Ant species clones workers; a primordial black hole candidate; an anti-tumor carotenoid

This week: researchers reported that evolving changes are focused on the genome, not random. Quantum physicists have observed the magnetic nucleus of an atom based from front to real time. And a new catalyst could simplify the recycling of plastics.

More: biologists have found an ant that clones workers from other species for its own colonies; Carotenoid zeaxanthine has a significant anti-tumor effect in mice; And astronomers have identified a primordial black hole candidate who could upset the ideas of the formation of the galaxy.

Strange ants use replicating work

Certain species of ants are unable to produce workers’ ants by reproductive means. These species generally mate with other species in order to produce workers for their colonies. But an international research collaboration now reports the discovery of a kind of ant, the Iberian harvester ant (Messor Ibericus), which cultivates clones of another kind of ant to function like workers’ ants.

While carrying out genomic analyzes of five species of Messor across Europe, they found that the colonies of Mr. Ibericus were made up of first generation hybrid workers with the maternal ancestry of Mr. Ibericus and structural paternal ancestry. But these hybrids were found in regions without structural colonies of M. – in fact, they found first generation hybrid workers on the island of Sicily, 1,000 kilometers from the nearest known colonies.

What was going on? The team isolated the colonies of Mr. Ibericus in a laboratory and observed laying, reproduction and development; Even under these controlled conditions, hybrids have always developed. To their surprise, they found that the queens of Mr. Ibericus clon M.’s males using stored sperm.

Anti-tumor vegetable pigment

Carotenoids are the pigments of plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria that produce bright colors in plants, vegetables and fruits. They are particularly soluble fatty, which means that cooking increases their absorption when consumed. Many carotenoids, including beta-carotene, are expressed in epidermal skin cells, conferring a healthy appearance. Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center have now published the results of the study reporting that zeaxanthine, a carotenoid better known for eye health, can act as a compound of immune -shaping by strengthening the activity of fighting immune cell cancer.

More specifically, it directly improves CD8 activity⁺ T cells, immune respondents who kill tumor cells. Zeaxanthine stabilizes and strengthens the formation of a CD8 complex⁺ The T cells, which trigger intracellular signage which stimulates the activation of T lymphocytes and the production of cytokines in a vicious circle to attack tumors. In mice, food supplementation has slowed tumor growth, but when combined with immune control point inhibitors, zeaxanthine has significantly improved anti-tumor effects compared to immunotherapy alone.

Astronomers identify the primordial black hole candidate

In what could be the first confirmation of the theorized primordial black holes, those who formed when the universe was young and unimaginably dense, scientists discovered a supermassive black hole that could have developed in the first microseconds after the Big Bang.

According to its first images, the James Webb space telescope revealed that astronomers call “small red dots”, considered the first galaxies, welcoming young growing black holes. Researchers led by the astrophysicist Ignas Joodžboris of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom have directly measured the mass with a small red point, noting that the glow of a red dot called QSO1 is a black hole with the mass of 50 million suns.

Interestingly, the galaxy surrounding the object is much smaller than scientists expect to find accommodation such a massive hole. This suggests that the black hole formed before attracting the question that has become the surrounding galaxy, a reversal of the usual process considered as underlying galactic development. The researchers write: “This demonstrates the possibility of primacy in a black hole, that is to say black holes forming and growing earlier and / or much faster than their host galaxy.”

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