News and Links (publ. 2024-08-29)

Researchers use black holes to patch up standard cosmology

Early galaxies were not too big for their britches after all

As the discrepencies between JWST observations and the expectations of standard model grow to cosmic proportions, this recent study uses black holes to try to fill the gap.

Although the researchers have shown that the standard model of cosmology probably is not broken, their work points to the need for new ideas in star formation.

Discovering how plants make life-and-death decisions

After years of investigation, researchers believe that a plant's life or death response to stress (ER stress activation) comes down to the interaction between two proteins (and the related genetics). As usual, the complexities of plant life — and death — tax the minds and budgets of our most energetic scientists.

Protein making and protein folding capacity must be in balance, like a sous chef and a chef, working in tandem. If the sous chef is providing the chef with too little or too many ingredients, it throws off the balance in the kitchen.

"We found that BAP2 responds to ER stress," said Pastor-Cantizano, who is currently a postdoc at the University of Valencia. "And the cool thing is that it is able to control and modify the activity of IRE1. But also IRE1 is able to regulate BAP2 expression." BAP2 and IRE1 work together, signaling to each other what the best course of action for the cell is. Having one without the other results in the death of the plant when the ER homeostasis is unbalanced.

Mark Zuckerberg admits Biden administration 'pressured' Facebook to censor Americans

Houthis sink Greek tanker

Greek oil tanker set on fire by the Houthis in the Red Sea

It would appear that the Houthis hate not only Jews but also Greeks. And also don't mind spilling 150,00 tons of crude oil into the ocean. But I'm sure it must all be Israel's fault.

Democrats try to keep green candidate off ballot

Wisconsin Supreme Court allows Jill Stein to stay on state ballot as Green Party nominee