Two newly discovered organisms point to the existence of an ancient organism that resembled a tiny version of the lumbering, human-eating science fiction plants known as ‘triffids,’ according to research from an international team.

Researchers spearheaded by UC Riverside have now solved the 50-year-old mystery behind plant growth. All plants depend on the molecule auxin to grow as its causes their cells to become acidic and allows the walls to soften and expand but how does auxin activate the acidification?

Geothermal power plants produce superheated brine, which is full of lithium and other minerals. Berkeley Lab scientists now assess the technology landscape for developing a domestic source of lithium.

Bruker announced new software and hardware addressing the need for enhanced workflow solutions for NMR spectroscopy research and analysis.

The current leading method to assess the presence of viruses and other biological markers of disease is effective but large and expensive. It is difficult for use in many situations. So researchers created and tested an alternative miniaturized system that makes use of low-cost components and a smartphone.

Early snowmelt increases the risk of phenological mismatch, in which the flowering of periodic plants and pollinators fall out of sync, compromising seed production. Gaku Kudo of Hokkaido University and Elisabeth J. Cooper of the Arctic University of Norway have demonstrated that early snowmelt results in the spring ephemeral Corydalis ambigua flowering ahead of the emergence of its pollinator, the bumblebee.

In an unusual study, researchers brought vampire bats from distant Panamanian populations together for four months in a laboratory setting and tracked how the bats’ gut microbes changed over time. They found that bats that interacted closely with one another shared much more than body heat.

Scientists at the UNC School of Medicine and the University of California at San Francisco conducted research showing in precise detail how chemicals bind to mast cells to cause an itch. Their work is laying the groundwork for better anti-itching medications with fewer side effects.

A novel sensor designed by MIT researchers could dramatically accelerate the process of diagnosing sepsis. Their microfluidics device detects biomarkers typical for sepsis within 25 minutes.

Agar Scientific announced the successful purchase of the EM resin manufacturer London Resin. The company has developed and supplied acrylic resins for microscopists since 1980. This acquisition is to ensure continued manufacture and supply of the complete product range.