Latest science news in Biology & Nature
2019 saw record number of internally displaced persons, IDMC report shows
More than 33 million new displaced persons were added to the total last year, the highest annual figure in seven years, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center said.
Horny lemurs use body odor as a pick-up line
Snuggly, stinky, lemurs. (Daniel C. Devor/)For ring-tailed lemurs, love stinks. They practically use body odor as a pick-up line, with ring-tails rubbing their fluffy tails into scent glands on their wrists so that...
A step toward a better way to make gene therapies to attack cancer, genetic disorders
A UCLA-led research team today reports that it has developed a new method for delivering DNA into stem cells and immune cells safely, rapidly and economically. The method, described in...
Invasive lionfish likely to become permanent residents in the Mediterranean
An invasive species first identified in the Mediterranean Sea just eight years ago is likely to become a permanent feature of the region, a new study suggests.
Microneedle device could deliver "life-saving" treatment to diseased fruit plants
Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineers have developed a precision injection system for plants to potentially help orange, olive and banana crops threatened by diseases.
Grassland studies, radar-tracked bumblebees offer clues for protecting pollinators
Scientists used a radar to track a bumblebee from its maiden flight until death for the first time as part of wider research racing to understand the impact and needs...
Work on rare molecule could enhance cancer cell therapy
Stanford University chemist Paul Wender and his colleagues are working to improve treatments for cancer, HIV and Alzheimer’s – and they are betting that a drab, weedy marine invertebrate is the means...
A more efficient way to make gene therapies attack cancer, genetic disorders
A UCLA-led research team today reports that it has developed a new method for delivering DNA into stem cells and immune cells safely, rapidly and economically. The method, described in...
Grassland studies, radar-tracked bumblebees offer clues for protecting pollinators
Scientists used a radar to track a bumblebee from its maiden flight until death for the first time as part of wider research racing to understand the impact and needs...
Honey bees could help monitor fertility loss in insects due to climate change
New research could help scientists track how climate change is impacting the birds and the bees... of honey bees.
Work on rare molecule aims to enhance cell therapy and deliver functional cure for HIV
Stanford University chemist Paul Wender and his colleagues are working to improve treatments for cancer, HIV and Alzheimer's—and they are betting that a drab, weedy marine invertebrate is the means...
Hurricanes twist evolution in island lizards
Hold that thought: A good grip can mean the difference between life and death for lizards in a hurricane—and as a result, populations hit more frequently by hurricanes have larger...
Three years of monitoring of Oregon's gray whales shows changes in health
Three years of 'health check-ups' on Oregon's summer resident gray whales shows a compelling relationship between whales' overall body condition and changing ocean conditions that likely limited availability of prey...
Research on the International Space Station shows key changes in cultured heart cells
Spaceflight changes much about the human body, including how the heart functions and how cells that create heart tissue behave. Scientists studying these changes on the International Space Station continue...
Watch: Large alligator found stranded on highway side of chain-link fence
The Florida Highway Patrol said troopers spotted an unusually large alligator trying unsuccessfully to get to the other side of a chain-link fence at the side of a highway.
Rapid evolution in fish: Genomic changes within a generation
Researchers have identified the genetic basis of rapid adaptation using a native fish species. They compared threespine stickleback fish from different habitats in the Lake Constance region. Their study reveals...
Hawaii won't reopen anytime soon. Coronavirus stay-at-home order extended through May
The islands will keep stay-at-home rules in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Proteasome phase separation for destruction
The proteasome is a major proteolytic machine that regulates cellular proteostasis through selective degradation of ubiquitylated proteins. As the maintenance of protein homeostasis is essential to human health, malfunctions of...
Disappearance of animal species takes mental, cultural and material toll on humans
For thousands of years, indigenous hunting societies have subsisted on specific animals for their survival. How have these hunter-gatherers been affected when these animals migrate or go extinct?
Three years of monitoring of Oregon's gray whales shows changes in health
Three years of "health check-ups" on Oregon's summer resident gray whales shows a compelling relationship between whales' overall body condition and changing ocean conditions that likely limited availability of prey...
New York maps coronavirus genome to help track future outbreaks
Scientists at New York City's health department have begun to analyze the novel coronavirus's genetic material to allow them to trace the origins of any future outbreaks in the coming...
What's the best way to identify male hemp seedlings?
The surge in cannabidiol (CBD) popularity means more farmers are growing non-intoxicating strains of cannabis, or hemp, for CBD production. This new market has led to commercial genetic tests for...
Scientists use bacteria to help plants grow in salty soil
A new study has shown that salt-tolerant bacteria can be used to enhance salt tolerance in various types of plants. The new approach could increase crop yield in areas dealing...
Tube worm slime displays long-lasting, self-powered glow
When threatened, the marine parchment tube worm secretes a sticky slime that emits a unique long-lasting blue light. New research into how the worm creates and sustains this light suggests...
Communities of Microbes Found to Have Working Memory
Memory imprints: Researchers used light exposure to impress a complex pattern (UC San Diego’s former Geisel Library logo, spread across an area slightly smaller than the thickness of a human...
New species of moths discovered in the Alps named after three famous alpinists
The discovery of new, still unnamed animal species in a well-researched European region like the Alps is always a small sensation. All the more surprising is the description of a...
How do epidemics spread and persist before and after introduction of a vaccine?
In the most detailed study to date of epidemic spread, an international team of researchers has modeled measles dynamics based on over 40 years of data collected in England and...
Bronze Age swords bear the marks of skilled fighters
Warriors during the Bronze Age used their weapons in skillful ways that would have required lots of training in specific techniques, researchers say.