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Analytical chemists from Stellenbosch University (SU) have provided the first evidence of a rare class of phenolics, called flavoalkaloids, in Cannabis leaves

Phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, are well-known and sought after in the pharmaceutical industry because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties.

The researchers identified 79 phenolic compounds in three strains of Cannabis grown commercially in South Africa, of which 25 were reported for the first time in Cannabis. Sixteen of these compounds were tentatively identified as flavoalkaloids. Interestingly, the flavoalkaloids were mainly found in the leaves of only one of the strains. The results were published in the Journal of Chromatography A recently.

Dr Magriet Muller, an analytical chemist in the LC-MS laboratory of the Central Analytical Facility (CAF) at Stellenbosch University and first author on the paper, says the analysis of plant phenolics is challenging due to their low concentration and extreme structural diversity.

Most plants contain highly complex mixtures of phenolic compounds, and while flavonoids occur widely in the plant kingdom, the flavoalkaloids are very rare in nature,” she explains.

Scalable strategy produces high-quality black phosphorus nanoribbons for electronics

Black phosphorus nanoribbons (BPNRs), thin and narrow ribbon-like strips of black phosphorus, are known to exhibit highly advantageous electronic properties, including a tunable bandgap. This essentially means that the energy difference between the region where electrons are bound together (i.e., valence band) and that where electrons move freely (i.e., conduction band) can be easily controlled by adjusting the width of the nanoribbons.

A tunable bandgap is essential for the development of transistors, the components that control the flow of electrical current through electronic devices.

While several past studies have highlighted the promise of BPNRs for the development of electronics, strategies that could enable their reliable fabrication on a large scale are still lacking.

A new explanation for Siberia’s giant exploding craters

Scientists may be a step closer to solving the mystery of Siberia’s giant exploding craters. First spotted in the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas of Western Siberia in 2012, these massive holes, known as giant gas emission craters (GECs) can be up to 164 feet deep. They seem to appear randomly in the permafrost and are formed when powerful explosions blast soil and ice hundreds of feet into the air.

New evidence points to two distinct Australian tektite groups with different origins

Throughout the planet, there are only a handful of known tektite strewn fields, which are large swaths of land where natural glass (tektite) was strewn about after forming from terrestrial material and being ejected from a meteorite impact. The tektite glass can be ejected extremely long distances, placing strewn fields far from their origins.

Life after impact: New discovery links microbial colonization to ancient meteorite crater

In a scientific breakthrough with cosmic implications, researchers have, for the first time, precisely dated the emergence of microbial life within a meteorite impact crater—revealing that life not only survives catastrophe, but thrives in its aftermath.

New radio halo discovered with MeerKAT

Using the MeerKAT radio telescope, an international team of astronomers has performed observations of a galaxy cluster designated SPT-CLJ2337−5942. The observational campaign revealed the presence of an ultra-steep spectrum radio halo in this cluster. The finding is presented in a paper published Sept. 9 on the arXiv preprint server.

Rhythmic yoga breathing produces measurable brain activity linked to deep relaxation

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, in collaboration with Sri Sri Institute of Advanced Research and Fortis Escort Heart Institute, report that rhythmic breathing in Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) produces measurable shifts in brain rhythms associated with deep relaxation. The team finds that SKY practice increases theta and delta brain activity while reducing alpha power.

Rising rates of stress, anxiety, and depression combined with limited access to professional care have created a desire for low-cost, self-managed approaches to mental health.

Previous investigations into yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises have documented improvements in mood, fatigue, emotional processing, and executive brain functions. Meditation practices have been linked to structural and functional changes in governing attention, self-referential processing, and emotion regulation.

Music training can help the brain focus, study shows

Musical people find it easier to focus their attention on the right sounds in noisy environments.

This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Science Advances. The results suggest that can be used to sharpen and cognition.

Being able to focus on a conversation in a room full of noise is a complex task for the brain. In the new study, researchers have investigated how music training affects the brain’s ability to focus attention on specific sounds.

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