When the loss of a queen wasp triggers a power struggle and social turmoil, colonies can survive the upheaval thanks to helpful wasps that pick up the slack, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

A novel EMS-induced barley male-sterile mutant (N13401) was identified and characterized, and it shows defective pollen starch accumulation. The male sterility gene msg_N13401 was fine-mapped to a 576.9 kb region on chromosome 2H using a wild-cultivated barley cross to overcome the low polymorphism of cultivated barley.

Giant viruses that infect amoebas use different ways to reproduce, with some relying on the host cell’s nucleus. This supports the idea that the nucleus of complex cells may have originated from viruses. Researchers discovered a new virus, furtivovirus, which breaks the nuclear membrane but still replicates inside the nucleus. By analyzing its genome and behavior, they propose a new viral family and order, helping scientists better classify giant viruses and understand how they evolved.

Embargoed: Not for release until 14:00 U.S. Eastern Time (20:00 CEST) Friday, 22 May 2026:  Over the course of evolution, plants have developed an elegant strategy to counteract a lack of phosphate in the soil — they form symbiotic relationships with soil fungi. These mycorrhizal fungi efficiently supply their plant partners with phosphate and other essential minerals. Recently, scientists at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) in Halle, in collaboration with partners at the University of Bonn, discovered a molecular switch that detects the plant's phosphate content and signals whether to initiate or inhibit the symbiosis. This signaling pathway could enable plants to form partnerships with soil fungi even when sufficient phosphate is available. The study, published in the renowned journal Science Advances, offers a potential solution to a long-standing agricultural problem and opens new avenues for reducing fertilizer use. 

- A heart attack not only damages the cardiovascular system but can trigger toxic chain reaction linked to depression & anxiety - Identification of methylglyoxal (MG) molecule build up in certain parts of brain following heart attack can be linked to mood and cognition. - Research team has developed a peptide therapeutic that can trap MG to prevent it from damaging cells.