Phys.org
Compact CRISPR system unlocks targeted in-body gene editing, with up to 90% efficiency
A research team has engineered a compact CRISPR enzyme, Al3Cas12f, small enough to fit inside adeno-associated virus vectors — the leading vehicle for delivering gene therapies directly into the human body. The enhanced version achieved up to 90% editing efficiency in human cells, a significant leap over its naturally occurring counterpart. This development removes a critical bottleneck in translating CRISPR from lab tool to clinical reality.
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Satellites reveal city methane emissions are rising faster than official estimates
Satellite data from 92 major cities reveals that urban methane emissions are outpacing official bottom-up estimates by a significant margin. A University of Michigan Engineering study found that global urban methane levels rose 6% between 2019 and 2023, reaching 10% above 2020 figures. The findings expose a critical blind spot in how governments track greenhouse gas output, with real-world atmospheric measurements consistently telling a more alarming story than self-reported data.
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How hidden soil fungi 'steal' bacterial DNA to control the rain
Soil fungi and bacteria possess a remarkable ability to influence precipitation, acting as biological catalysts that trigger rainfall from the ground up. A recent study reveals that fungi can acquire bacterial DNA through horizontal gene transfer, effectively stealing the genetic instructions that enable ice nucleation — the process that seeds cloud formation. The finding reframes how scientists understand the living world's role in shaping weather patterns and the water cycle.
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Rivers in the sky are driving stronger and more predictable floods, new study finds
Atmospheric rivers — vast corridors of moisture flowing through the sky — are producing increasingly intense flooding in Portugal, but a new study reveals a counterintuitive upside: they are also among the most predictable storm systems. Their large, well-organized structure creates clear atmospheric signals that forecasters can detect in advance. This means the storms posing the greatest risk to infrastructure may also offer the best window for early warning.
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Physicists discover how to reverse 'quantum scrambling'
Physicists at UC Irvine have found a way to reverse quantum scrambling, a process that causes quantum computers to lose stored information. The breakthrough could prove critical to making quantum computing more reliable and practical for real-world applications. As quantum systems scale up, preserving data integrity becomes one of the field's most pressing engineering challenges.
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