Gene discovery opens new path for disease-resistant rice breeding

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters

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Bacterial blight (BB) is a serious plant disease that mainly affects rice plants, especially in warm, humid regions. Due to the severity of BB, discovering and applying BB-resistance genes is strategically important for ensuring stable rice production in Asia. However, genetic strategies to improve disease resistance face a trade-off between crop yield and immunity to disease—since better immunity may be associated with lower yield.

To date, most BB resistance genes (Xa) that have been "cloned"—i.e., identified, isolated, and functionally validated—either originate from wild rice relatives or are loss-of-function mutations in susceptibility genes, suggesting that BB resistance may have been negatively selected during rice domestication.

Despite this finding, researchers recognized the importance of elucidating how resistance genes and their regulatory networks were differentially selected during domestication, in order to guide disease resistance breeding in rice.

To achieve this goal, Prof. HE Zuhua's team from the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with Prof. CHEN Gongyou's team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Prof. DENG Yiwen's team from Zhejiang University, cloned the broad-spectrum BB resistance gene Xa48. They elucidated a new model for broad-spectrum, durable BB resistance involving an NLR immune receptor and its cognate effector, and revealed the molecular mechanism by which XA48 coordinates growth and immunity during crop domestication.

The study was published in Nature on April 8.

Through large-scale germplasm mining, the researchers identified a novel BB resistance gene, Xa48, in the indica rice variety Shuangkezao (SKZ). Combining map-based cloning with GWAS analysis, they cloned the gene and showed that it encoded an NLR receptor protein. Screening and functional characterization identified its pathogenic cognate effector, XopG, and demonstrated that XA48 directly recognized XopG, thus triggering immune responses.

Systematic genetic, biochemical, and cell biology studies revealed that upon XopG recognition, XA48 promoted degradation of the downstream immune suppressor OsVOZ1/2, ultimately activating immune responses. This discovery provides a foundation for breeding high-yielding, disease-resistant rice varieties.

Moreover, the researchers investigated the domestication trajectory of XA48 to understand how it balances growth and immunity. They discovered that the gene encoding the downstream transcription factor OsVOZ1 has evolved two allelic variants: OsVOZ1A and OsVOZ1S. Japonica rice carries only OsVOZ1A, while indica rice has retained both.

The combination of Xa48 and OsVOZ1A imposed a reproductive penalty in japonica—an effect not seen in indica, ultimately leading to the functional loss of Xa48 in japonica. Accordingly, Xa48 was present only in indica (regardless of the OsVOZ1 variant), which is primarily grown in Southeast Asia, a region with high BB incidence. This geographic distribution was consistent with negative selection acting on the resistance gene in japonica, which is traditionally grown in Northeast Asia with lower BB incidence.

Furthermore, the researchers established an immune research platform centered on two major plant immune pathways—pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), mediated by RaxX-XA21, and effector-triggered immunity (ETI), mediated by AvrXa48-XA48—to systematically investigate their synergistic effects during pathogen infection. They developed a comprehensive PTI+ETI platform that integrates these immune networks to improve BB resistance. They also reconstituted broad-spectrum resistance from wild rice in modern rice, offering a novel strategy for sustainable control of crop diseases.

This study lays the foundation for advancing plant protection and crop breeding in China by providing genetic resources and technical support for improving crop disease resistance as part of rice breeding programs.

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Journal

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41586-026-10361-6 

Article Title

Asymmetric selection of a rice immune module and rebuild of disease resistance

Article Publication Date

8-Apr-2026

 

A laser inspired by black holes: extreme physics recreated in the lab

Bar-Ilan University researchers develop an optical system that mimics black hole “ringdown” and enables laser emission

Bar-Ilan University

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From curved space to curved optics: a tabletop geometry that traps light like a black hole—and turns it into a laser.

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Credit: Prof. Patrick Sebbah, Bar-Ilan University

Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have successfully recreated key features of black hole physics in a laboratory setting using an innovative optical system that mimics how black holes behave after violent cosmic events such as collisions or mergers.

