In their battle against antibiotics, bacteria are gaining an edge, becoming more and more resistant to antibiotic attacks. But a new paper published in PLOS Biology suggests that computer models could contribute to making more targeted antibiotics, with a reduced risk of increasing bacterias antibiotic resistance.According to the authors of the paper, these laser-like antibiotics could attack specific bacteria in specific areas of our bodies once created, reducing our overall contact with antibiotic drugs, and thus reducing the chance that the bacteria throughout our bodies could become resistant to them.Many biomedical challenges are incredibly complex, and computer models are emerging as a powerful tool for tackling such problems, said Jason Papin, a study author and a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia, in a press release. Were hopeful that these computer models of the molecular networks in bacteria will help us develop new strategies to treat infections. Antibiotic AdaptationsWhen we take antibiotic drugs, we open an opportunity for the bacteria inside our bodies to adapt, developing an antibiotic resistance. Due to the widespread use of antibiotic drugs in modern medicine today, dangerous bacteria are increasingly developing an antibiotic resistance, sapping these medicines of their ability to fend off disease.To address this issue, a team of researchers made a series of computer models of dangerous bacteria, then analyzed the models, identifying their shared metabolic traits. Their analysis revealed a series of metabolic traits that they could use to make customizable antibiotics, allowing them to target particular bacteria in particular body parts, instead of targeting the bacteria throughout the body. Curbing our contact with antibiotics, these targeted treatments could replace non-targeted treatments, which attack a broad spectrum of bacteria.An Alternative to Broad Bacterial TreatmentsUsing a type of computer model called a genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction (GENRE), the researchers discovered that certain metabolic traits are common in certain bacteria, such as stomach bacteria. Using our computer models we found that the bacteria living in the stomach had unique properties, said Emma Glass, a study author and a student of biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia, in the press release. These properties can be used to guide design of targeted antibiotics, which could hopefully one day slow the emergence of resistant infections.Testing this approach in the lab, the study authors showed that targeted antibiotics could curb the survival and spread of stomach bacteria, indicating their potential as a precision-medicine treatment. We still have much to do to test these ideas for other bacteria and types of infections, Papin said, in the press release. But this work shows the incredible promise of data science and computer modeling for tackling some of the most important problems in biomedical research.Article Sources:Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Sam Walters is a journalist covering archaeology, paleontology, ecology, and evolution for Discover, along with an assortment of other topics. Before joining the Discover team as an assistant editor in 2022, Sam studied journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Several of the Roman gold coins that were stuck during the reign of nine different emperors. C. Nosbusch/INRAShareA team of archaeologists recently discovered a hoard of 141 Roman gold coins dating back to around the Fourth Century CE in northern Luxembourg. According to the National Institute for Archaeological Research (INRA), the coins were struck during the reign of nine different emperors who ruled between 364 and 408 CE. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.Eight emperors are shown on the coins. However, three of the coins featured an unexpected rulerEugenius, who only ruled the Western Roman Empire from 392 to 394 CE. Eugenius came to power partially due to the support of a powerful general Arbogast. Arbogast was a Frankthe Germanic-speaking peoples who invaded the Western Roman Empire during the Fifth Century.When Christianity was becoming increasingly dominant in the Roman Empire, Eugenius attempted to restore pagan practices and traditions. His brief reign was marked by conflict and political instability. Eugenius primary opponentEastern Roman Emperor Theodosius Ieventually defeated Eugenius during the Battle of the Frigidus in 394 AD. Eugenis was then executed and Christian authority in the empire began to consolidate.One of the three gold coins showing Eugenius. CREDIT: C. Nosbusch/INRA. Due to his only two-year-long reign, coins like these three bearing Eugenius image are incredibly uncommon.It is extremely rare to be able to study an ancient monetary deposit in its entirety in its archaeological context, the INRA wrote in a translated press release. Its examination will allow us to understand the motivations that led to its burial.The gold solidithe Latin word for gold coins like thesewere uncovered in the ruins of a Roman fort in the village of Holzthum during excavations from 2020 to 2024. The find was kept secret for almost four years. Additionally, the Luxembourg Army Mine Action Service helped with the dig due to the danger posed from several World War II-era explosives and munitions that are buried nearby.The coins are said to be in excellent conditions and have an estimated value of roughly $322,000 (308,600 Euros). In accordance with the legal provisions on cultural heritage in Luxembourg, this sum is reserved for those who have legal rights, such as property holders, over the find.The excavation also uncovered the remains of a small fortified observational tower. These watchtowers were commonly built along the Roman Empires Germanic borders during the 4th Century. There were also several graves surrounding it.With the archaeological excavations now complete, the data is currently being analyzed. These results are expected to be published in a scientific journal at a later date.

NewsAnimalsHand-feeding squirrels accidentally changed their skullsRed squirrels fed peanuts showed signs of weaker bite force versus those getting their own nuts Squirrels love peanuts of course, but peanuts may not love them back. Populations of red squirrels fed a supplemental diet of peanuts developed weaker jaws than those living on a natural, harder nut diet.Simon Hind/500px/Getty Images PlusBy Bethany Brookshire26 seconds agoSoft diet, weak jaws. If red squirrels eat too many peanuts, their jaws end up weaker than the jaws of squirrels eating natural diets, researchers report January 15 in Royal Society Open Science. The results show that supplemental feeding can produce changes in squirrel morphology, potentially affecting their future success.The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) has a dedicated fan base in Great Britain. They are the native squirrel for the U.K., and yet a large proportion of the population probably has never seen one, says Phil Cox, an anatomist at University College London.

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00033-2Researchers need to define safe zones for joint work in which the benefits outweigh the political risks. Heres how.

