Lifeboat Foundation

Scientists at the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution announced today that ribonucleic acid (RNA), an analog of DNA that was likely the first genetic material for life, spontaneously forms on basalt lava glass. Such glass was abundant on Earth 4.35 billion years ago. Similar basalts of this antiquity survive on Mars today.

More information:

Craig A. Jerome et al, Catalytic Synthesis of Polyribonucleic Acid on Prebiotic Rock Glasses, Astrobiology (2022). DOI: 10.1089/ast.2022.

Continue reading “Scientists announce a breakthrough in determining life’s origin on Earth—and maybe Mars” »

😳! Circa 2019

A long-ridiculed theory about humankind’s early leap of consciousness is revived.

Scientists have produced the first genetic map of chimpanzees in the wild, offering a detailed reconstruction of the endangered species’ past migrations, and a new tool to combat illegal trafficking.

The genomic catalogue, which includes 828 individuals from across their vast African range, can now be used to link kidnapped chimpanzees—or their meat and body parts —to their place of origin within 100 kilometers.

The results of the years-long research project was published Wednesday in the journal Cell Genomics.

Finding out how acidic or alkaline your soil is means you can select the right plants for it, and maximise their chance of thriving, says Clare Wilson.

Japan is both power-hungry and fossil-fuel reliant making for a bad combination but that could all soon change. The nation has now successfully tested a system relying on the deep ocean that could provide a reliable steady form of renewable energy, according to a report by Bloomberg published Tuesday.

A project over ten years in the making

The invention comes from Japanese heavy machinery maker IHI Corp. The company has been developing a subsea turbine that harnesses the energy in deep ocean currents for over ten years.

Forget about spaceships: Aliens could be “cosmic hitchhikers” traveling on free-floating planets.

Use of circulating tumor DNA to guide adjuvant treatment planning for patients with resectable colon cancer led to fewer patients receiving chemotherapy while maintaining outcomes, according to the DYNAMICS study.

Putting the theory of special relativity into practice, by counting galaxies.