In simple terms, the team built a small-scale system where light behaves similarly to the way waves ripple around a black hole. These ripples, known as “ringdown” signals, are the same type detected by gravitational-wave observatories such as LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory). The researchers not only observed these wave patterns in their system but also demonstrated that they can produce laser emission. This provides a new way to study black hole physics in a controlled laboratory environment.

“This work shows that phenomena we usually associate with the most extreme objects in the universe can be recreated and explored on a tabletop,” said Prof. Patrick Sebbah, from the Department of Physics and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials at Bar-Ilan University, who led the study. “By using light in carefully designed structures, we can directly observe and control effects that are otherwise far beyond experimental reach.”

To achieve this, the team designed and fabricated tiny curved optical structures using advanced 3D printing techniques. These structures were engineered to replicate the geometry of spacetime around a black hole. The researchers then examined how light propagates and emits within these structures using a combination of theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and experimental laser measurements. The strong agreement between these approaches supports the validity of the findings.

The motivation for the research stems from the difficulty of studying black hole dynamics directly. Black holes produce characteristic vibrations known as quasinormal modes, which are central to gravitational-wave astronomy but are challenging to observe in detail. By recreating these effects in a laboratory setting, the researchers aimed to make them accessible to direct observation and experimentation.

One of the most surprising findings was that modes associated with the photon sphere, an inherently unstable region around a black hole, can be clearly observed and can even sustain laser emission. This result shows that spatial curvature alone can effectively confine light, without relying on traditional mirror-based mechanisms.

The findings have several important implications. They provide a new platform for studying fundamental aspects of black hole physics in the laboratory, introduce a novel mechanism for light confinement based on geometry, and highlight the value of interdisciplinary research combining optics, general relativity, and advanced fabrication technologies. This work also underscores the growing role of Israeli research in advancing cutting-edge science.

The research was supported by the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Israel Science Foundation, the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation, and CNRS and the French RENATECH network.

The study involved collaboration between researchers at Bar-Ilan University and Université Paris-Saclay, including astrophysicist Dr. Ofek Birnholtz (Department of Physics, Bar-Ilan University) and Dr. Melanie Lebental (Université Paris-Saclay).

Looking ahead, the research team plans to explore more complex black hole geometries, including rotating systems, investigate nonlinear interactions between modes, and develop new photonic devices based on curvature-induced light confinement.

This work, recently published in Advanced Science, highlights a new interdisciplinary direction combining general relativity, optics, and nanotechnology, with both fundamental and technological implications.

 

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Journal

Advanced Science

DOI

10.1002/advs.202517466 

Article Title

Photon-Sphere Modes in Curved Optical Microcavities: A Black-Hole Analogue Laser

 

Study demonstrates: Gifted men exhibit lower levels of conservatism compared to their average-intelligence counterparts

The investigation drew upon data from the Marburg Giftedness Project with 107 gifted adolescents and a matched cohort of 107 average intelligent adolescents

Saarland University

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Maximilian Krolo is the lead author of the study on the political views of gifted individuals.

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Credit: James Zabel

Individuals with high intellectual ability frequently occupy leadership roles across business, science and politics. To date, it has not been definitively established whether a high intelligence quotient correlates with specific political orientations. However, recent research reveals a significant gender-specific distinction: Intellectually gifted men tend to be less conservative than men of average intellectual ability. This study, authored by Maximilian Krolo and Jörn Sparfeldt, was published in the journal Intelligence.

“Our findings indicate that gifted individuals’ political orientations are more similar to those of average intelligent individuals than many might anticipate,” states psychologist and intelligence researcher Maximilian Krolo of Saarland University. The sole notable divergence pertains to social conservatism among men. In this regard, average intelligent men demonstrated higher levels of conservatism compared to gifted men, a difference not observed among women, pointing to a gender-typical dynamic that has received limited scholarly attention thus far,” explains lead author Krolo. He conducted the research in collaboration with Professors Jörn Sparfeldt of Saarland University and Detlef Rost from Marburg University.

