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An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: [A] team of Korean researchers [describe] how they've engineered a bacterial strain that can make a useful polymer starting with nothing but glucose as fuel. The system they developed is based on an enzyme that the bacteria use when they're facing unusual nutritional conditions, and it can be tweaked to make a wide range of polymers. The researchers focused on the system bacterial cells use for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). These chemicals are formed when the bacterial cells continue to have a good supply of carbon sources and energy, but they lack some other key nutrients needed to grow and divide. Under these circumstances, the cell will link together small molecules that contain a handful of carbons, forming a much larger polymer. When nutritional conditions improve, the cell can simply break down the polymer and use the individual molecules it contained. The striking thing about this system is that it's not especially picky about the identity of the molecules it links into the polymer. So far, over 150 different small molecules have been found incorporated into PHAs. It appears that the enzyme that makes the polymer, PHA synthase, only cares about two things: whether the molecule can form an ester bond (PHAs are polyesters), and whether it can be linked to a molecule that's commonly used as an intermediate in the cell's biochemistry, Coenzyme A. Normally, PHA synthase forms links between molecules that run through an oxygen atom. But it's also possible to form a related chemical link that instead runs through a nitrogen atom, like those found on amino acids. There were no known enzymes, however, that catalyze these reactions. So, the researchers decided to test whether any existing enzymes could be induced to do something they don't normally do. [...] Overall, the system they develop is remarkably flexible, able to incorporate a huge range of chemicals into a polymer. This should allow them to tune the resulting plastic across a wide range of properties. And, considering the bonds were formed via enzyme, the resulting polymer will almost certainly be biodegradable. There are, however, some negatives. The process doesn't allow complete control over what gets incorporated into the polymer. You can bias it toward a specific mix of amino acids or other chemicals, but you can't entirely stop the enzyme from incorporating random chemicals from the cell's metabolism into the polymer at some level. There's also the issue of purifying the polymer from all the rest of the cell components before incorporating it into manufacturing. Production is also relatively slow compared to large-scale industrial production. The findings have been published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.

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Imaan Coley, 37, and her boyfriend Mohammed Khan, 24, both from Sparkbrook, terrorised two victims, forcing one to drink human urine and holding another captive for months.

Vanity Fair reporter Michelle Ruiz noted of her appearance: 'She trails off with an existential cringe, saying nothing more but, I note, not leaping to denying it.'

The college student, 22, who is being held under de facto house arrest as authorities probe the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, made an audacious bid for freedom.

Dawn Jowett, 61, is said to have taken Dora with her when she moved house after feeding her for 18 months.

Americans are digging through the latest trove of John F Kennedy files released, but there's disappointment after President Trump vowed they would be unredacted.

Billowing clouds of smoke can be seen unfurling from the red ring in Mynydd Gelliwastad in the Clydach area.

The pensioners tragically died following a collision at Crook Gate Reservoir on Huddersfield Road in Denshaw, Oldham.

Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey have been accused of copying Selena Gomez and fiancé Benny Blanco following a Disneyland date over the past weekend on Sunday.

A mother who made vicious threats towards her love rival after they both had a baby with the same man has been fined. Paris Frost, 24, terrified her victim over a seven-month period.

The items are both affordable and stylish

The grieving mother of a young woman who died in a van crash after a police pursuit has paid tribute to her daughter who she described as the most 'loving, kind and caring daughter'.

Jodie Foster was spotted out with a male companion in New York City on Tuesday. At one point he affectionately kissed the top of her head.

The popular Mr & Mrs gameshow format is being revived by ITV who are on the hunt for couples to form the team. To be in with a chance of winning, you have to know your partner inside out.

Florian K., 37, is accused of abusing the 11-year-old boy almost 1,000 times while he was employed as the child's babysitter in Munich, Germany, for seven years.

Louise Fender's 26-year-old daughter Rosie Fender was scared of going outside, had trouble sleeping, and was hearing voices when she died in February 2022.

Italian newspaper Il Foglio claims to have published the world's first entirely AI-generated edition as part of a month-long experiment to explore AI's impact on journalism. The special four-page supplement, available in print and online, features AI-written articles, headlines, and reader letters. The only thing the human journalists provided were prompts. The Guardian reports: The front page of the first edition of Il Foglio AI carries a story referring to the US president, Donald Trump, describing the "paradox of Italian Trumpians" and how they rail against "cancel culture" yet either turn a blind eye, or worse, "celebrate" when "their idol in the US behaves like the despot of a banana republic." The front page also features a column headlined "Putin, the 10 betrayals," with the article highlighting "20 years of broken promises, torn-up agreements and words betrayed" by Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. In a rare upbeat story about the Italian economy, another article points to the latest report from Istat, the national statistics agency, on the redistribution of income, which shows the country "is changing, and not for the worse" with salary increases for about 750,000 workers being among the positive effects of income tax reforms. On page 2 is a story about "situationships" and how young Europeans are fleeing steady relationships. The articles were structured, straightforward and clear, with no obvious grammatical errors. However, none of the articles published in the news pages directly quote any human beings. The final page runs AI-generated letters from readers to the editor, with one asking whether AI will render humans "useless" in the future. "AI is a great innovation, but it doesn't yet know how to order a coffee without getting the sugar wrong," reads the AI-generated response.

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INSIDE TENNIS: The usual procedure following a breakthrough title for a young British tennis talent is to urge caution. But after Jack Draper won in Indian Wells, you have permission to get excited.

Donna Fitchett was sentenced to 27 years in prison in 2010, with a non-parole period of 18 years, for drugging and smothering her sons Thomas, 11, and Matthew, 9, in 2005.

The request is one of 12 pay and working conditions demands made by the union as part of their negotiations with TfL .