Some plants, like soybean, are known to possess an innate defense machinery that helps them develop resistance against insects trying to feed on them. However, exactly how these plants recognize signals from insects has been unknown until now. In a new study, scientists in Japan have uncovered the cellular pathway that helps these plants to sense danger signals and elicit a response, opening doors to a myriad of agricultural applications.

Its name is Foxg1, it is a gene, and its unprecedented role is the protagonist of the discovery just published on the journal Cerebral Cortex. Foxg1 was already known for being a "master gene" able to coordinate the action of hundreds of other genes. As this new study reports, the "excitability" of neurons, namely their ability to respond to stimuli, communicating between each other and carrying out all their tasks, also depends on this gene.

An international team has discovered an effective method for controlling the frequency of confined light at the nanoscale in the form of phonon polaritons (light coupled to vibrations in the crystal). The results have now been published in Nature Materials.

A two-week course of antiviral therapy with interferon beta-1b plus lopinavir-ritonavir and ribavirin, started within 7 days of showing COVID-19 symptoms, is safe and more effective at reducing the duration of viral shedding than lopinavir-ritonavir alone in patients with mild to moderate illness, according to the first randomized trial of this triple combination therapy involving 127 adults (aged 18 and older) from six public hospitals in Hong Kong.

In the ongoing struggle to address health care disparities in rural communities across the US, a recent study found that the perfect partner may be hiding in plain sight. The grange, founded in 1867, is a community-based organization that is likely familiar to anyone who's spent time in a small town. In addition to political advocacy on behalf of farmers, the grange's missions around community and family also align closely with the goals of public health.

A report published in The Lancet appeared to show there was a link between Covid-19 and a deadly syndrome that affects some children.

Questions remain over the viability of the coronavirus contact tracing app that has been developed by the NHS's digital department, NHSX.

How is it possible to prevent a future pandemic if the origins of the novel coronavirus still remain unclear?

As part of the study, samples of blood, saliva and nasal swabs from healthcare workers in a bid to answer key questions about the virus.

Late, low sunshine with scattered showers easing to leave it dry

Nightingale pioneered many of the practices carried out today, such as maintaining good hygiene and regularly washing hands

Warm sunny spells and scattered showers today and tomorrow.

The four parts of the UK could now move at "different speeds" in adapting their coronavirus restrictions.

Saturday is set to be even hotter than Friday.

People in England are eagerly awaiting Boris Johnson’s announcement on Sunday around what changes might be made to the lockdown.

Islanders have been finding ways to mark the anniversary and help the spirit of the Liberation shine during difficult circumstances.

As a rule, if the economy is going well then US presidents get re-elected. If it's going badly, they lose. But will that hold in a global health emergency?

Researchers did not track side effects, but noted a hint that hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs, too.

The Lyrid meteor shower is set to peak on Wednesday night, so grab a blanket, head outdoors and add 'amateur astronomer' to your list of isolation pursuits.

An initiative spearheaded by the Centers for Disease Control’s Office of Advanced Molecular Detection (OAMD) seeks to bring the SARS-CoV-2 sequencing work of private and academic labs into the public sphere.

Everything you need to know to solve your bang-trimming, nail-clipping, and poopy-butt problems.

Four well-designed products that are certified to save a significant amount of water—without sacrificing water pressure.

With children presenting at intensive care units across France with a Kawasaki-like syndrome following COVID-19 infection, Medscape's France Edition talks to an expert about this rare complication.
Medscape Medical News

Labor argues fresh details of emails between the offices of Scott Morrison and now-former cabinet minister Bridget McKenzie show the Prime Minister had personal involvement in approving a list of successful clubs under the much maligned community sports grants scheme.

As the National Horse Traceability Scheme awaits an official launch, experts say horse welfare is falling short while volunteers take the lead.

A study suggests Australian bushfires were 30 per cent more likely as a result of climate change but there was no clear climate-change driver for local drought.

THE same process used by an international matchmaking site to pair lonely hearts may hold the key to improving the outcomes of liver transplants.

The Federal Government has been spruiking a renewed focus on Australia's shrinking manufacturing sector in the post-COVID-19 world. But experts say it will be tough to flick the switch on a withering part of the economy.

Fancy your home as an "hermetically sealed space ship" this winter, and keeping warm to boot? Here's how you can do both and not pump out more electricity, gas or wood smoke.

An Australian company that's set to own the world's largest privately operated rocket test range says the Australian space industry is well protected from the economic downturn caused by COVID-19.

Almost a quarter of Australia's fashion labels believe they will never recover from the coronavirus hit — but some are adapting and finding new ways to make money, and a new way of doing business.

A company linked to Labor figures that bought a mine for just $1 enjoyed multi-million-dollar refunds from its environmental bond after concessions from the Palaszczuk Government, documents show.

The community of mainly over-60s on St Huberts Island in NSW manages to stare down the threat of COVID-19 with music, exercise and good wine — and a fresh catch of fish delivered by doting grandsons.

Some festivals are pushing ahead with dates for later this year, despite uncertainty around how to safely mingle once public gathering laws are eased and what the spread of the virus will look like in the second half of 2020.

Entertainers speak of the shock of COVID-19 restrictions on their working lives and what they've had to do to keep audiences — and money — coming in.