Article archives

Unexpected effects of gene editing: aggressive hamsters

Unexpected effects of gene editing: aggressive hamsters

Genetics

By Rosa García-Verdugo

In the last years, CRISPR-Cas9 technology has revolutionized gene editing, having enormous research and clinical potential. However, gene editing can be tricky and have unexpected effects, like recently reported in the journal PNAS , where tweaking a gene produced aggressive hamsters instead of the calm, Zen animals the researchers were aiming for. Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and […]

MI weekly selection #474

MI weekly selection #474

Weekly Selection

By César Tomé

Jawbone discovery shows vicious bear dog’s power, reach The discovery of a near-complete jawbone of a newly identified species of “bear dog” indicates the ancient beasts were powerful predators with a global presence when they roamed the earth up to 23 million years ago. The flat-footed, long-snouted bear dogs ranged in size from 9 to […]

Rich and diverse f-driven properties at the surface when the bulk has none

Rich and diverse f-driven properties at the surface when the bulk has none

Condensed matterDIPC Advanced materialsMaterials

By DIPC

The scattering of conduction electrons in metals due to impurities with magnetic moments is known as the Kondo effect, after Jun Kondo, who analysed the phenomenon in 1964. This scattering increases the electrical resistance and has as a consequence that, in contrast to ordinary metals, the resistance reaches a minimum as the temperature is lowered […]

MI weekly selection #474

MI weekly selection #474

Weekly Selection

By César Tomé

Tissue study shows ancient squid as ferocious predator The modern vampire squid may be a docile, soft-bodied animal, but new data suggests its prehistoric ancestor, Vampyronassa rhodanica, was a muscular ocean predator. Researchers analyzed fossilized soft tissues and found that the ancient cephalopods, which date back 164 million years, came equipped with a streamlined body […]

Single brain scan can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease

Single brain scan can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease

MedicineNeuroscience

By César Tomé

A single MRI scan of the brain using standard equipment could be enough to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, according to new results. The research uses machine learning technology to look at structural features within the brain, including in regions not previously associated with Alzheimer’s. The advantage of the technique is its simplicity and the fact that […]

MI weekly selection #473

MI weekly selection #473

Weekly Selection

By César Tomé

Jupiter feasted on baby planets to fuel growth Researchers constructed a model based on gravitational data from NASA’s Juno space probe and other sources to examine the core of Jupiter, finding its center is filled with planetesimals, baby planets that the massive giant used to fuel its own growth. Full story: Live Science Lack of […]