The investigation drew upon data from the Marburg Giftedness Project (‘Marburger Hochbegabtenprojekt’), which involved intelligence assessments of more than 7,000 primary school children during the 1987/1988 academic year. Approximately 150 boys and girls attained an intelligence quotient of 130 or above, consistent with the estimated two percent prevalence of gifted individuals in the general population. This cohort was paired with a comparison group of children exhibiting average intelligence and a comparable socio-economic background. Subsequent intelligence testing in the ninth grade identified 107 gifted adolescents and a matched cohort of 107 average intelligent adolescents. These individuals were then observed longitudinally over several decades and surveyed multiple times on a range of topics. “More than 35 years later, we were able to collect data on their political attitudes. Responses were received from 87 gifted and 71 average intelligent adults, amounting to an impressive response rate of approximately 75 percent,” reports educational scientist and psychologist Jörn Sparfeldt.

The study was premised on the hypothesis that individuals with higher intelligence typically exhibit greater openness to new experiences. “We posited that gifted individuals possess an enhanced capacity to engage with complex or nuanced concepts, and therefore might be predisposed to reject rigid political dogma,” explains Maximilian Krolo. A central research question was whether this cognitive flexibility translates into distinct political views in adulthood.

Participants from the Marburg Giftedness Project were asked to position themselves on a conventional left-right political spectrum. They subsequently completed a comprehensive questionnaire assessing political orientation across four thematic domains, which encompassed the following four thematic areas: Regarding economic libertarianism, participants were queried on their views concerning the justice of supporting individuals perceived as less productive. “To assess potential conservative attitudes, we explored participants’ valuation of a shared culture as a fundamental unifying element of society. In the socialism domain, respondents indicated whether they considered income inequalities unjust on the basis of universal human equality,” details Maximilian Krolo. In the liberalism category, respondents evaluated the importance of living life according to their own wishes, provided no harm befell others.

“We analysed differences between gifted and average intelligent groups and examined gender-specific variations. On the straightforward left-right scale, no statistically significant differences emerged; both groups tended to locate themselves near the political centre,” Krolo notes. Analyses across economic libertarianism, socialism, and liberalism likewise revealed no significant differences between groups, even irrespective of gender. “High intelligence does not appear to predispose individuals towards or away from these particular political orientations,” states Krolo.

Conversely, the research identified a pronounced divergence in attitudes towards conservatism. “Our findings suggest that average intelligent men were more inclined to endorse values associated with tradition and stringent social order. By contrast, men with higher intelligence quotients less frequently espoused such traditional conservative views,” Krolo summarizes. Among female participants, no comparable differences were detected. “In the current context, where populist movements across the political spectrum are gaining momentum in Germany and Europe, accompanied by increasing political polarization, it is crucial to empirically investigate these dynamics, rather than relying on speculation. Our study provides a robust empirical foundation as it represents the first systematic examination of the political orientations of gifted adults,” emphasizes Maximilian Krolo.

Previous research, including phases of the Marburg Giftedness Project, indicates that gifted individuals often enjoy advantages stemming from superior academic and professional performance. In areas less directly related to achievement, however, they typically do not differ markedly from average intelligent individuals. “Given that gifted individuals frequently hold influential positions, understanding their perspectives on politics, economics and society is of considerable importance. Their ideas and nuanced viewpoints have the potential to contribute meaningfully to societal progress,” observes Professor Jörn Sparfeldt, who has directed the Marburg Giftedness Project for three years. The current investigation demonstrates that elevated intelligence does not necessarily lead to radical political stances; rather, gifted adults generally exhibit a political diversity and moderation comparable to the broader population. “Further research is warranted, particularly to ascertain whether observed conservative attitudes among some individuals translate into corresponding political behaviours,” adds Jörn Sparfeldt.

