is a much more frequent process in the evolution of species than previously thought, and may favor new biological adaptations that facilitate the survival of living organisms.

This evolutionary driver, which seems counter-intuitive—” less is more” in genetic terms—now reveals a surprising dimension that responds to the new evolutionary concept of “less, but more,” i.e., the phenomenon of massive gene losses followed by large expansions through gene duplications.

This is one of the main conclusions of an article published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, led by a team from the Genetics Section of the Faculty of Biology and the Institute for Research on Biodiversity (IRBio) of the University of Barcelona, in which teams from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have also participated.

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Synaptic vesicles (SVs) store and transport neurotransmitters to the presynaptic active zone for release by exocytosis. After release, SV proteins and excess membrane are recycled via endocytosis, and new SVs can be formed in a clathrin-dependent manner. This process maintains complex molecular composition of SVs through multiple recycling rounds. Previous studies explored the molecular composition of SVs through proteomic analysis and fluorescent microscopy, proposing a model for an average SV. However, the structural heterogeneity and molecular architecture of individual SVs are not well described. Here, we used cryoelectron tomography to visualize molecular details of SVs isolated from mouse brains and inside cultured neurons. We describe several classes of small proteins on the SV surface and long proteinaceous densities inside SVs.

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“The standardization of water-based propulsion is in fact a fundamental step forward to make space technologies more accessible and sustainable, also paving the way for other possible applications,” the researchers concluded.

Several developments have taken place to enhance the efficiency of space propulsion technologies. Recently, scientists tested reflective sails that use the pressure from lasers or starlight to propel spacecraft.

Besides, scientists are also investigating the concept of antimatter rocket propulsion technology to make deep space exploration viable.

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Mercedes-Benz recently presented a brand new solar paint technology that aims to improve an EV’s driving range through the use of solar power. In the best-case scenario, this novel evolution could probably enable EVs to produce sufficient electrical energy for about 20,000 km (12,427 miles) of yearly driving.

The Science Behind Mercedes Solar Paint

Solar paint is a new Mercedes-Benz innovation that embeds highly efficient photovoltaic plates into the car’s body. Unlike ordinary solar panels, commonly seen on rooftops, or as accessories, this paint facilitates conversion of sunlight into electricity without needing to change the car’s appearance. These are tiny photovoltaic cells that are embedded in paint to capture sunlight and convert it to electricity that is needed to recharge the electric vehicle’s battery.

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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) constitute the leading global framework for achieving human progress, economic prosperity, and planetary health. This framework emphasizes issues such as public health, education for all, gender equality, zero hunger, adoption of clean and renewable energy, and biodiversity conservation. Yet, despite this comprehensive agenda, questions remain about how different nations navigate their own paths toward these goals.

A recent study, published in Nature Communications provides insights into the trajectories of 166 countries as they have worked toward the SDGs over the past two decades.

By applying and the Product Space methodology, commonly used in the field of complexity economics, the researchers constructed the “SDG Space of Nations.” The elaborate model shows that countries do not simply march in lockstep toward sustainable development; instead, they cluster into distinctive groups, each with its own strengths and specializations, sometimes quite unexpected.

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A new study reveals that short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution can reduce a person’s ability to focus and interpret emotions, potentially making everyday tasks — like grocery shopping — more difficult.

Scientists found that even brief exposure to high levels of PM can impair concentration, increase distractibility, and affect social behavior.

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What types of new plastics can be developed with enhanced recycling capabilities? This is what a recent study published in Nature hopes to address as a team of researchers at Cornell University have developed an enhanced type of thermoset, which is built from a type of polymer that is often difficult to recycle, resulting in it being put back into the atmosphere from burning it or into landfills, which destroy marine ecosystems. This study has the potential to help scientists, engineers, policymakers, and the public better understand new recycling methods that can be used to both help the environment and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

For the study, the researchers used a bio-sourced material known as dihydrofuran (DHF) to design and build a new thermoset polymer that maintains its robustness while ensuring safely being recycled through heat and environmental degradation. When compared to traditional thermosets, the DHF thermosets can still be used for a myriad of commercial applications, including footwear, electronics, and garden hoses, just to name a few.

“We’ve spent 100 years trying to make polymers that last forever, and we’ve realized that’s not actually a good thing,” said Dr. Brett Fors, who is a professor of physical chemistry at Cornell University and a co-author on the study. “Now we’re making polymers that don’t last forever, that can environmentally degrade.”

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Last month was the world’s warmest January on record and raised further questions about the pace of climate change, scientists say.

January 2025 had been expected to be slightly cooler than January 2024 because of a shift away from a natural weather pattern in the Pacific known as El Niño.

But instead, last month broke the January 2024 record by nearly 0.1C, according to the European Copernicus climate service.

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A series of experiments on board China’s space station have for the first time produced oxygen and the ingredients for rocket fuel – key steps that are considered essential for human survival and the future exploration of space.

The Shenzhou-19 crew aboard the Tiangong space station successfully conducted the world’s first in-orbit demonstration of artificial photosynthesis technology, producing oxygen, as well as the ingredients necessary for rocket fuel, paving the way for long-term space exploration, including a crewed moon landing before 2030.

Shenzhou-19 astronauts simulate natural photosynthesis, bringing long-haul crewed missions a step closer to reality.

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