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Jun 29, 2022

RNA modifications in mitochondria promote invasive spread of cancer

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics

Mitochondria are the power plants of cells, and they contain their own genetic material and RNA molecules. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now discovered that certain modifications in mitochondrial RNA boost the invasive spread of cancer cells by supporting protein synthesis in mitochondria. They have established that a specific gene expression signature correlating with high levels of mitochondrial RNA modifications is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer. When the researchers blocked the responsible RNA modifying enzyme in cancer cells, the number of metastases was reduced. Certain antibiotics that suppress protein synthesis in mitochondria were also able to prevent the invasive spread of cancer cells in laboratory experiments. The results have now been published in the journal Nature.

Cancer cells in aggressive tumors invade the surrounding tissue in an attempt to form a new tumor in other organs. During this journey, cancer cells have to survive unfavorable conditions such as shortage of oxygen or shortage in nutrients. To overcome these stress factors, cancer cells adapt their accordingly. The allowing this flexibility were poorly understood until now. “However, we suspected that this metabolic plasticity must be a key to the successful spread of the cancer cells,” says Michaela Frye; cell biologist at the German Cancer Research Center.

Mitochondria are tiny, membrane-enveloped structures known as the powerhouse of every cell in our body. For energy production, they use the so-called respiratory chain present in the mitochondrial membrane. Because mitochondria contain their own genetic material, they themselves produce key components of the respiratory chain.

Jun 29, 2022

Aquaculture drives aquatic food yields to new high

Posted by in categories: food, sustainability

The production of wild and farm-raised fish, shellfish and algae reached record levels in 2020, and future increases could be vital to fighting world hunger, the Food and Agriculture Organization said Wednesday.

Driven by sustained growth in aquaculture, and aquatic farming together hauled in 214 million tonnes, the UN agency said in a report.

The total first-sale value of 2020 production topped $400 million, with $265 million coming from aquaculture, a sector poised for further expansion.

Jun 29, 2022

The Secret Cleaning Power of Bacteria

Posted by in categories: biological, food

Circa 2021


Microbes are really good at eating a range of substances, so humans are putting them to work cleaning up our messes — and our art.

Jun 29, 2022

Snow Plows Won’t Have Passes At Glacier National Park Open Before July 4

Posted by in category: futurism

Martin Chartrand


Alex SharpThe world really needs to prioritise getting heat pumps to people. They also help keep people warm in winter.

Jun 29, 2022

New NASA Moon satellite blasts into space — here’s what it means for Artemis

Posted by in category: satellites

The craft is about to get very acquainted with an intriguing lunar orbit.


CAPSTONE is about the size of a microwave oven, but it’s blazing a trail for Artemis and NASA’s next crewed space station.

Jun 29, 2022

Probiotic Bacteria: A Promising Tool in Cancer Prevention and Therapy

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics, health

Probiotics show a new to battle cancer and other diseases keeping the host body healthy with its anti inflammation abilities.


Gut microbiota is widely considered to be one of the most important components to maintain balanced homeostasis. Looking forward, probiotic bacteria have been shown to play a significant role in immunomodulation and display antitumour properties. Bacterial strains could be responsible for detection and degradation of potential carcinogens and production of short-chain fatty acids, which affect cell death and proliferation and are known as signaling molecules in the immune system. Lactic acid bacteria present in the gut has been shown to have a role in regression of carcinogenesis due to their influence on immunomodulation, which can stand as a proof of interaction between bacterial metabolites and immune and epithelial cells. Probiotic bacteria have the ability to both increase and decrease the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines which play an important role in prevention of carcinogenesis. They are also capable of activating phagocytes in order to eliminate early-stage cancer cells. Application of heat-killed probiotic bacteria coupled with radiation had a positive influence on enhancing immunological recognition of cancer cells. In the absence of active microbiota, murine immunity to carcinogens has been decreased. There are numerous cohort studies showing the correlation between ingestion of dairy products and the risk of colon and colorectal cancer. An idea of using probiotic bacteria as vectors to administer drugs has emerged lately as several papers presenting successful results have been revealed. Within the next few years, probiotic bacteria as well as gut microbiota are likely to become an important component in cancer prevention and treatment.

Cancer is considered as one of the most significant causes of death. The treatment of tumors has received much attention in the last years; however, the number of people suffering neoplastic syndrome is still increasing. Thus, researchers are trying to face this process searching for innovative therapies and prophylaxis. Despite the fact that cancer risk indisputably depends on genetic factors, immunological condition of the organism plays a considerable role in it, that being closely associated with probiotic bacteria and commensal bacterial flora presented mainly in the digestive tract. Probiotic strains, inter alia Bifidobacterium, or Lactobacillus, widely present in commonly consumed fermented milk products, are known to have various beneficial effects on health. To date, there is a plethora of studies investigating the correlation between intestinal microbiota and carcinogenesis which have been evaluated in this article.

Jun 29, 2022

Have Physicists Solved the Plasma Problem Holding Back Fusion Power?

Posted by in categories: energy, physics

Researchers in Switzerland show that hydrogen injections into magnetically-contained plasma can double to yield significantly more energy.

Jun 29, 2022

RansomHouse Extortion Group Claims It’s Ransoming 450Gb Of Data From AMD

Posted by in category: futurism

RansomHouse says it got its hands on the data thanks to ridiculously weak passwords.

Jun 29, 2022

How physicists are probing the Higgs boson 10 years after its discovery

Posted by in category: particle physics

The famous particle may point to cracks in the standard model and new physics beyond.

Jun 29, 2022

Scientists Claim to Improve Human Brain Function With Implants and AI

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, robotics/AI

“The analogy I often use is an electric bike,” he added. “When someone’s pedaling but having difficulty, the bike senses it and augments it. We’ve made the equivalent of that for human mental function.”

Participants in the trial reported that their anxiety got better once the system jumped into action, mostly due to the fact that they had more cognitive control and were able to shift their focus better.

“This could be a totally new approach in treating mental illness,” Widge said. “Instead of trying to suppress symptoms, we could give patients a tool that lets them take control of their own minds.”