Latest science news in Biology & Nature
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.
Dock and harbor: A novel mechanism for controlling genes
The genetic information within cells makes individuals unique. The cell nucleus has a complex structure that harbors this genetic information. The main component of the nucleus is chromatin, an intercalated...
Waiting game: testing the patience of predators and prey
'Like a frog stared down by a snake', goes an old Japanese expression, descrbing an animal petrified with fear.
Tiger Woods, Peyton Manning favored to beat Tom Brady, Phil Mickelson in golf match
Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning have opened as betting favorites to beat Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady in their May 24 charity golf match.
A synthetic genetic circuit to quantify repeat deletion in bacteria
Repeat sequences are ubiquitous in the genomes of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The rearrangement between direct repeats can result in deletions or expansions of DNA sequences, contributing to the genetic plasticity,...
New anti-COVID-19 nanocoating surface developed
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers are developing safe anti-viral nanoparticle coatings that demonstrate significant potential in preventing active surface infection with SARS-CoV-2.
Study reveals a framework for trifoliate leaf-pattern formation in leguminous plants
Plant leaves exhibit a great diversity of forms that can be grouped into two types: simple leaves with a single blade, and compound leaves with multiple units called leaflets. A...
Hammerhead fins in Hong Kong traced mainly to Eastern Pacific
For the first time, researchers have traced the origins of shark fins from the retail market in Hong Kong back to the location where the sharks were first caught. This...
Animal Roles: Beyond Food and Companionship. The Case of Heparin
Animals play varied and important roles in society. In times of crisis, like those we are living through now, their influence is more relevant and noticeable than ever. We are...
New insights into early embryonic development
The majority of pregnancies that fail do so at a very early developmental stage, before the pregnancy is even detectable by tests. This critical stage, occurring about a week after...
A new imaging approach to see multiple proteins simultaneously
Researchers from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) have developed an innovative method to visualize up to tens of different proteins simultaneously in the same cell. This technology...
Wastewater may help predict the next COVID-19 outbreak
The secret to predicting viral outbreaks like COVID-19 might be in our sewers. A Michigan State University researcher is spearheading a study to determine if viral outbreaks can be identified...
Insects could help increase Europe's food self-sufficiency but will they catch on?
Insects in products such as pasta or bread, microalgae, and single-cell proteins derived from wood could feed and nourish humans and animals in the future. Now, those exploring alternative proteins...
Change of direction in immune defense: Frankincense reprograms inflammatory enzyme
A research team from the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena (Germany) and Louisiana State University has clarified the molecular mechanism behind the anti-inflammatory effect of a natural product from frankincense...
Medicinal plants thrive in biodiversity hotspots
With their rich repertoire of anti-infective substances, medicinal plants have always been key in the human fight to survive pathogens and parasites. The search for herbal drugs with novel structures...
Beetle penis field investigations lead to new species discovery in Norway
It took seven years, countless beetle penis field investigations, and hours upon hours on hands and knees in coastal wetlands. This is the story of all the research that has...
Bill Skarsgard to play Swedish criminal Clark Olofsson in Netflix series
"It" and "Castle Rock" actor Bill Skarsgard has signed on to play Swedish criminal Clark Olofsson in a six-part Netflix drama called "Clark."