Latest science news in Biology & Nature
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.
Going beyond political borders to protect threatened animals
During a global extinction crisis and rapidly changing world, many nations are now looking to harden their borders to restrict the movement of people.
Researchers analyze how the fungus that causes verticillium wilt attacks olive trees
Researchers from the Universities of Valencia and Cordoba, as well as from the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), have studied the fungus that causes...
Scientists study growth rate effect of gut bacteria on degradation of dietary fiber
It is known that approximately 80% of the human immune system functions within the gastrointestinal tract. Gut bacteria and their metabolites play a fundamental role in the interaction between gut...
Surveying the lipid landscape with newly unveiled lipid analysis software
Researchers increasingly aim at using the manifold functions of lipids in our bodies, e.g., as blood fats or in blood coagulation, to better understand and predict diseases. An international team...
Researchers unlock genomic secrets of scaly-foot snail
Despite an extreme environment characterized by high pressure, high temperature, strong acidity and low oxygen levels resembling living conditions in prehistoric times, hydrothermal vents harbor a diverse population of creatures,...
Coronavirus: Fears for future of endangered chimps in Nigeria
Devastated by hunting and logging, the chimps now face threats from coronavirus, says conservationist.
U.N. human rights expert: Myanmar targeting civilians in fight with rebels
The U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar said its military, the Tatmadaw, has increased attacks against the rebel army and is increasingly targeting civilians.
Poaching could increase under virus lockdowns: watchdog
Poaching of endangered species could rebound as authorities divert their attention to enforcing coronavirus lockdown measures, an international wildlife watchdog said Wednesday, reporting stockpiling of ivory and other animal products...
Foot feathering in domesticated breeds of pigeons and chickens use same gene regulatory networks
Poultry geneticists have long studied the inheritance of a prized fancy chicken breeding trait; feathered legs.
Foot feathering birds flock genetically together
Like trains running on separate but parallel tracks, sometimes the forces of evolution can affect different species running along these tracks in very similar ways.
New insights into how genes control courtship and aggression
Fruit flies, like many animals, engage in a variety of courtship and fighting behaviors. Now, Salk scientists have uncovered the molecular mechanisms by which two sex-determining genes affect fruit fly...
Markets for corn evaporate during coronavirus pandemic
The market for corn has evaporated during the coronavirus pandemic, and farmers worry they'll be unable to sell this year's harvest.
Career Ladder: Abril Estrada
This biomaterials chemist makes pet food proteins from nonanimal sources
New insights into how genes control courtship and aggression
Fruit flies, like many animals, engage in a variety of courtship and fighting behaviors. Now, scientists have uncovered the molecular mechanisms by which two sex-determining genes affect fruit fly behavior....
New species of moths discovered in the Alps named after three famous alpinists
An entomologist used an integrative research approach to study four long-known, yet controversial European moths. It turned out that he was not dealing with four, but seven species.
Genomic secrets of scaly-foot snail from hydrothermal vents
Researchers have decoded for the first time the genome of Scaly-foot Snail, a rare snail inhabited in what scientists called 'the origin of life'- deep-sea hydrothermal vents characterized with near-impossible...
Making sense of the viral multiverse
Researchers propose a new classification system, capable of situating coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2 within the enormous web of viruses across the planet, known as the virosphere.
Surveying the lipid landscape
Software LipidCreator enables researchers to characterize 60 lipid classes in cells with mass spectrometry.
Understanding deer damage is crucial when planting new forests
Scientists say understanding the risk of damage by deer to new and existing forests in Britain is crucial when considering their expansion.
Virus genomes help to explain why a major livestock disease has re-emerged in Europe
Livestock diseases like bluetongue virus (BTV) can have devastating economic and health consequences, but their origins can be difficult to establish. New research shows that the recent re-emergence of BTV...
Nick Cordero's COVID-19 battle takes a turn; Broadway cast mates salute him in song
As Broadway actor Nick Cordero suffers a health setback, his former "Waitress" and "Rock of Ages" costars have united for tributes to help support him.
Arctic bird turns down immune system to conserve energy in winter
To survive the Arctic's frigid temperatures, animals must use their energy efficiently. According to a new study, one Arctic bird species, the Svalbard rock ptarmigan, utilizes a previously unknown energy-saving...
Sign warns 'mystery human poo-er' to stop defecating on garage
An Australian resident posted a sign warning a "mystery human poo-er" that cameras were being put up to discourage defecation on their property.
Light-based deep brain stimulation relieves symptoms of Parkinson's disease
Biomedical engineers have used light-based deep brain stimulation to treat motor dysfunction in an animal model of Parkinson's disease. Succeeding where earlier attempts have failed, the method promises to provide...
Researchers' method holds promise for brain study, better tests for viruses
Researchers have developed a promising method for remotely stimulating activity in deep brain regions, advancing understanding of how molecules act in the brain and paving the way for better cancer...
Invasive lionfish likely to become permanent residents in the Mediterranean
A team of international scientists has shown the species, first seen off the coast of Cyprus in 2012, is now thriving and well-established right across southern Europe.
How the heart affects our perception
When we encounter a dangerous situation, signals from the brain make sure that the heart beats faster. When we relax the heart slows down. But the heartbeat also affects the...