The traditional idea of symbiosis — long-term interactions between two organisms — is that the participants mutually benefit each other. However, researchers have debated whether the interests of the symbionts always line up with the hosts they inhabit, or whether genes that benefit symbionts might come at the expense of their hosts. A new study investigates this question through genomic sequencing and infecting plant hosts with their microbial symbionts, writes Ananya Sen of the University of...
The first ship carrying grain has left a Ukrainian port under a landmark deal with Russia, the BBC reports.
Turkish and Ukrainian officials say the ship left the southern port of Odesa early on Monday morning local time.
Russia has been blockading Ukrainian ports since February, but the two sides made a deal to resume shipments.
It is hoped the agreement will ease the global food crisis and lower the price of grain.
Turkey said the Sierra Leone-flagged...
A new drug touted as the first real breakthrough in acne treatment in decades has been available for months in the United States, but when it will hit the shelves in Europe and elsewhere remains unclear, Medical Xpress reports
The topical cream clascoterone could give fresh hope of respite from the red pimples and oily skin that plagues around three-quarters of teenagers – as well as many adults.
Despite being such a common affliction, new drugs to treat...
(Ohio University) – Dr. Yuanjie Mao has led a study published in JAMA Oncology looking at the correlation between daily insulin dose and cancer incidence (the number of new cases) among patients with type 1 diabetes, finding that higher insulin dose is positively associated with cancer incidence, and that the association is stronger among those with insulin resistance.
"In patients with type 1 diabetes, our results show that traditional metabolic factors such as obesity (represented by body mass...
Instagram says it is pausing a rollout of new features on its app following backlash online from users, influencers, and celebrities.
Among the new features was an increase in recommended video content, in a similar style to rival app TikTok, writes BBC technology reporter Shiona McCallum.
The display and feeds were criticized as people felt they were not seeing photos from friends and family as much.
Meta, Instagram's parent company, said it wanted to "take the time"...
The U.S. and Chinese leaders have warned each other over Taiwan during a phone call that lasted more than two hours.
President Joe Biden told Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that the U.S. strongly opposed any unilateral moves to change the island's status, the BBC reports.
But he added that U.S. policy on Taiwan had not changed.
Beijing said Xi had told Biden to abide by the one-China principle, warning him that "whoever plays with fire will get burnt."
Tensions over...
(American Academy of Neurology) – People who eat the highest amounts of ultra-processed foods such as soft drinks, chips, and cookies may have a higher risk of developing dementia than those who eat the lowest amounts, according to a study published in the July 27 online issue of Neurology.
Researchers also found that replacing ultra-processed foods in a person's diet with unprocessed or minimally processed foods was associated with a lower risk. The study does not...
Ukraine says work has started at three ports aimed at forming "green corridors" to allow grain exports, the BBC reports.
A spokesperson for the Odesa military administration said naval teams will build routes out of southern ports in Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi.
Once the routes are established, "caravans" of ships led by Ukrainian naval vessels will sail through the Black Sea, Serhiy Bratchuk said.
Kyiv and Moscow struck a deal to allow the grain exports last week.
Under...
Researchers at Mayo Clinic's Center for Individualized Medicine have discovered key human genomic signatures that could help explain why COVID-19 is severe in some people and mild in others. After analyzing volumes of diverse worldwide DNA sequence data, the scientists identified mutations in two human proteins that might sway the course of SARS-CoV-2 — the virus responsible for COVID-19.
Their study reveals that variants in the genes for ACE2 and TMPRESS2 can lead to an increase or...
Russian energy giant Gazprom says it will once again drastically cut gas supplies to the EU through its main pipeline due to maintenance work.
Gazprom said stopping another turbine at the Nord Stream 1 pipeline would cut daily gas delivery to 20%, halving the current level of supply.
The German government said there was no technical reason to limit gas supply.
It is likely to make it more difficult for EU countries to replenish their stores of...
