Latest science news in Biology & Nature
New tool helps distinguish the cause of blood clots
A new tool using cutting-edge technology is able to distinguish different types of blood clots based on what caused them, according to a new study.
California State University schools to keep campuses closed for fall semester
California State University announced Tuesday that its 23 campuses will remain closed through the fall semester with "limited exceptions" due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nature crisis: Moths have 'secret role' as crucial pollinators
Fluttering creatures of the night are also vital pollinators of plants and flowers, say scientists.
Moths have a secret but vital role as pollinators in the night
Moths are important pollen transporters in English farmland and might play a role in supporting crop yields, according to a new UCL study.
Brain power in numbers: Ants use collective cognition to navigate obstacles
For a single ant, the world can be an overwhelmingly big place. To safely navigate their environs, ants rely on collective cognition.
'Steering wheel' brain neurons control if mouse turns left, right, researchers find
Scientists have found a group of neurons responsible for controlling the direction that mice turn.
'Water wires' may play bigger role in cellular function
Each of our cells is surrounded by a complex membrane that functions as a biological border, letting ions and nutrients such as salt, potassium and sugar in and out. The...
'Brain's steering wheel' in the brainstem of mice
In a new study in mice, neuroscientists have found neurons in the brain that control how the mice turn right and left. They hope that the new knowledge can be...
Malaria mosquitoes eliminated in lab by creating all-male populations
A modification that creates more male offspring was able to eliminate populations of malaria mosquitoes in lab experiments.
Marine waste management: Recycling efficiency by marine microbes
It was only relatively recently that tiny, single-celled thaumarchaea were discovered to exist and thrive in the pelagic ocean, where their population size of roughly 1028 (10 billion quintillion) cells...
Ants use collective 'brainpower' to navigate obstacles
Ants use their numbers to overcome navigational challenges that are too large and disorienting to be tackled by any single individual, reports a new study.
Ants use collective 'brainpower' to navigate obstacles
Ants use their numbers to overcome navigational challenges that are too large and disorienting to be tackled by any single individual, reports a new study in the open-access journal eLife.
DNA metabarcoding reveals metacommunity dynamics in a threatened boreal wetland
Researchers found that DNA metabarcoding is an effective tool for detection of a broad range of biodiversity in water samples compared to traditional morphological identification methods.
The butterfly effect: Climate change could cause decline of some alpine butterfly species
The long-term effects of climate change suggests that the butterfly effect is at work on butterflies in the alpine regions of North America, according to a new study -- and...
Little skates could hold the key to cartilage therapy in humans
Unlike humans and other mammals, the skeletons of sharks, skates, and rays are made entirely of cartilage and they continue to grow that cartilage throughout adulthood. New research finds that...
Can we really tell male and female dinosaurs apart?
Scientists worldwide have long debated our ability to identify male and female dinosaurs. Now, research has shown that despite previous claims of success, it's very difficult to spot differences between...
The race to pick the best medicines to try against coronavirus
Medicinal chemist Derek Lowe and NCATS repurposing expert Matthew Hall weigh in on current efforts to repurpose existing drugs for COVID-19
What we can't see can help us find things
Anyone who's ever tried to find something in a hurry knows how helpful it is to think about the lost item's color, size and shape. But surprisingly, traits of an...
Early experiences determine how birds build their first nest
Early life experiences of zebra finches have a big effect on the construction of their first homes, according to a new study.
Adenoviral vectors are the new COVID-19 vaccine front-runners. Can they overcome their checkered past?
CanSino Biologics, Johnson & Johnson, and the University of Oxford are all using genetically engineered common cold viruses to make COVID-19 vaccines. The technology is more than 30 years in...
Boston police officer uses mating call to capture escaped peacock
A Boston police officer used a mating call on his cell phone to lure a peacock escaped from the Franklin Park Zoo into custody.
Researchers bringing single-cell gene expression studies to a benchtop near you
By disrupting the expression of a particular gene and observing how this change affects expression of other genes, researchers can learn about the cellular roles of the disrupted gene. New...
DNA metabarcoding reveals metacommunity dynamics in a threatened boreal wetland
The ability to accurately detect changes in ecosystem biodiversity caused by human activity has long challenged environmental scientists and ecologists, but a new study, published in PNAS, has established new...
Little skates could hold the key to cartilage therapy in humans
Nearly a quarter of Americans suffer from arthritis, most commonly due to the wear and tear of the cartilage that protects the joints. As we age, or get injured, we...
Tony Shalhoub returns as Monk to reveal he had COVID-19: 'A pretty rough few weeks'
After reprising his germophobe character Adrian Monk for Peacock's new quarantine series, Tony Shalhoub reveals he and his wife both had COVID-19.
Research on viral junk, quicker drug testing could help outflank coronaviruses
Viruses like novel coronavirus can be sloppy multipliers, leaving lots of junk particles around infected cells during reproduction. That junk may help humans fight illness. Most models of diseases like...
Scientists call for a new perspective for population management of animals in zoos
Many species of birds and mammals reproduce better in the wild than in captivity. When wild populations are threatened, it is of utmost importance to conservation that captive populations are...
Malaria mosquitoes eliminated in lab by creating all-male populations
A modification that creates more male offspring was able to eliminate populations of malaria mosquitoes in lab experiments.