China has announced plans to build a giant solar power space station, which will be lifted into orbit piece by piece using the nation's brand-new heavy lift rockets.

The new roguelike action-RPG Hyper Light Breaker is on sale for $23.39 until January 21 at Fanatical. The latest release from heralded indie developer Heart Machine entered early access on Steam today, January 14, so this is a pretty generous launch discount. See at Fanatical While purchasing Hyper Light Breaker through Fanatical gets you an official Steam key, Steam is also offering a special launch deal that bundles Hyper Light Breaker with a free copy of the first entry in the series, the Zelda-inspired action-adventure game Hyper Light Drifter, for $27 (was $30). Fanatical's Hyper Light Breaker launch deal does not include the bonus Hyper Light Drifter key, but it's worth considering if you want to save some cash on the new game--especially if you already own Hyper Light Drifter. Continue Reading at GameSpot

Fans of The Sims 3 may be surprised to learn that there's a new update out for the game. The Sims 3, which launched way back in 2009, has received a fix for a long-standing issue that could impact the title's performance on newer computers.

PlayStation Stores extending the new year celebrations with the New Year Deals promotion, starting January 15 for a limited time*. 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The Sims 3 community was confused on Tuesday when they saw an unfamiliar pop-up when launching the 2009 release: Update required. Electronic Arts pushed an update to The Sims 3, updating a patch that was originally issued in 2015, per a Sims wiki. (The last patch listed on The Sims 3s official website is 1.67, which was updated in 2014. The latest patch is 1.69. There is also a 1.70 patch, which is only available for MacOS users; that was issued in 2020.) The new update doesnt fundamentally change The Sims 3. In fact, it doesnt change The Sims 3 at all. Instead, the update fixes an issue that prevented players using computers with 12th generation Intel processors from playing the game. Players with these CPUs would see the game crash on launch. In 2022, a prominent The Sims 3 modder, LazyDuchess, fixed the issue with her own modded patch. Electronic Arts update on Tuesday is the official fix for people using the EA App launcher. Steam players dont appear to have received the update.Naturally, The Sims 3 community is somewhat hesitant about the patch; theyve spent more than a decade amassing modded and scripted content, and theyre worried about an official, forced patch messing it all up. One community member has set up a thorough guide to the update, including how not to update your game, if thats something youd like to prevent. Mods appear to be safe, Reddit user CowardlyCandy said.Polygon has reached out to Electronic Arts for comment.You might be wondering: Why would Electronic Arts update The Sims 3 nearly 16 years after it was released. Though The Sims 4 itself more than 10 years old is still popular, with roughly 30,000 concurrent players on Steam alone, The Sims 3 still has a sizeable community, despite the roadblocks to get it to run on new systems. Numbers arent available on the EA App, but on Steam, The Sims 3 has 1,000 to more than 2,000 concurrent players at any given time. Its pretty impressive for a game to have that sort of staying power.Notably, The Sims is coming up on its 25th anniversary in early February. The developer announced in a community showcase on Wednesday that its adding a bunch of new stuff to The Sims 4 to celebrate including overhauled lighting and updated Sims properties. Electronic Arts is all-in on The Sims 4, The Sims franchise vice president Kate Gorman Revelli told Polygon in September, despite the developer also working on the mysterious Project Rene alongside the long-running game.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.The Pixel 9 Pro is the latest and most premium model in the Pixel lineup, and right now, the unlocked 128GB Google Pixel 9 Pro is discounted to $849 (originally $999). That's the lowest price it has ever been on Amazon, according to price-tracking tools. The 256GB version is also at its lowest price of $947.46 (originally $1,099), doubling your storage for less than $100, as is the 512GB version, currently $1,069 (originally $1,219). Operating System: Android 14, CPU:Google Tensor G4, Dimensions: 6.0 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches. Google Pixel 9 Pro, 128 GB $849.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $849.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $150.00 Operating System: Android 14, CPU:Google Tensor G4, Dimensions: 6.0 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches. Google Pixel 9 Pro, 256 GB $949.00 at Amazon $1,099.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $949.00 at Amazon $1,099.00 Save $150.00 Operating System: Android 14, CPU:Google Tensor G4, Dimensions: 6.0 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches. Google Pixel 9 Pro, 512 GB $1,069.00 at Amazon $1,219.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1,069.00 at Amazon $1,219.00 Save $150.00 SEE 0 MORE The Pixel 9 Pro is the middle-of-the-pack option, sandwiched between the cheaper Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. (the Pixel 9 Pro XL is essentially the same phone, just bigger). The Pixel 9 Pro comes with 16GB of RAM, 128GB of memory storage, a maximum 120 HZ refresh rate, and the Android 14 operating system. As Lifehacker's associate tech editor Michelle Ehrhardt explained in her review of the Pixel 9 Pro, the phone's hardware is the best Google has made so far, but its AI features still have hiccups. However, AI features will keep improving over time; the most important thing to get right is the hardware.The battery life can last around 18 hours and 40 minutes, according to Michelle's review (she watched YouTube videos the whole time). The main camera has a 50MP shooter, a 48MP ultra-wide camera with a 123-degree field of view, and a 48MP telephoto camera with a 30x Super Res Zoom.If you have the Pixel 8 Pro, you might not notice a huge upgrade to this version. However, if you're upgrading from an older version or doing a switch from a non-Pixel phone, the 9 Pro has a lot to love. One of my favorite things about Pixel phones is the ongoing support for many years. My Pixel 6A still gets all of the updates and tons of AI features that make the phone feel fresh many years later, with the latest ones dropping last month. With the Pixel 9 Pro, you'll be getting a quality phone with software updates for a while (as long as seven years).