"1:58 Evidence of ancient brine on an asteroid Samples taken from the asteroid Bennu by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft suggest the parent body it originated from is likely to have contained salty, subsurface water. This finding provides insights into the chemistry of the early Solar System, and suggests that brines might have been an important place where pre-biotic molecules were formed."
"08:01 How gene expression doesn't always reflect a cell's function Cells are often grouped into categories according to the RNA molecules they produce. However a study of zebrafish ( Danio rerio) brains revealed that cells can be functionally diverse even if they appear molecularly similar. This finding adds more nuance to how a cell's 'type' is ultimately defined. 12:01 The disproportionate mortality risks of extreme rainfall An assessment"
"This situation is likely to become more pronounced as a result of climate change. 14:46 An AI-designed underwater glue Inspired by animals like barnacles and aided by machine learning, researchers have developed a super-sticky compound that works as an underwater adhesive. To demonstrate its properties, researchers applied it to a rubber duck, which stuck firmly to a rock on a beach despite being battered by the sea. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-04065-6"
Samples from asteroid Bennu returned by OSIRIS-REx indicate the parent body likely contained salty subsurface water, suggesting brines could have hosted prebiotic chemistry in the early Solar System. Zebrafish brain studies show that cells with similar RNA profiles can have diverse functional roles, complicating cell-type definitions based solely on gene expression. An analysis of mortality in Mumbai finds extreme rainfall disproportionately increases death rates among women, young children and residents of informal settlements, a pattern expected to worsen with climate change. Researchers used machine learning to design a super-sticky underwater adhesive inspired by barnacles that can bond materials under sea conditions.
#asteroid-brines #prebiotic-chemistry #single-cell-gene-expression #climate-vulnerability #underwater-adhesives
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