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gretchen mol

Sugarcane's Tiny Foe: The Secret Life of a Plant Invader

December 21, 2025

In the world of sugarcane, there's a sneaky bacterium called Xanthomonas albilineans that causes leaf scald disease. It's a tiny troublemaker with a small genome, which might be why it's so good at living inside plants. Scientists recently took a close look at what this bacterium is doing inside sug

science

How Tiny Droplets Might Help Fight Brain Diseases

December 20, 2025

Inside cells, there are tiny droplets that act like little factories. These droplets, called coacervates, are important for many cell functions. They form when certain molecules group together, creating a separate liquid phase within the cell. This process is normal and helps cells work properly. H

health

Holiday Scents: Enjoying Them Safely

December 20, 2025

During the holidays, many people love filling their homes with festive scents. Candles, fireplaces, and incense can make a space feel cozy. However, these sources of warmth and fragrance can also affect the air quality inside homes. People often spend more time indoors during the colder months. Thi

science

A Peculiar Planet Puzzles Scientists

December 19, 2025

A planet that looks like a lemon and behaves even stranger has left scientists scratching their heads. This oddball, named PSR J2322–2650b, is not your typical planet. It's not even orbiting a normal star. Instead, it's circling a pulsar, which is the leftover core of a dead star. This pulsar is sup

business

The Changing Landscape of Drug Discovery: A Look into the Future

December 19, 2025

In 2006, a young journalist visited Pfizer to discuss the company's research and development (R&D) plans. This was a time when the pharmaceutical industry was facing a significant drop in productivity. During the 1990s, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 311 new medicines. However, in t

science

Mars Rover Perseverance: A Journey Beyond Expectations

December 18, 2025

The Perseverance rover, NASA's intrepid explorer on Mars, is proving to be more resilient than initially anticipated. Launched with the ambitious goal of collecting Martian samples for a future retrieval mission, Perseverance is still going strong, far beyond its original timeline. The rover, roughl

science

A New Way to Grow Tiny Crystal Triangles

December 18, 2025

People have been working on making barium tungstate crystals. They used a special method called high-temperature oxygen-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. This is a fancy way of growing crystals by shooting tiny particles at a hot surface. The surface in this case was made of tungsten, a metal that's

science

Eucalyptol: A Natural Fighter Against Harmful E. coli

December 18, 2025

Eucalyptol, a compound found in plants, shows promise in fighting E. coli O157:H7, a harmful bacteria. This bacteria can make people sick and is a big problem in food safety. Scientists wanted to see if eucalyptol could be a safer alternative to traditional antibacterial agents. First, they tested

entertainment

Irvine Spectrum's New Playground for All Ages

December 18, 2025

Irvine Spectrum Center just got a whole lot more exciting with the grand opening of two new entertainment spots: Holey Moley Golf Club and Hijinx Hotel. These places are not just for kids; they're for everyone who loves a good time. Holey Moley is a mini-golf paradise with 27 holes, each one more u

science

Cold Water Chemistry: How Alanine and Water Mix at Low Temps

December 17, 2025

Alanine is a building block of proteins. It is an amino acid. It is important to see how it behaves in water. Especially when it is cold. This is because proteins work differently in cold water. They can fold or unfold. They can also interact with water in unique ways. Scientists wanted to see how