Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Antibodies from llamas could help in fight against COVID-19, study suggests
Researchers linked two copies of a special kind of antibody produced by llamas to create a new antibody that binds tightly to a key protein on the coronavirus that causes...
Tree trunks take a licking as koalas source water
Koalas are one of the world's most charismatic animals. But there is a lot we still don't know about them. For example, how do the marsupials access water in the...
Improved neural probe can pose precise questions without losing parts of the answers
A technique for studying individual circuits in the brains of mice has been hampered because the light needed to stimulate neural activity briefly overwhelms the electrodes 'listening' for the response....
Molecular basis of rare neurological disorder reveals potential treatment
Like people, neurons need to talk to one another. But instead of turning thoughts into words, these cells convert electrical signals into chemical ones. Scientists have new findings on how...
Nanostimulators boost stem cells for muscle repair
In regenerative medicine, an ideal treatment for patients whose muscles are damaged from lack of oxygen would be to invigorate them with an injection of their own stem cells. In...
How structural biologists revealed the new coronavirus's structure so quickly
Scientists detail the steps they took to determine the structures of SARS-CoV-2's proteins and the next steps toward COVID-19 treatments
Emergence of deadly honey bee disease revealed
Honey bee colonies from across the UK are increasingly suffering from a viral disease, a new study has shown. The team found that the number of honey bee colonies affected...
Defects in the 'Swiss-army knife' of gene expression may contribute to neuronal diseases like Alzheimer's
When the master regulator of protein production malfunctions, it may contribute to the development of neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's.
Forests 'can take cover to resist alien invaders'
Native woodlands can resist the spread of invasive species if they block light reaching the ground.
Cell studies suggest some repurposed drugs could block replication of SARS-CoV-2
The experiments follow up on an earlier study that identified 69 compounds that could disrupt possible interactions between viral and human proteins
Exploiting a chink in the armor of bacteria could result in new drug therapies
Scientists have identified a key process in the way bacteria protect themselves from attack -- and it heralds a new strategy in the hunt for antibiotics. The researchers have pieced...
What is an allergy sensitizer, and how does a chemical become one?
One researcher now risks death if she enters her former lab building
Exotic bird annoying California neighborhood with loud calls
Residents of a California neighborhood said an exotic bird has moved into the area and is creating a lot of unwanted noise while evading capture.
Scientists identify a new potential reservoir of latent HIV
Scientists have describe a class of cells that preferentially support latent infection by HIV. These cells are characterized by a surface protein called CD127 and are found in tissues such...
Analysis: More black Africans die of COVID-19 than white Britons
Black Africans are nearly four times as likely to die from the novel coronavirus in Britain than white Britons, an analysis released Friday indicates.
Podcast: Diagnose, treat, vaccinate—beating a killer coronavirus
Stereo Chemistry looks at lessons learned from previous epidemics and the global effort underway to stop this new microscopic foe
Coronavirus: Animals in zoos 'lonely' without visitors
Birds, elephants and primates are among those missing guests, zoos around the world say.
This weird trick can make an onion taste like an apple
tk (PopSci/)We know you are bored at home right now—we are too. Here are some puzzles and brainteasers to challenge your family and friends with, either in person or over video chat.Our...
Cause of craniofacial abnormalities
Using CRISPR genome editing in zebrafish, scientists linked an undiagnosed human disease with a rare genetic mutation that causes craniofacial abnormalities.
Balancing impacts of range-shifting species: Invasives vs biodiversity
For many years, the conservation community has embraced the idea that improving connectivity, that is, creating corridors so species can follow their preferred climate, will benefit biodiversity, says a researcher.
How L.A. County residents can get a free Headspace subscription
The app can help you relax, sleep better and get moving during these anxious times.
DNA damage and faulty repair jointly cause mutations
Researchers at EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), the University of Dundee and the Wellcome Sanger Institute analysed over 2700 genomes from C. elegans worms in order to better understand the...
Risky business: Courtship movements put katydids in danger
Reproduction can be risky. In the case of katydids, some hunting bats eavesdrop on male mating calls to locate the insects, but little is known about the risk to mates...
Boosting levels of good fats with an experimental drug that acts on two newly characterized genes
Salk and Scripps Research Institute scientists, along with collaborators at the pharmaceutical company Lundbeck, identified two genes that can regulate levels of healthy fats, called FAHFAs, in mice. The team...
Dolphins to trade former first-round pick Charles Harris to Falcons
The Miami Dolphins have agreed to trade former first-round draft pick Charles Harris to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
New self-forming membrane to protect our environment
A new class of self-forming membrane to separate carbon dioxide from a mixture of gases has been developed by Newcastle University researchers.
How narcissistic leaders destroy from within
When the person at the top is malignant and self-serving, unethical behavior cascades through the organization and becomes legitimized.
Finding more chromosome structures by assuming less
A technique developed by three RIKEN researchers can identify interaction patterns within human chromosomes that conventional methods miss. It will help produce new maps of our chromosomes and uncover the...