November 2018

Nigel Goldenfeld and Thomas Kuhlman

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An article published in the journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” describes the possible role of transposons, commonly called jumping genes, in the emergence of eukaryotic organisms, the ones formed by complex cells that also include multicellular ones. A team of researchers conducted experiments in particular on retrotransposons, which to integrate into DNA require an RNA intermediate, to assess their effects on bacteria. The result is that a DNA repair mechanism typical of eukaryotes but rare in bacteria increases the efficiency of insertion and the effect of retrotransposons suggesting a possible role in the evolution of eukaryotes.

Shining Darkness by Mark Michalowski

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The novel “Shining Darkness” by Mark Michalowski was published for the first time in 2008.

The Tenth Doctor brings Donna Noble to the Andromeda galaxy, where the two travelers go to visit an art gallery. When Donna ends up in the range of a transmat that also beams away one of the exhibits, the Doctor is forced to find a way to follow her. Soon, he realizes that the theft had a purpose that goes far beyond art.

The Doctor chases the spaceship that transports Donna on another spaceship with a crew of sentient machines – mechanicals – and discovers that they’re chasing a group belonging to an anti-machine organization. For centuries in the Andromeda galaxy organic beings and mechanicals have been coexisting peacefully but the Cult of Shining Darkness would radically change the situation.

spined soldier bug (Podisus maculiventris) attacking Mexican bean beetle larvae (Epilachna varivestis) (Photo Agricultural Research Service)

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An article published in the journal “Science Advances” describes a research on a substance produced by spined soldier bugs – species Podisus maculiventris – that could replace some antibiotics in the treatment of certain types of infections. A team of researchers from the University of Zurich and the ETH Zurich discovered that through a mechanism so far unknown this insect produces what was called thanatin. This substance is capable of attacking bac cell walls of bacteria such as the ones of the Escherichia coli family, which includes species that are developing increasing resistance to current antibiotics.

Skeletal reconstruction of Mirarce eatoni. The bones available are in white (Illustration courtesy Scott Hartman)

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An article published in the journal “PeerJ” describes the study of some bones of a primitive bird that lived about 75 million years ago in today’s Utah. Nemed Mirarce eatoni, it belonged to the family of enantiornithines, primitive birds that lived in the Cretaceous period and then died out with dinosaurs. This species shows characteristics similar to those of modern birds that show flight skills equivalent to theirs but this makes it even more difficult to understand the reasons for the extinction of the enantiornithines.

Warren Peace by Bob Shaw

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The novel “Warren Peace” by Bob Shaw was published for the first time in 1993. It’s the sequel to “Who Goes Here?”.

Warren Peace has become an Oscar and as a result is practically invulnerable. He no longer needs food or water and his new body is asexual with the consequence that very quickly he starts getting terribly bored. The other Oscars he works with are not a great company and this worsens his situation.

Even at a Galactic Jamboree, Warren Peace can enjoy nothing but when he realizes that someone is attempting an attack he intervenes promptly. Unfortunately, the object he intercepts is made of pryktonite, a substance that’s the only weak point of the Oscars. The result is that Warren regresses to the state of a normal human being becoming the target of Jeeves, the most notorious criminal in the galaxy.