Original publication:

Maximilian Krolo, Jörn R. Sparfeldt and Detlef H. Rost: Exploring exceptional minds: Political orientations of gifted adults, published in the journal Intelligence

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2025.101986

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Journal

Intelligence

DOI

10.1016/j.intell.2025.101986 

Method of Research

Randomized controlled/clinical trial

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Exploring exceptional minds: Political orientations of gifted adults

 

Insecticide in insect repellents impairs bumblebees’ ability to navigate

University of Turku

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Researchers tracked the bumblebees' movements using RFID tags attached to them.

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Credit: Kimmo Kaakinen

Even brief exposure to the insecticide used in mosquito repellents can significantly impair bumblebees’ ability to find their way back to the nest. The bumblebees’ ability to navigate back to the nest is vital to the survival of the entire colony.

In the summer, many people turn to mosquito repellents to reduce the insects’ buzzing and bites. One solution that has become increasingly popular in recent years is the Thermacell device, which releases vaporized, pyrethroid-based insecticide prallethrin into the air. There has been much discussion in recent years about the effects of this substance on nature and pollinators in particular, but research data has been limited.

Researchers from the University of Turku and University of Oulu in Finland studied how prallethrin impacts bumblebees’ behaviour. The results of the study show that even a brief exposure to the insecticide can significantly impair bumblebees’ ability to find their way back to the nest.

“For bumblebees, returning to the nest is no small matter, on the contrary, it is essential to the survival of the entire colony. If the workers cannot find their way back, the nest will not get any food,” says Senior Research Fellow Olli Loukola from the University of Turku.

Impact on navigation was clear, but exposure did not increase mortality

The researchers studied the behavior of 167 buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). They were exposed to prallethrin for one, ten or twenty minutes with a repellent device meant for consumer use, after which the bumblebees were released a kilometer from their nest and their return was monitored for three days.

The results were clear. Of the bumblebees in the control group that were not exposed to prallethrin, 37% returned to the nest. The return percent of the bumblebees that were exposed to prallethrin for one minute did not differ from that of the control group. However, of the bees that were exposed for ten minutes, only 17% found their way back, and just 5% of the bumblebees that were exposed to the insecticide for twenty minutes returned to the nest.

For those individuals that managed to return, the time taken to do so was not prolonged. Furthermore, laboratory tests showed that exposure did not increase bumblebee mortality, suggesting that the effect is specifically related to impaired navigation ability rather than direct toxicity.

“Bumblebee colonies depend on workers collecting food, so if they cannot find their way back to the nest, the colony's ability to obtain nutrition deteriorates. Over time, this can weaken the nest, reduce the number of new queens and, in the worst-case scenario, result in the death of the entire colony,” says Researcher Kimmo Kaakinen from the University of Turku.

Researchers recommend reassessing the ecological safety of mosquito repellents

In Finland, the use of Thermacell devices is permitted, but their use is restricted to the immediate vicinity of residential buildings, such as yards and patios. The devices must not be used indoors or in natural environments, such as forests or national parks.

“Prallethrin-based repellents are used in many countries primarily for convenience. In some situations, their use may be justified, for example, in the prevention of diseases spread by mosquitoes,” says Kaakinen.

According to the researchers, it is important to conduct a more detailed assessment of the effects of household insecticides on pollinators. They state that the study’s findings highlight the need to reassess the ecological safety of these products.

Researchers tracked the bumblebees' movements using RFID tags attached to them.

Credit

Kimmo Kaakinen

 

Bumblebees were released from their transport cages a kilometer away from their nests.

Credit

Kimmo Kaakinen

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Journal

Biology Letters

DOI

10.1098/rsbl.2025.0749 

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Volatilized prallethrin impairs the homing ability of bumblebees

Article Publication Date

15-Apr-2026

 

Elite MBAs still influence who reaches the top of corporate America, University of Bath study shows

But benefits are uneven, and study supports ‘Glass Cliff’ theory for female executives

University of Bath

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New research from the University of Bath shows that graduates of elite MBA programmes, particularly the so‑called M7 super‑elite US schools, are significantly more likely to become top management team members and CEOs than those with non‑elite MBAs or no MBA at all.

