Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Baby dragons take their bow in a Slovenian cave
Three rare aquatic creatures known as baby dragons are going on display in an aquarium at Slovenia's Postojna Cave, one of the country's biggest tourist attractions.
Lockdowns are no problem for whale sharks in Tanzania
Global lockdowns pose few problems for whale sharks off Tanzania. New research shows that these gigantic fish prefer to stay in the bay they call home.
New global extinction target proposed
With species fast disappearing, the world needs a single target for fighting extinction, say experts.
HIV can travel from the brain, study with animals shows
HIV can reside in brain cells and spread the AIDS-causing virus to the body, a new study in mice indicates.
2020 MLB Draft: Tigers add more bats, Astros make first picks on Day 2
Less than 24 hours after taking Arizona State slugger Spencer Torkelson with the No. 1 overall pick, the Detroit Tigers used their first four picks on hitters during the second...
Three neuroscience start-ups raise funds for small molecules that regenerate or protect brain tissue
Athira, Autobahn, and Prilenia together raised more than $220 million this month
One gene could explain why some male birds are more colorful than females
The gene codes for an enzyme that degrades reddish-orange pigments seen in the plumage of some male birds
'Matador' guppies trick predators
Trinidadian guppies behave like matadors, focusing a predator's point of attack before dodging away at the last moment, new research shows.
Denisovan DNA influences immune system of modern day Oceanian populations
More than 120,000 novel human genetic variations that affect large regions of DNA have been discovered, some of which are linked to immune response, disease susceptibility or digestion.
Solving a Parkinson's disease puzzle through protein design
Scientists have developed a computational protein design approach, and used it to obtain the first ever high-resolution structure of an activated dopamine receptor in its natural cell membrane environment. The...
Crop pathogens 'remarkably adaptable'
Pathogens that attack agricultural crops show remarkable adaptability to new climates and new plant hosts, new research shows.
Return of sea otters to B.C. coast worth millions, but not everyone seeing the benefits, study says
The return of playful, popular sea otters to the Pacific shores of British Columbia is adding nearly $50 million a year to the province's economy despite their impact on valuable...
Research reveals function of genetic pathway for reproductive fitness in flowering plants
Small RNAs are key regulators involved in plant growth and development. Two groups of small RNAs are abundant during development of pollen in the anthers—a critical process for reproductive success....
Watch: Florida family finds alligator swimming in backyard pool
A Florida family captured video of an alligator trespassing on their property and taking a dip in their backyard swimming pool.
Terrestrial extinctions during Great Dying altered the chemistry of Earth's oceans
The loss of plants and animals on land during the the Permian-Triassic extinction led to significant chemical changes in Earth's oceans.
Scientists want to build a Noah’s Ark for the human microbiome
Our bodies host a vast ecosystem of bacteria, viruses and fungi. Just as scientists are beginning to understand how this microbiome supports human health, hallmarks of modern life such as antibiotics and processed...
Neuroscientists discover neural circuits that control hibernation-like behaviors in mice
Neuroscientists have discovered a population of neurons in the hypothalamus that controls hibernation-like behavior, or torpor, in mice, revealing for the first time the neural circuits that regulate this state....
Roadkill study identifies animals most at risk in Europe
New method used to predict how many birds and mammals are being killed on European roads, as well as identifying species whose long-term survival is threatened by roads. Roadkill risk...
Newly synthesized fungal compound can switch on a self-destruct button for cancer
Cancers cells use a special technique to propagate; they delete their 'programmed death' gene through mutation, 'forget' to die when their lifetime is over, and continue to grow instead. A...
Linking glutamate receptor movements and synapse function
Regulation of neurotransmitter receptor content at synapses is achieved through a dynamic equilibrium between biogenesis and degradation pathways, receptor stabilization at synaptic sites, and receptor trafficking in and out synapses....
A noncompeting pair of human neutralizing antibodies block COVID-19 virus binding to its receptor ACE2
Neutralizing antibodies could potentially be used as antivirals against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Here, we report isolation of four human-origin monoclonal antibodies from a convalescent patient, all of...
A genetic mechanism for sexual dichromatism in birds
Sexual dichromatism, a difference in coloration between males and females, may be due to sexual selection for ornamentation and mate choice. Here, we show that carotenoid-based dichromatism in mosaic canaries,...
Very fast CRISPR on demand
CRISPR-Cas systems provide versatile tools for programmable genome editing. Here, we developed a caged RNA strategy that allows Cas9 to bind DNA but not cleave until light-induced activation. This approach,...
Temporal integration of mitogen history in mother cells controls proliferation of daughter cells
Multicellular organisms use mitogens to regulate cell proliferation, but how fluctuating mitogenic signals are converted into proliferation-quiescence decisions is poorly understood. In this work, we combined live-cell imaging with temporally...
Structures of cell wall arabinosyltransferases with the anti-tuberculosis drug ethambutol
The arabinosyltransferases EmbA, EmbB, and EmbC are involved in Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall synthesis and are recognized as targets for the anti-tuberculosis drug ethambutol. In this study, we determined cryo–electron...
Membrane-proximal F-actin restricts local membrane protrusions and directs cell migration
Cell migration is driven by local membrane protrusion through directed polymerization of F-actin at the front. However, F-actin next to the plasma membrane also tethers the membrane and thus resists...
Lab turns fluorescent tags into cancer killers
A Rice University lab's project to make better fluorescent tags has turned into a method to kill tumors. Switching one atom in the tag does the trick.
Neurons that control hibernation-like behavior are discovered
The dream of suspended animation has long captivated the human imagination, reflected in countless works of mythology and fiction, from King Arthur and Sleeping Beauty to Captain America and Han Solo. By effectively...