Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Kew Gardens' Palm House will close for five years for major makeover
The 175-year-old glass house will begin a £50m renovation in 2027.
Watch first-of-its-kind robot elephant go bowling
Researchers have unveiled a miniature robot elephant with special 3D-printed "tissues" that allow for more complex and natural movements. A video shows the elephant grasp a flower with its trunk...
Best underwater cameras 2025 — take photos of marine and freshwater wildlife and fauna
The best cameras for marine observation, surveying and recording your underwater adventures — just in time for Prime Day.
Endurance athletes that carry Neanderthal genes could be held back from reaching their peak
A Neanderthal variant in an enzyme involved in energy production has been linked to a 50% lower probability of achieving elite athletic performance.
OM System OM-3 review — a camera for wildlife and astrophotographers alike?
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Scientists discover changes to the polar vortex that are plunging parts of US into deep freeze
When the polar vortex stretches, North America feels the chill. New research reveals some of the stratospheric patterns controlling these cold snaps.
Amazfit Helio smart ring review — Accurate sleep tracking without breaking the bank
The Amazfit Helio is a great budget-friendly alternative to the Oura Ring — as long as you can look past its short battery life and limited range of sizes.
Why do sharks freeze when flipped upside down?
Many shark species are temporarily paralyzed when turned upside down. But what benefit does this trait have?
Colugo: The 'flying lemur' that doesn't fly and isn't a lemur
This big-eyed rainforest mammal looks like a cross between a bat and a squirrel. It glides between treetops using a furry membrane that connects its limbs.
New pocket-size model of ALS 'breathes and flows like human tissue'
A stem-cell-based "organ-on-a-chip" model of ALS mimics early biological changes seen in the degenerative disease.
Study reveals hidden regulatory roles of 'junk' DNA
A new international study suggests that ancient viral DNA embedded in our genome, which were long dismissed as genetic "junk," may actually play powerful roles in regulating gene expression. Focusing...
Real milk proteins, no cows: Engineered bacteria pave the way for vegan cheese and yogurt
Bacteria are set to transform the future of dairy-free milk products. Scientists have successfully engineered E. coli to produce key milk proteins essential for cheese and yogurt production, without using...
Eyes in the sky: Using drones to safeguard our forests
Originally from Nepal, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) Ph.D. candidate Shiva Pariyar is breaking new ground with remote sensing research that could help reduce economic...
UNB researchers help filmmakers get closeup view of endangered whales
University of New Brunswick researchers had a hand in a new documentary series The Wild Ones that shows endangered North Atlantic right whales up close.
#TheMoment a chonky marmot was spotted in a B.C. park
Taylor Borth tells The National about the moment she snapped a photo of an unusually 'fat' marmot while walking through a park in Kamloops, B.C.
This plant peacefully houses warring ant species by giving them their own apartments
A new study shows that how Squamellaria plants in Fiji house warring species of ants by building them their own little walled-off compartments with separate entrances. When researchers removed those walls,...
Slow and steady progress in decade-long project to save B.C.'s only native turtle
The 10-year project began in 2019, although the zoo was releasing turtles before that and has freed around 3,000 of them over the past decade.
How researchers are mapping genetics in N.B. to detect inherited diseases sooner
Researchers at Vitalité are studying the genes of New Brunswickers to find common variants they may have inherited from their parents. The hope is that with a full map of...
For these dolphins, using sponges to dig up fish is a family tradition
Dolphins off the coast of Australia are swimming around with sponges on their noses. But unlike the orcas who wear salmon on their heads, “sponging” isn’t a fashion statement or...
GPS ear tags help track bison at Sask.'s Buffalo Pound Provincial Park
Buffalo Pound Provincial Park is believed to be the first provincial park in Saskatchewan using GPS ear tags to track the location of bison.
For biologists studying tiny worms, new technologies make big improvements
Two new technologies are helping scientists understand new aspects of organ and nervous system development in C. elegans. One allows them to image worms developing in a natural environment, while...
New study resolves the structure of the human protein that causes cystic fibrosis
In order to better understand how genetic mutations give rise to cystic fibrosis, researchers need to map the protein responsible for the disorder. The new structure has led to new...
For microbes fighting viruses, a fast response means a better defense
Researchers have found that the bacterial immune system targets an invading virus as soon as it enters the cell. This discovery answers a long-standing question about how microbes defend themselves....
Study identifies “night owl” gene variant
Scientists have discovered a common mutation that might explain why some people have trouble going to sleep at night and getting up early. The gene alteration slows the internal biological...
Scientists discover how crucial DNA sequences endure
The centromere region of chromosomes retains the same DNA from one generation to the next. Scientists have gained new insights into how it avoids being scrambled in normal cells, and...
Researchers track fish migration by testing DNA in seawater
For the first time, researchers have successfully recorded fish migration by conducting DNA tests on water samples. Using this method to estimate the abundance and distribution of fish species could...
Shooting the messenger: how one protein allows germ cells to develop
Researchers have identified a molecule that guides the formation of eggs and sperm by preventing a host of factors related to cell death and inflammation from killing the precursors to...
Scientists engineer human-germ hybrid molecules to attack drug-resistant bacteria
Taking a cue from viruses that infect and kill bacteria, the researchers engineered molecules capable of targeting the bugs in a way the human immune system cannot—an approach that could...