However, the study of more than 106,000 executives in S&P 500 companies between 2000 and 2018 showed the benefits of holding an elite MBA were not evenly spread between men, women and minorities, and altered according to the prevailing economic winds.

“The value of education continues to be questioned. We wanted to determine whether it is actually worth pursuing an elite MBA, some of which can cost $200,000. The short answer is yes, the benefits are beyond argument in terms of who reaches the most senior posts in the corporate world. But who benefits, and how, is less clear-cut,” said Professor Mairi Maclean, co-author of the study “Elite MBAs in the Making of Top Business Careers”.

The study showed American men consistently gained the most from investing in an elite MBA. It also confirmed that companies turned to women with elite MBAs in more turbulent times, such as in the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 – but this diversifying effect appeared to be temporary to a degree.

“Women with elite MBAs experienced greater career acceleration after that crisis, partly reflecting firms’ increased willingness to appoint female leaders during turbulent periods, which would appear to support Professors Michelle Ryan’s and Alex Haslam’s theory of the Glass Cliff, where women are promoted to higher-risk posts.”

“The same held true for minorities where, possibly, companies were looking for an alternative, more diverse approach to find a way through crisis. However, the picture for minorities is more nuanced. Once that turbulence settled, there was retrenchment - they reverted to their traditional pattern and American men again benefited most from having an elite MBA,” she said.

The study identified four distinct patterns of corporate behaviour towards elite MBAs.

1. Consolidated reproduction – in stable periods, elite MBAs reliably convert into senior appointments, mainly for those who already fit dominant leadership norms.
2. Crisis‑legitimated inclusion – during shocks, such as the Global Financial Crisis, organisations extend accelerated opportunities to some under‑represented groups, especially elite‑educated women.
3. Symbolic accommodation – partial, instrumental inclusion of outsiders into senior roles, without endorsing them fully for the top.
4. Defensive retrenchment – post‑crisis contraction where firms reassert traditional boundaries, which disproportionately harms non‑US nationals.

“Our research does not stretch to the present day but it would not be surprising to find, given the political culture and economic environment in the United States right now, that companies are currently leaning more to defensive retrenchment,” Professor Maclean said.

Published in Academy of Management Learning & Education (2026), the study was led by Professor Maclean in collaboration with researchers at the Universities of Aberdeen, Newcastle, and Alberta.

The authors argued that the study raises critical questions for business schools about equity, legitimacy and the role of MBA programmes in society.

“Despite long‑standing critiques of MBA education, elite programmes remain central to how corporate leadership is constructed. Yet our findings show that symbolic legitimacy is uneven and can shift dramatically in crisis periods,” said co-author Professor Charles Harvey of Newcastle University.

Professor Harvey said the researchers hoped the results would encourage business schools to reflect on how their admissions practices, networks, and credentialing systems shape access to elite roles.

“In particular, they should question whether inclusion initiatives genuinely translate into durable recognition, not just temporary visibility as we have seen during crisis times for female and minority holders of elite MBAs,” he said.

ENDS/tr

Notes to editors:

Please contact the University of Bath Press Office on press@bath.ac.uk

About the University of Bath

The University of Bath is one of the UK's leading universities, recognised for high-impact research, excellence in education, an outstanding student experience and strong graduate prospects.

• We are ranked among the top 10% of universities globally, placing 132nd in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
• We are ranked in the top 10 in all of the UK’s major university guides.
• The University achieved a triple Gold award in the last Teaching Excellence Framework 2023, the highest awards possible, for both the overall assessment and for student outcomes and student experience. The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) is a national scheme run by the Office for Students (OfS).
• We are The Times and The Sunday Times Sport University of the Year 2026.

Research at Bath is shaping a better future through innovation in sustainability, health, and digital technologies. Find out all about our Research with Impact: http://bit.ly/3ISz1Wu 

 

 

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Journal

Academy of Management Learning and Education

DOI

10.5465/amle.2024.0437 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Elite MBAs in the Making of Top Business Careers