Scientists have identified common genetic changes associated with blood pressure and hypertension. The study breaks new ground in understanding blood pressure regulation and may lead to advances in hypertension therapy.

The edible fungus Monascus purpureus imparts a distinct flavor and red color when added to fermented rice dishes such as those served in Asia. Now, with "a helping hand" from science, the fungus could offer a way to address a major public health concern: vitamin A deficiency.

The convenience of fresh-cut produce has greatly increased sales despite multiple food-borne outbreaks. To reduce these risks, strict hygiene programs and sanitizers are used for decontamination once the food is harvested. Preventing microbial contamination in the fields is equally important. Researchers experimented with the use of harpin, a substance known to boost plants' resistance to disease, prior to harvest.

Earth's earliest ice ages may have been due to the rise of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere, which consumed atmospheric greenhouse gases and chilled the earth. A team of scientists from Germany, South Africa, Canada, and the US have uncovered evidence that the oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere coincided with the first widespread ice age on the planet.

Pepsi Bottling Group has rejected a takeover offer from its parent group, PepsiCo, as "grossly inadequate".

Scientists have determined the structure of chlorophyll molecules in green bacteria, which are super-efficient at harvesting light energy. Because the interactions that lead to the assembly of the chlorophyll molecules are rather simple, so they provide good models for designing artificial systems. The research one day could be used to build artificial photosynthetic systems, such as those that convert solar energy to electrical energy.

Even mild cases of acute kidney injury after liver transplantation are associated with lower survival for both the patient and the graft. With more severe injury, outcomes are even worse.

A new explanation for the cause of changes in the chemical makeup of the oceans through recent Earth history has been put forward. Scientists suggest that adjustments in ocean chemistry through recent geological time are driven by variations in the intensity of chemical breakdown of continental rocks by rain and ground water.