Latest science news in Biology & Nature
A changing mating signal may initiate speciation in populations of Drosophila mojavensis
When choosing a mate, females of different subspecies of Drosophila mojavensis recognize the right mating partners either mainly by their song or by their smell. New species apparently evolve when...
'SlothBot in the Garden' demonstrates hyper-efficient conservation robot
For the next several months, visitors to the Atlanta Botanical Garden will be able to observe the testing of a new high-tech tool in the battle to save some of...
New evidence of virus risks from wildlife trade
Animals sold in markets and restaurants in Southeast Asia harbour multiple coronaviruses, study shows.
AI goes underground: root crop growth predicted with drone imagery
Root crops like cassava, carrots and potatoes are notoriously good at hiding disease or deficiencies which might affect their growth. While leaves may look green and healthy, farmers can face...
Plants are marvelous chemists, as the gardenia's DNA shows
Plants are some of nature's most extraordinary chemists. Unlike animals, they can't run from predators or pathogens. They can't uproot themselves to seek out a mate or spread their seeds.
Florida Keys plan killer insect attack on disease-carrying mosquitoes
The Florida Keys is getting closer to adding a new weapon in efforts to control mosquito-borne disease -- genetically modified mosquitoes that produce dead offspring.
Weed's wily ways explained
Like antibiotic-resistant bacteria, some herbicide-resistant weeds can't be killed by available chemicals. The problem affects more than just the errant weed in our driveways; herbicide-resistant weeds threaten our food supply,...
New insights into Alzheimer's disease
Researchers looking at mouse models found impaired functional interactions between the hippocampus and the parietal cortex during the memory replay period, which may yield new insights into Alzheimer's Disease.
Cows take over beer garden at closed restaurant and hotel
A British restaurant and hotel temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic shared video of the beer garden being overrun by some unusual premature customers -- a herd of cows.
The balancing act between plant growth and defense
Researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan have pinpointed the mechanism that regulates the balance between plant growth and defense. Plants synthesize and accumulate protective hormones to protect them from pathogen...
RNA structures by the thousands
Researchers have developed a new method to determine the structures of all RNA molecules in a bacterial cell at once. In the past, this had to be done individually for...
Wind farms on the Black Sea coast could endanger bat populations in Eastern Europe
The Via Pontica, an important migration route for birds in Eastern Europe, runs along the Black Sea coast of Romania and Bulgaria. Bats also use this route. In this region,...
Detecting antibodies with glowing proteins, thread and a smartphone
To defend the body, the immune system makes proteins known as antibodies that latch onto the perceived threat, be it HIV, the new coronavirus or, as is the case in...
DNA secrets of 100 tomato types revealed
When Pulitzer Prize and Grammy award winner Kendrick Lamar rapped 'I got millions, I got riches buildin' in my DNA,' he almost certainly wasn't talking about the humble tomato. But...
Researchers map out intricate processes that activate key brain molecule
For the first time, scientists have revealed the steps needed to turn on a receptor that helps regulate neuron firing. The findings might help researchers understand and someday treat addiction,...
Knock-knock? Who's there? How coral let symbiotic algae in
Biologists have solved a longstanding marine science mystery that could aid coral conservation. The researchers identified the type of cell that enables a soft coral to recognize and take up...
Fighting fish synchronize their combat moves and their gene expression
When two betta fish are fighting for dominance, not only do their attacks mirror each other, but the gene expression in their brain cells also starts to align. The new...
Researchers develop diversity intelligence scale for organizations
University of Arkansas researchers have developed the first diversity intelligence scale that employers can use to ensure and improve diversity, inclusion and equity within their organizations.
Gut bacteria may modify behavior in worms, influencing eating habits
Gut bacteria are tiny but may play an outsized role not only in the host animal’s digestive health, but in their overall well-being. According to a new study in Nature,...
Study Reveals DNA Secrets of 100 Tomato Types
When Pulitzer Prize and Grammy award winner Kendrick Lamar rapped “I got millions, I got riches buildin’ in my DNA,” he almost certainly wasn’t talking about the humble tomato. But...
Premature epigenomic aging acts like a ‘sleeper cell’ that is awaken by Western-style diet
The epigenome is sometimes referred to as the “software” or “operating system” of the genome. It comprises small chemical modifications to DNA and the proteins that make up our chromosomes,...
How does our brain trigger different sighs?
One group of neurons controls various types of sighing, but they receive their instructions from different areas of the brain depending on the reason for the sigh, according to a...
Hummingbirds can see colors we can’t even imagine
Human color vision depends on three types of cones—special cells sensitive to red, blue, or green light. However, many birds, reptiles, and fish have an additional kind of cone that can pick...
Fighting fish synchronize their combat moves and their gene expression
When two betta fish are fighting for dominance, not only do their attacks mirror each other, but the gene expression in their brain cells also starts to align. The new...
A changing mating signal may initiate speciation in populations of Drosophila mojavensis
When choosing a mate, females of different subspecies of Drosophila mojavensis recognize the right mating partners either mainly by their song or by their smell. This was discovered by researchers...
Light-activated 'CRISPR' triggers precision gene editing and super-fast DNA repair
In a series of experiments using human cancer cell lines, scientists say they have successfully used light as a trigger to make precise cuts in genomic material rapidly, using a...
Oocyte collection and embryo creation in southern white rhinos
In order to prevent the extinction of species such as the northern white rhino, experts are developing new methods and technologies for conservation.
A Neanderthal woman from Chagyrskaya Cave
Until now, the genomes of only two Neanderthals have been sequenced in high quality: one from Vindjia Cave in modern-day Croatia and one from Denisova Cave in Siberia's Altai Mountains....