Heat shock reveals rapid protein-control system cells may use to survive

The planet is getting hotter, and life will need to adapt to rising temperatures to survive. One way cells adapt to changing conditions is by synthesizing new proteins. That works well when the environment changes slowly, but if a crisis hits, like a sudden temperature increase, cells cannot wait for new proteins to be built. Instead, cells rely on chemical modifications that can rapidly turn proteins on or off, similar to how a light can be turned on or off without having to buy or throw away a bulb each time.