Latest news with #AutonomousUniversityofMadrid
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Sea worm's reproductive bits grow their own eyes before mating
Even among the numerous gnarly animals swimming, crawling, and 'flying' through the world's oceans, the branching marine worm (Ramisyllis kingghidorahi) has a very interesting reproductive style. Named after Godzilla's three-headed nemesis, King Ghidorah, the worm lives inside of sea sponges in the Sea of Japan and reproduces by growing multiple body branches within the host sponge. Each of these tails can then produce separate living reproductive units called stolons—which can grow eyes. The stolons themselves do not live too long and break off from the branches to swim away to mate. How this spindly animal can coordinate sexual reproduction with so many stolons across so many branches has puzzled scientists since its discovery in 2021 and 2022. We may have an answer though. The genes that control eye formation might be particularly active in Ramisyllis, which helps make more stolons, according to a study recently published in the journal BMC Genomics. [ Related: Why these sea worms detach their butts to reproduce.] In the new study, the team analyzed the gene expression across the different body regions on male, female, and juvenile specimens. This created a complete genetic activity map–or transcriptome. With this genetic activity map in tow, the team saw some clear patterns. The differences in gene activity were more pronounced between the different body regions in the same worm than they were between the sexes. When comparing males with females, the stolons had the most distinctive genetic signatures. This likely reflects the stolons' specialized role in gamete production and metamorphosis. 'We were surprised to find that the head of the worm, which was previously thought to house a sex-specific control system, didn't show the dramatic differences we expected between males and females,' Guillermo Ponz-Segrelles, a study co-author and neuroscientist with the Autonomous University of Madrid, said in a statement. 'Instead, the stolons emerged as the true hotspots of gene activity during sexual development.' When looking into what's behind the stolon eyes, the team found that there is upregulation of the genes related to eye development. Upregulation is the process by which genes are activated and produce more of the proteins corresponding with a certain gene's function. This genetic upregulation could help Ramisyllis develop more of the eyes on their many stolons. There could also be partial genome duplication in Ramisyllis, which may help explain why this worm has such a complex anatomy and reproductive system. Either way, it is equipped with a very unique genetic toolkit. 'This worm and its surreal, tree-like body made headlines around the world in 2021 and 2022, yet it continues to amaze us,' added Thilo Schulze, a study co-author and PhD candidate at Göttingen University in The Netherlands.' It challenges our understanding of how animal bodies can be organized, and how such strange forms of reproduction are orchestrated at the molecular level.' Since numerous parts of branching worms' reproductive biology remain a mystery, the team hopes the genetic tree from this study will help show how life evolves in some of the ocean's hidden spots.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Say That Something Very Weird Is Going on With the Universe
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Astronomers have made an intriguing discovery that could upend everything we know about the structure of the universe and its expansion. Scientists recently found that dark energy, the mysterious form driving the accelerating expansion of the universe, could be weakening over time. The findings could undermine the existing standard cosmological model of the universe called the lambda-cold dark matter (LCDM) model, which takes dark energy, ordinary matter, and cold dark matter — a hypothetical form of dark matter that moves slowly compared to the speed of light — into consideration. The symbol lambda in the model refers to Albert Einstein's cosmological constant, which assumes that the universe is accelerating at a fixed rate. Yet, last year, scientists concluded that dark energy isn't a constant after all, analyzing observations by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) in Arizona, as New Scientist reports. They found that the mysterious force could be evolving and weakening over time. In March, scientists released a follow-up, strengthening the unusual findings. "This is exciting – it might actually be putting the standard model of cosmology in danger," Autonomous University of Madrid assistant research professor Yashar Akrami told New Scientist. Instead of making changes to the LCDM itself, Akrami and his colleagues suggested redefining dark energy as a "quintessence field," which has been used to explain observations of an accelerating rate of expansion of the universe. That could allow scientists to harmonize more advanced string theory with the standard cosmological model. "If you prove that quintessence is dark energy, it's very good for [string theorists]," Akrami told New Scientist. "That's why the string theory community is really excited now." An altered take on the quintessence model of dark energy suggests the mysterious force could be interacting with