Recently discovered
Rare blue pigment found in medieval woman's teeth rewrites history
The discovery of a rare, expensive blue pigment in the dental plaque of a medieval woman's skeleton is shedding light on a hidden chapter of history, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances. Researchers were studying a skeleton of a woman buried in a medieval cemetery connected with a women's monastery in Germany, where they believe a community existed as early as the 10th century. The skeleton had blue flecks embedded in her teeth which turned out to be ultramarine, a rare pigment made from crushed lapis lazuli stones. At the time, it was as expensive as gold and the ultimate luxury trade good, mined from a single region in Afghanistan. (CNN)
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions spiked in 2018
Carbon dioxide emissions in the United States rose an estimated 3.4 percent in 2018, according to new research -- a jarring increase that comes as scientists say the world needs to be aggressively cutting its emissions to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change. (Washington Post)
China's lunar rover begins its exploration of the dark side of the moon
China's Chang'e-4 rover was successfully deployed after humanity's first successful landing on the dark side of the moon. The rover is now programmed to roam across a barren vista toward a distinct crater, covering terrain never before traversed. Chinese scientists hailed the landing of the Chang'e-4 probe as evidence of the country's growing stature in space exploration. (New York Times)
Researchers develop a new houseplant that can clean your home’s air
Researchers at the University of Washington have genetically modified a common houseplant -- pothos ivy -- to remove chloroform and benzene from the air around it. The modified plants express a protein, called 2E1, that transforms these compounds into molecules that the plants can then use to support their own growth. (University of Washington)
Gene editing could create spicy tomatoes
Spicy tomatoes could soon be on the menu thanks to the rise of genome-editing technology, say researchers. Using a gene-editing technology such as a variation of CRISPR-Cas9, it could be possible to switch on genes that produce capsaicinoids in tomatoes, adding a kick to the everyday fruit. (The Guardian)
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