For cells, communication is a matter of life and death. The ability to tell other members of your species - or other parts of the body - that food supplies are running low or that an invading pathogen is near can be the difference between survival and extinction. Scientists have known for decades that cells can secrete chemicals into their surroundings, releasing a free-floating message for all to read. More recently, however, scientists discovered that cells could package their molecular information in what are known as extracellular vesicles. Like notes passed by children in class, the information packaged in an extracellular vesicle is folded and delivered to the recipient.
The past five years have seen an explosion of research into extracellular vesicles. As scientists uncovered the secrets about how the vesicles are made, how they package their information and how they're released, it became clear that there are powerful similarities between vesicles and viruses.
Comment: There is good reason to be concerned:
- Yellowstone's Steamboat geyser sees rare eruption weeks after tremor swarm (VIDEO)
- 'Red notice' issued to airlines as Sinabung volcano eruption shoots ash 16,000ft in Indonesia (VIDEOS)
- Series of stronger eruptions at Stromboli volcano in Italy
- Powerful earthquake in Bárðarðarbunga, Iceland, one of Vatnajökull's monster volcanoes
- Fears growing over possible eruption of Canary Islands' Mount Teide, nearly 300 earthquakes have shaken the island within 10 days
- First pyroclastic flow recorded from Shinmoedake volcano eruption in Japan
For more, check out SOTTs monthly documentary: SOTT Earth Changes Summary - April 2018: Extreme Weather, Planetary Upheaval, Meteor Fireballs