Tag Archives: Efficiently

Revolutionary Natural Sunscreen from Fish Roe: Produced Efficiently Using E. coli

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Zebrafish Produce Natural Sunscreen Gadusol

Credit: WILDLIFE GmbH / Alamy

A groundbreaking synthetic process has successfully engineered bacteria to produce Gadusol, a natural compound that protects transparent fish eggs from harmful sunlight. This innovation brings us closer to creating a sustainable sunscreen alternative for humans, which is more environmentally friendly.

Naturally found in species like zebrafish, salmon, and sturgeon eggs, as well as in coral, Gadusol offers vital protection against UV damage. Its limited availability from natural sources makes it impractical for widespread use as a sunscreen.

A team led by Jiang Ping at Jiangnan University in China successfully inserted zebrafish genes into Escherichia coli to provide the necessary enzymes for Gadusol synthesis. The research team enhanced Gadusol production by using small RNA molecules and optimizing growth conditions, achieving an impressive nearly 93-fold increase—from 45.2 mg to 4.2 grams per liter of culture medium.

Initial experiments indicate that Gadusol possesses antioxidant properties comparable to vitamin C, potentially neutralizing harmful free radicals that damage cells. However, researchers from New Scientist did not respond to interview requests regarding further details.

Unlike melanin, Gadusol is transparent, effectively blocking UV rays while allowing for stealth in organisms. James Gagnon from the University of Utah, a key contributor to the research, noted, “I don’t think we necessarily get the credit we deserve. This is an amazing molecule.” Gagnon emphasized the need for further studies but mentioned that Gadusol is likely safe for humans and the environment since many animals already utilize it. Its transparency avoids the milky residue left by conventional sunscreens.

“Everyone is hinting this could be a great sunscreen for humans,” Gagnon explains. “However, two hurdles remain before Gadusol can be commercialized: developing a cost-effective manufacturing method and finding chemical combinations that provide long-lasting formulations.”

“While Gadusol may be the active ingredient, future sunscreen products will involve a variety of components to ensure Gadusol adheres to the skin and resists washing away,” Gagnon states. “There is still significant work to be done in materials science.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Research Shows Ice Dissolves Iron Minerals More Efficiently than Liquid Water

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Ice at 10 degrees Celsius releases iron from more abundant minerals compared to liquid water at 4 degrees Celsius, according to researchers from Umeå University, Chimiques de Rennes, and CNRS. This discovery sheds light on why many Arctic rivers are taking on a rusty orange hue as permafrost begins to thaw in warmer climates.

Schematic diagram of the iron mineral dissolution reaction of ice. Image credit: Sebaaly et al. , doi: 10.1073/pnas.2507588122.

“It may seem counterintuitive, but ice is not merely a static frozen mass,” stated Professor Jean François Boyley from Umeå University.

“Frozen states create microscopic pockets of liquid water between ice crystals.”

“These pockets function like chemical reactors, where compounds become concentrated and highly acidic.”

“This implies that even at temperatures as low as 30 degrees Celsius, they can engage with iron minerals.”

To investigate this phenomenon, Professor Boyley and his team examined goethite, a diverse array of iron oxide minerals, along with naturally occurring organic acids.

Through advanced microscopy and a series of experiments, they found that repeated freeze-thaw cycles enhance iron dissolution significantly.

When ice undergoes freezing and thawing, it releases organic compounds that were previously trapped, fostering additional chemical reactions.

Salt concentration also plays a critical role; fresh brackish waters promote iron dissolution, whereas seawater inhibits it.

The outcomes of this research are particularly relevant in acidic environments like mine drainage sites, frozen atmospheric dust, acid sulfate soils along the Baltic coast, or acidic freezing locales where iron minerals interact with organic matter.

“As global temperatures rise, the freeze-thaw cycles are becoming more frequent,” remarked Angelo Pio Severly, a doctoral candidate at Umeå University.

“Each cycle liberates iron from the soil and permafrost into the water, potentially impacting water quality and aquatic ecosystems over vast areas.”

“These findings emphasize that ice is an active participant, rather than a passive medium for storage.”

“It is crucial to recognize the growing impact of freeze and thaw processes in polar and mountainous regions on ecosystems and elemental cycling.”

The research team’s paper was published on August 26, 2025, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Angelo P. Severly et al. 2025. Ice as a kinetic and mechanical driver for iron oxide dissolution of oxalate oxide. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122 (35): E2507588122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2507588122

Source: www.sci.news

Flamethrower-equipped robot dog can eliminate weeds efficiently

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Robot dogs equipped with flame throwers could be used to prevent weeds from growing on farms, offering a potential alternative to harmful herbicides.

Even highly targeted herbicides can cause environmental problems and affect local wildlife, and “superweeds” are rapidly evolving resistance to the most common herbicides like glyphosate.

Looking for alternative solutions Song Deokjin Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a weed control system that emits short bursts of heat from a propane-powered flame thrower controlled by a robotic arm attached to a Boston Dynamics Spot Robot.

Rather than incinerating weeds, the robot is designed to identify and heat the core of the plant, which can stop weed growth for weeks, Song said. “It doesn't kill the weeds, it just inhibits their growth, giving the crop a chance to fight them.”

Song and his team first tested the flame nozzle to see if it could accurately target the center of the weeds, then deployed the robot in a cotton field that was also planted with weeds, including sunflowers, which are native to Texas.Sun Flower) and giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifidaFive tests showed the robot could find weeds and focus an average of 95 percent of its flames on them to burn them down.

Song said the Spot robot's biggest limitation is its battery life — it can only operate for about 40 minutes before needing to be recharged — but the team is working on upgrading it to a longer-lasting device. They're also considering equipping the robot dog with an electric shock device that can deliver more than 10,000 volts of current, which would stop weeds from growing for longer.

“With other machines, people use a fairly broad, inaccurate flame to kill weeds. That's been around for a while, but I've never seen anything as precise as this.” Simon Pearson A researcher at the University of Lincoln in the UK said the robot's success will depend on how precisely it can deliver the flames without damaging valuable crops.

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Source: www.newscientist.com