Electric bike accidents on the rise, epigenetics in memory formation, Komodo dragons becoming even more frightening

This week we reported on new epigenetic discoveries about memory formation and a dramatic increase in head injuries linked to micromobility. In short, there's a lot of head-related science going on these days. There have been new discoveries about increasingly fearsome and incredible apex predators, and the future of coffee is looking a little brighter. The best thing about waking up to a climate-tolerant cultivar in your cup is…

Neuronal Discovery

“Genes don't determine destiny.” That's a succinct statement that just because your father developed hammertoes in his 40s doesn't mean you will too. One big reason genes are not the sole determinant of offspring development is the epigenome, the collection of chemical changes in DNA that regulate gene expression.

As this is a new area of ​​genetics there is a lot of frontier to explore, and a team of researchers from EPFL are currently trying to find out by studying neural nuclei. How epigenetics affects memory formation.

Previous studies have focused on neuroplasticity, but the state of the nucleus of neuronal cells was not taken into account. In this study, we found that the epigenetic state of a neuron is a factor that determines the neuron's role in encoding memories. When a neuron is “epigenetically open,” its DNA is uncoiled and loose. On the other hand, when the DNA is dense, it is considered “epigenetically closed.”

The researchers believe that open neurons are more likely to be recruited to new memory traces, which may explain why Electrical activity During their learning period, they believe that their findings could have immediate applications not only in the study of Alzheimer's disease, but also in the study of other cognitive disorders characterized by abnormal epigenetic mechanisms.

Beverage resistance

Climate change is happening. There's no avoiding it. We have to get through it. And that means adapting our coffee-drinking habits as much as our waterways, infrastructure, and disaster insurance. Because production of Arabica coffee, the world's most popular coffee variety, is predicted to decline by 80% by 2050 due to climate change.

Arabica coffee has a unique flavor that most coffee drinkers prefer, and while it would be difficult, if not impossible, to replace, horticulturists have a potential solution that is at least better than nothing: a shift from Arabica production to Robusta cultivars.

A team of French and Brazilian researchers is investigating The Potential of Robusta It is grown in different climates to complement and perhaps even replace Arabica coffee. Highlands The purpose was to test its resilience: studies have shown that robusta is more sustainable because it requires less water and fertiliser to produce, robusta beans have better flavour and higher quality, and robusta has the ability to adapt to new production systems.

Komodo Dragon: The species with the highest concentration of heavy metals on Earth

The Indonesian Komodo dragon, reminiscent of the Iron Maiden album cover and the enemy of Id Software's DOOM series, Their teeth are encased in iron to kill prey more effectively..

Other species have similar tooth coatings, but researchers say Komodos display this deep, ampere-cranking feature more prominently than any other animal. Think they're bothered by tartar? Well, my friend, Komodos' teeth are prone to rust. Combined with a venomous bite, this skull-shaking apex predator can take down prey that includes invertebrates, birds, and mammals the size of buffalo.

The researchers analyzed Komodo tooth samples with chemical and structural imaging, revealing an iron-rich orange coating on the serrations and tips. The researchers think that iron sequestration was probably a feature of certain species of ancient ziphodontian dinosaurs, but fossilization doesn't preserve the iron coating. Has anyone looked into whether Komodo's bones are made of carbon fiber or something?

Cases of electric bikes causing electronic concussions on the rise

Nature's helmet, the skull, is ill-suited for certain human activities, like jumping motorcycles over the Snake River Canyon, and requires supplemental prosthetic skulls made from compressible materials, Kevlar, and other materials. Skull inadequacy is a growing problem, say researchers at the University of California, San Francisco. report In the United States, micromobility is rapidly increasing due to the spread of small electric vehicles. Traffic accident Demand for electric scooters and bicycles is also booming accordingly.

Emergency rooms across the nation are reporting an increase in micromobility-related injuries and hospitalizations due to a variety of factors, including inadequate head protection. EV riders are also more likely to suffer internal injuries compared to regular bike and scooter users. From 2017 to 2022, e-bike injuries are doubling each year, while e-scooter injuries are up 45%.

“The increase in accidents is not only a result of demographic changes, but also highlights the urgent need for increased safety measures. While there is no denying the health and environmental benefits of using micromobility vehicles, structural changes are needed to promote safe riding,” said researcher Adrian Fernandez, MD, chief resident in the UCSF Department of Urology.

© 2024 Science X Network