Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Could Legionnaires’ bacteria lurk in idled buildings?
Editor’s note: Many businesses are closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and some building managers have shut off water and air conditioning to conserve resources. Unfortunately, warmth and...
Alzheimer’s gene triggers early breakdowns in blood-brain barrier, predicting cognitive decline
Although scientists have long known APOE4 is a leading risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, they were unsure how exactly it drives a decline in memory. Scientists believe they have now...
New findings highlight threatened status of forest elephants
Conservation efforts for the African forest elephant have been hindered by how little is known the large animal, according to researchers.
Thousands of miles of planned Asian roads threaten the heart of tiger habitat
Nearly 15,000 miles of new Asian roads will be built in tiger habitat by mid-century, deepening the big cat’s extinction risk and highlighting the need for bold new conservation measures...
Scientists Explore Links Between Genetics, Gut Microbiome, and Memory
A new study is among the first to trace the molecular connections between genetics, the gut microbiome, and memory in a mouse model bred to resemble the diversity of the human...
Look: Swans rescued from disused sewage tanks at Scottish facility
A team of animal rescuers and firefighters responded to a sewage treatment plant to rescue three swans trapped in decommissioned sewage tanks.
Offspring may inherit legacy of their father's Toxoplasma infection
Researchers have revealed for the first time that males infected with the Toxoplasma parasite can impact their offspring's brain health and behavior. Studying mice infected with the common parasite Toxoplasma,...
Shrinking instead of growing: How shrews survive the winter
Even at sub-zero temperatures, common shrews do not need to increase their metabolism.
San Mateo County to reopen trails in 13 parks following coronavirus closures
Certain restrictions will still be in effect at the San Mateo County parks, which have been closed since March 27.
Marooned on Mesozoic Madagascar
In evolutionary terms, islands are the stuff of weirdness. It is on islands where animals evolve in isolation, often for millions of years, with different food sources, competitors, predators, and...
Algae in the oceans often steal genes from bacteria
Algae in the oceans often steal genes from bacteria to gain beneficial attributes, such as the ability to tolerate stressful environments or break down carbohydrates for food, according to a...
Thousands of miles of planned Asian roads threaten the heart of tiger habitat
Nearly 15,000 miles of new Asian roads will be built in tiger habitat by mid-century, deepening the big cat's extinction risk and highlighting the need for bold new conservation measures...
Watch: Veterinarians remove 4-inch metal fork from dog's esophagus
A veterinary clinic in Australia shared video from the unusual case of a golden retriever puppy that swallowed a 4-inch-long metal fork.
Terminal Island prison inmates have worst coronavirus outbreak in federal system
As of Tuesday, 443 of the prison's 1,055 inmates have the coronavirus, along with 10 staff members. Two inmates have died from COVID-19.
Mechanisms responsible for tissue growth
In adult tissue, the number of cells in tissues and organs remains constant, and any new cells produced by cell division need to be compensated by the loss of other...
Nairobi flies: unpacking the mystery of a small beetle with huge burn power
A huge swarm of small black and red insects were recently seen in a town called Kabarnet, in western Kenya.
New insight into bacterial structure to help fight against superbugs
Scientists from the University of Sheffield have produced the first high-resolution images of the structure of the cell wall of bacteria, in a study that could further understanding of antimicrobial...
Bone proteomics could reveal how long a corpse has been underwater
When a dead body is found, one of the first things a forensic pathologist tries to do is estimate the time of death. There are several ways to do this,...
White-faced capuchin monkeys come down from the trees on Panama's Coiba Island
Crossing a 23-kilometer stretch of ocean from mainland Panama to Coiba, the largest offshore island in the Eastern Pacific, a group of intrepid biologists hoped to find species never reported...
'Disney Family Singalong, Vol. II' to air May 10
Ryan Seacrest is set to host a second edition of the star-studded "Disney Singalong" special.
How a Warming Climate Could Affect the Spread of Diseases Similar to COVID-19
A hotter planet could change the relationship among infectious agents, their hosts and the human body’s defense mechanisms -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
They came to make art in isolation; the pandemic forced them to stay
While guests of Provincetown's Fine Arts Work Center are stuck through June, canceled residencies across the U.S. endanger an artistic ecosystem.
A quantum approach to imaging and sensor problems faced by biologists and clinicians
A host of diseases—like meningitis, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer's disease, even some cancers—are ultimately caused by problems at the cellular level. Hence, understanding what is happening inside cells is essential....
Study suggests elephants may get drunk naturally after all
A team of researchers at the University of Calgary has found that variations in ethanol metabolism abilities in different species may account for the "myth" of natural animal intoxication. In...
Evolution of bacterial movement revealed
An international team with researchers from Leiden revealed how a bacterium repurposed an internal system to control its movements. Movement control is very important in host invasion, which can lead...
First spotted lanternfly hatches reported: Expert provides tips for pest management
Even before the recent news of the season's first confirmed spotted lanternfly hatches in the Philadelphia region, homeowners in many parts of Pennsylvania were gearing up for their annual battle...
Listening for right whales in the ocean deeps
Scientists are using algorithms and machine learning to listen for the distinct calls of one of the world's most endangered animals in a bid to identify where they are and...
With laboratories shut, coronavirus forces scientists to 'stop cold'
The coronavirus outbreak has put science on hold. Now there are discoveries that may never be made and patients who will miss the chance at a breakthrough cure.