Latest science news in Biology & Nature
The ins and outs of sex change in medaka fish
Scientists could gain insight into atypical sex development in vertebrates, including humans, by studying how nutrition affects sex changes in fish larvae.
T-cells could be made into better cancer killers by increasing their protein production
Researchers have developed a technique to quantify protein production in immune cells known as T-cells, which typically target and kill cancer cells. However, when near a tumor, most T cells...
How a male fly knows when to make a move on a mate
Much like people, fruit flies must decide when the time and place are right to make a move on a mate. Male fruit flies use cues such as age and...
Researchers discover cell reproduction not triggered by retinoic acid as previously believed
Meiosis is essential to sexual reproduction. For almost 15 years, it has been commonly held that retinoic acid, a molecule derived from vitamin A, triggers meiosis in mammalian germ cells....
Algal genome provides insights into first land plants
Cornell researchers have sequenced and analyzed the genome of a single-celled alga that belongs to the closest lineage to terrestrial plants and provides many clues to how aquatic plants first...
Parasitic wasp discovery offers chemical-free pest control for growers
A species of parasitic wasp discovered by chance could provide growers with a chemical-free way of controlling a major pest.
Indigenous collaboration and leadership key to managing sea otter population recovery
A new study highlights the need to engage Indigenous communities in managing sea otter population recovery to improve coexistence between humans and this challenging predator.
Sea turtle nesting in Florida: Loggerheads, leatherbacks off to strong start
Some wonders of nature continue happening despite the global pandemic, and sea turtle nesting season is no exception. In Florida, those turtles are off to a strong start.
Coronavirus: Acting earlier would have saved lives, says Sage member
Locking down the UK sooner would have made a big difference to the death rate, a scientific adviser says.
Algal genome provides insights into first land plants
Cornell researchers have sequenced and analyzed the genome of a single-celled alga that belongs to the closest lineage to terrestrial plants and provides many clues to how aquatic plants first...
First fossil nursery of the great white shark discovered
An international research team discovered the first fossil nursery area of the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias in Chile. This discovery provides a better understanding of the evolutionary success of...
First fossil nursery of the great white shark discovered
An international research team led by Jaime A. Villafaña from the Institute of paleontology at the University of Vienna discovered the first fossil nursery area of the great white shark,...
When do plants help or hinder each other?
When plants grow close together, each individual plant has less chance of doing well—at least, that was the accepted wisdom in environmental research. Now Dr. Ruichang Zhang and Professor Katja...
Corn connects many generations of Maya
That corn was highly important in the Maya culture is something that Genner Llanes Ortiz, himself a Maya from the Mexican province of Yucatan, has always known, right from his...
New native grass species have been discovered on the Iberian Peninsula and Menorca
The team of researchers from the project Flora ibericaX(2) have discovered two new native grasses on the Iberian Peninsula and in Menorca, respectively. These two species, which are new to...
Cockle shells picked to treat dog cancer
The calcium mineral from which many shellfish, such as cockles, make their shells can be used to form nanoparticles. These nanoparticles can then be "loaded" with small drug molecules, such...
Peculiar behavior of the beetle Toramus larvae, carrying their exuviae
When studying the larval morphology of Toramini (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) we found that larvae of the genus Toramus attach their exuviae to their distal abdomen, with each exuvia from the preceding...
Basics of heartworm disease testing
Summer is growing closer and as the weather begins to warm up, mosquitos will become more active.
Fruit fly study unlocks insights into human mating rituals
A new study from Western identifies a specific gene in fruit flies that drives female mate acceptance and rejection—a vital discovery for understanding how all species, including humans, survive and...
How the darter got stripes: Expanding a sexual selection theory explains animal patterns
Samuel Hulse, a Ph.D. candidate at UMBC, spent a lot of time in waders over the last two years. He traipsed from stream to stream across the eastern U.S., carefully...
CRISPR a tool for conservation, not just gene editing
The gene-editing technology CRISPR has been used for a variety of agricultural and public health purposes -- from growing disease-resistant crops to, more recently, a diagnostic test for the virus...
The European viper uses cloak-and-dazzle method to escape predators
A study by researchers at the University of Jyväskylä demonstrate that the characteristic zig-zag pattern on a viper's back performs seemingly opposing functions during a predation event. At first, the...
Researchers uncover the arks of genetic diversity in terrestrial mammals
Mapping the distribution of life on Earth, from genes to species to ecosystems, is essential in informing conservation policies and protecting biodiversity. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the...
Great white sharks tracked off the Carolina coast
A group of migrating great white sharks are suddenly acting like tourists along the Carolina coast. But apparently there's nothing to fear. Meg Oliver explains.
University of California to end use of SAT, ACT in admissions
The University of California has suspended the use of SAT and ACT exams as part of admission requirements until 2024.
CRISPR a tool for conservation, not just gene editing
The gene-editing technology CRISPR has been used for a variety of agricultural and public health purposes—from growing disease-resistant crops to, more recently, a diagnostic test for the virus that causes...
FBI: Texas Navy base shooting 'terrorism-related'
The FBI said a Thursday morning shooting at a U.S. Navy base in southeastern Texas was terrorism-related and a second suspect may be at large.
Genetic Barcodes Can Ensure Authentic DNA Fingerprints
Engineers at Duke University and the New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering have demonstrated a method for ensuring that an increasingly popular method of genetic identification called “DNA fingerprinting”...