gravity itself. "We've always grown up thinking about the universe as having the gravitational force, and gravity fuels everything," University of Oxford astrophysicist Pedro Ferreira told the publication. "But now there's going to be an additional fifth force, which is due to the dark energy, which also fuels everything." But before we can add this fifth force, we'd have to reconcile the fact that we simply haven't seen any evidence for it, at least not when we're making precise measurements of our neighborhood of the universe. "Physics ends up being even more complicated than we thought it could have been, and that kind of makes you wonder, why do you want to go down that route?" Ferreira added. The researcher believes it's most likely that scientists will debate different models of dark energy and "never resolve it." Yet, there's still a chance researchers could observe gravity being influenced by dark energy in upcoming observations by the European Space Agency's Euclid satellite and DESI. More on dark energy: Scientists Say They've Built a "Black Hole Bomb"
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The 4 foods that science says can help you live to 100
The scientifically backed lifestyle habits to help you live healthier for longer have stayed pretty consistent for a while now: exercising, getting sufficient sleep, limiting stress—and, of course, eating well. Now researchers reveal the four foods you should prioritize, as eating them could help you live a very long life. To narrow it down to the four, researchers in Spain examined two diets that take advice from the world's Blue Zones, cities that reportedly have the highest proportion of centenarians: the Mediterranean diet and the Planetary Health diet. Both approaches support a high intake of foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts—and a moderate intake of dairy and meat (although the lesser-known Planetary Health diet, established by scientists in 2019 with a focus on environmental sustainability, places a higher proportion size on plant-based protein alternatives like beans over meat). 'Higher adherence to both diets was similarly associated with lower all-cause mortality and with comparable low environmental impact, highlighting the substantial health and planetary advantages of adopting one of these plant-based diets,' Dr. Mercedes Sotos Prieto, lead author of the new study from the Autonomous University of Madrid in Spain, said in a press release about the results. The study followed nearly 11,500 people recruited between 2008 and 2010 and followed up about 14 years later to assess the relationship between diet and survival rates. Now the authors are calling out four food groups—staples of both diets—that they believe are most important when it comes to longevity and health span. Fruits are a cornerstone of both the Mediterranean and Planetary Health diets. They provide key nutrients, like vitamin C and A, and antioxidants, which help support immune health and reduce inflammation and cell damage. One study found snacking on fruit instead of a packaged alternative also made people feel less stressed. Liz Weinandy, a registered dietitian at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, previously told Fortune that vitamin C can protect our brain. The Mediterranean diet recommends eating two to three portions of all types of fruits each day to digest a range of nutrients. The Planetary Health diet recommends at least five servings of both fruits and vegetables per day. While dairy makes up a smaller portion of both diets, it was still associated with those who lived longer, per the study. The two diets specify the importance of low-fat or no-fat cheese and yogurts, like low-fat Greek yogurt or cottage cheese. Rich in calcium and vitamin D, dairy products support bone health. Dairy can help people feel full and be a good source of protein, helping to support age-related muscle loss. A small five-ounce cup of yogurt typically contains between 10 and 15 grams of protein (you need about 1.2 to two grams of protein per kilogram of body weight). Fermented dairy products like kefir are also rich in probiotics and can support a healthy gut. Unsaturated oils, like olive and avocado oils, are a significant part of both diets. They can help support healthy cholesterol levels and support the brain. 'There is some evidence that a Mediterranean diet rich in virgin olive oil may help the body remove excess cholesterol from arteries and keep blood vessels open,' according to the American Heart Association. A handful of nuts has always been a great snack—and for good reason. Nuts contain healthy fats that can support heart health and reduce inflammation, are rich in fiber and protein to keep people satiated, and are high in omega-3s to support brain health (especially walnuts). 'Find the ingredients you love,' Dan Buettner, founder of the Blue Zones LLC, who has studied the diets of the longest-living humans, previously told Fortune. 'And if you can learn how to combine them to make something delicious, you're on your way to eating to 100.' More on nutrition: This dietician warns of one major issue with American diets. Here are her 4 tips to fix it 5 health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, according to science Eating your meals at these exact times could boost your energy levels and prevent chronic disease This story was originally featured on
