Author: Andrew Rogers

Plants growing close together can warn one another about incoming stress, helping their neighbours survive conditions that would otherwise cause serious damage. In experiments with thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), researchers grew plants either in isolation or packed closely so their leaves touched. When exposed to intense light stress, isolated plants suffered heavy damage, while crowded plants coped far better by rapidly activating their defences. Within just one hour, densely grown plants switched on more than 2,000 genes linked to protection against a wide range of stresses. Isolated plants, by contrast, showed little change in gene activity. The findings indicate that…

Netflix has converted its $82.7bn (£61.5bn) offer for the studios and streaming business of Warner Bros Discovery into an all-cash deal, aiming to speed up approval and block a hostile bid from Paramount Skydance. The revised offer keeps the valuation at $27.75 per share but removes shares from the structure, giving investors greater certainty and potentially allowing a shareholder vote as early as April. WBD’s board continues to unanimously back the Netflix proposal. Under the deal, WBD investors would also receive shares in a separate global networks company, including CNN and Discovery, which Netflix is not acquiring. Paramount is pursuing…

Forschende haben einen einfachen Bluttest entwickelt, der vor Behandlungsbeginn zeigt, wie gut Brustkrebs auf Therapien anspricht. Der Test misst zirkulierende Tumor-DNA im Blut, die von Krebszellen freigesetzt wird. Niedrige DNA-Werte standen in einer Studie mit besseren Behandlungsergebnissen in Zusammenhang. Auch vier Wochen nach Therapiebeginn erlaubten die Werte eine verlässliche Prognose. Besonders bei aggressivem, triple-negativem Brustkrebs war der Zusammenhang deutlich. Patientinnen mit niedrigen DNA-Werten lebten länger ohne Fortschreiten der Krankheit. Der Test könnte helfen, unwirksame Therapien zu vermeiden und schneller Alternativen zu wählen. Weitere Studien sollen zeigen, ob eine früh angepasste Behandlung die Überlebenschancen verbessert.

Newcastle United failed to capitalise on dominance as they drew 0-0 with Wolverhampton Wanderers.Despite controlling possession, Newcastle lacked creativity and rarely troubled José Sá.Nick Woltemade missed two headers and struggled to provide a focal point in attack.Eddie Howe admitted his side lacked quality and decisive moments in the final third.Wolves stayed organised, defending deep and threatening sporadically on the counter.Teenager Mateus Mané impressed with energy, forcing Wolves’ only early shot on target.Newcastle relied heavily on set pieces but delivery and movement were ineffective.Late saves from Sá denied Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton a fortunate winner.Rob Edwards praised Wolves’ resilience as they…

Chinese customs officials have blocked imports of Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence chips, even though the processors were recently cleared for export by the United States, according to reports. Parts suppliers have reportedly paused production amid uncertainty over whether the move is a temporary restriction or an outright ban. The decision adds to growing confusion in US-China tech relations. While Washington approved exports of the Taiwan-made chips, it also required them to pass through US testing facilities, triggering a 25% tariff. Chinese authorities have not given reasons for blocking the H200, leaving analysts divided over whether Beijing is protecting domestic chipmakers…

A controversial US-funded study on hepatitis B vaccines for newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been cancelled following widespread criticism over its ethics. The decision was confirmed by Yap Boum of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, who said the trial’s design raised serious concerns about withholding proven vaccines from infants in a high-risk country. The $1.6m study, overseen by the US Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, had drawn comparisons to unethical historical experiments. Critics argued it would deny thousands of children a life-saving vaccine by chance. Although some US officials suggested the…

West Ham are willing to sell Lucas Paquetá this month only if Flamengo loan him back until season’s end.Flamengo’s €35m bid was rejected and could rise to around €40m.However, the Brazilian club are reluctant to agree to a loan-back arrangement.They believe waiting until summer could allow a cheaper deal.Paquetá has told West Ham he wants to return to Brazil.West Ham fear losing him now would seriously damage their Premier League survival hopes.The club sit seven points below Nottingham Forest in 17th place.Paquetá has struggled since facing spot-fixing allegations, despite being cleared last year.The episode cost him a move to Manchester…

BP has said it expects to write down up to $5bn from its struggling green and low-carbon energy businesses as it refocuses on fossil fuels under new chair Albert Manifold. The writedowns will mainly affect BP’s gas and transition divisions but are not expected to impact underlying profits when full-year results are published in February. The move reflects a retreat from earlier green ambitions, including attempts to sell a stake in its solar arm Lightsource and the cancellation of hydrogen projects in several countries. BP shares dipped after the announcement, alongside weaker oil trading and falling crude prices, with Brent…

Diageo is reportedly considering selling its Chinese assets as part of a broader overhaul under its new chief executive, Dave Lewis. The owner of Guinness and Johnnie Walker has begun reviewing its operations in China, where sales have been weakening, and is said to be working with Goldman Sachs and UBS to assess options. Diageo’s holdings include a majority stake in Shanghai-listed Sichuan Swellfun, a producer and distributor of baijiu, whose shares have fallen sharply over the past year. Lewis, who took over on 1 January after leading turnarounds at Unilever and Tesco, is known for aggressive cost-cutting and portfolio…

Same-sex sexual behaviour among non-human primates may help reinforce social bonds and maintain group cohesion during times of environmental or social stress, according to new research. Writing in Nature Ecology & Evolution, scientists analysed documented cases across 59 primate species, including chimpanzees, Barbary macaques and mountain gorillas. The study, led by researchers including Prof Vincent Savolainen of Imperial College London, found the behaviour to be widespread, suggesting either deep evolutionary roots or repeated independent evolution. The analysis showed same-sex sexual behaviour was more common in species living in harsher, drier environments with scarce resources and higher predation risk. It was…