The sensation of being enveloped by a powerful sound is one we’ve all experienced at some point – whether it’s the rumble of a plane taking off or the thumping bass of a concert. But what if I told you that this experience goes beyond just our ears and brain? Research suggests that our cells, too, respond to sound waves in profound ways.

Sound, as a phenomenon, is often considered simple and straightforward. It’s a mechanical wave transmitted through substances, existing everywhere in the non-equilibrated material world. However, its significance extends far beyond mere existence. Sound serves as a vital source of environmental information for living beings, and its impact on our cells is only just beginning to be understood.

A team of researchers from Kyoto University have been studying the effects of sound on cellular activities. Building upon previous work, they designed an experiment to investigate how acoustic pressure can induce cellular responses. The setup involved attaching a vibration transducer to a cell culture dish, which was then connected to an amplifier and digital audio player. This allowed them to emit sound signals within the range of physiological frequencies to cultured cells.

The researchers analyzed the effects using various methods, including RNA-sequencing, microscopy, and more. Their results revealed that cells do indeed respond to audible acoustic stimulation, with significant effects on cell-level activities. One particular finding was the suppression of adipocyte differentiation – a process by which preadipocytes transform into fat cells. This opens up possibilities for using acoustics to control cell and tissue states.

The study also identified about 190 sound-sensitive genes and observed how sound signals are transmitted through subcellular mechanisms. Perhaps most significantly, this research challenges the traditional understanding of sound perception in living beings, which holds that it’s mediated by receptive organs like the brain. It turns out that our cells respond to sounds, too.

The implications of this study are profound, offering potential benefits for medicine and healthcare. Sound-based therapies could become a non-invasive, safe, and immediate tool for treating various conditions. As we continue to explore the hidden language of sound, we may uncover even more surprising ways in which it influences our cells and overall well-being.

Astronomers have made the most promising signs yet of biological activity outside our solar system. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), researchers detected the chemical fingerprints of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and/or dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) in the atmosphere of K2-18b, an exoplanet that orbits its star in the habitable zone.

These molecules are only produced by life on Earth, primarily microbial life such as marine phytoplankton. While it’s possible that an unknown chemical process may be responsible for these compounds in K2-18b’s atmosphere, the results suggest that life could exist on a planet beyond our solar system.

The observations have reached a level of statistical significance known as three-sigma, meaning there is a 0.3% probability that they occurred by chance. To confirm this discovery, researchers need more data and are hopeful that follow-up observations with JWST may help them reach the all-important five-sigma threshold, where the probability drops to below 0.00006%.

Earlier observations of K2-18b identified methane and carbon dioxide in its atmosphere, consistent with predictions for a “Hycean” planet: a habitable ocean-covered world underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. However, this new signal is more exciting, as it hints at the possibility of biological activity.

To determine the chemical composition of distant atmospheres, astronomers analyze the light from a star as an exoplanet transits in front of it. As K2-18b transits, JWST can detect a drop in stellar brightness and a tiny fraction of starlight passes through the planet’s atmosphere before reaching Earth. This leaves imprints in the stellar spectrum that researchers can piece together to determine the constituent gases of the exoplanet’s atmosphere.

The earlier inference of DMS was made using JWST’s NIRISS instrument, while this new observation used the MIRI instrument in a different wavelength range. The signal came through strong and clear.

Researchers estimate that the concentrations of DMS and DMDS on K2-18b are thousands of times stronger than those found on Earth, which is unusual but not unprecedented. High levels of sulfur-based gases like these were predicted for Hycean worlds, and now they’ve been observed in line with what was predicted.

While this discovery is exciting, researchers emphasize that it’s vital to obtain more data before claiming that life has been found on another world. They’re cautiously optimistic but also keenly aware that previously unknown chemical processes may be responsible for the observations.

The James Webb Space Telescope is a collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), with research supported by a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Frontier Research Grant. This discovery marks an important step towards answering humanity’s most fundamental question: are we alone?

The article highlights groundbreaking research led by NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s Assistant Professor Elizabeth Hénaff. The study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology reveals that microorganisms in Brooklyn’s highly contaminated Gowanus Canal have developed a comprehensive collection of pollution-fighting genes.

These microbes possess 64 different biochemical pathways to degrade pollutants and 1,171 genes to process heavy metals. This discovery suggests a cheaper, more sustainable, and less disruptive method for cleaning contaminated waterways than the current dredging operations.

The researchers also found 2,300 novel genetic sequences that could enable microbes to produce potentially valuable biochemical compounds for medicine, industry, or environmental applications.

The team created an immersive installation, CHANNEL, at BioBAT Art Space in Brooklyn, featuring sculpture, prints, sound, and projections alongside native Gowanus sediment and water. This artwork communicates the stories behind the scientific data, emphasizing the importance of artistic research in understanding and addressing pressing urban issues.

While more research is needed to understand how to cooperate with these organisms effectively, the discovery of such genetic tools for pollution cleanup may offer valuable lessons for environmental restoration worldwide.

The study also reveals concerns about the potential spread of antibiotic-resistant genes among microbial communities. However, it highlights promising potential benefits, including the development of faster methods for cleaning contaminated waterways and adapting bioremediation methods to resource recovery for re-use.

This research was supported by funding from various institutions, including WorldQuant Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and National Science Foundation. The study builds on prior research spanning a decade to understand the Gowanus Canal microbiome.

The findings come as the Environmental Protection Agency continues its $1.5 billion dredging and capping operation at the canal, removing contaminated sediment and sealing remaining pollution under clean material.

The discovery of such genetic tools for pollution cleanup may offer valuable lessons for environmental restoration worldwide. The hardy microbial organisms of the Gowanus Canal have a unique genetic catalog of survival, which provides a roadmap for adaptation and directed evolution that can be used in polluted sites around the world.