The Attack of the Smart Particles: Should Bacteria Be Afraid?

When acids come into contact with concrete, they initiate a chemical reaction that dissolves the hydrated cement paste. This process leads to softening and structural weakening of the concrete. This issue is commonly observed in environments such as chimneys, sewers, and industrial settings. The severity of the damage increases as the pH of the water interacting with the concrete drops below 6.5. In particular, a pH under 4.5 can cause significant concrete damage.
The rate at which hydrogen...

Sulfate attack on concrete is a deterioration process characterized by a whitish discoloration beginning at the edges and corners, accompanied by cracking and spalling. This phenomenon occurs when sulfates react with the components of hardened concrete, forming compounds like calcium sulfate and calcium sulfoaluminate which occupy more space than the substances they replace, causing the concrete to expand and disrupt.
Sulfates from sources like soil, groundwater, or industrial effluents...

Dalton was only partially correct about the particles that make up matter. All matter is composed of atoms, and atoms are composed of three smaller subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. These three particles account for the mass and the charge of an atom.

Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
The paradox
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their main responsibility is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. While on the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access DNA...

Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their primary aim is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. On the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access histone-bound DNA during...

The “tree of life” describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ancestor to all life on Earth. All other species radiate from this point, much like the branches of a tree. The numerous tips of these branches on the tree of life represent every living, or extant, species. Extinct species, which are species that no longer exist, can be found towards the center of the tree. Currently, these organisms, both...