Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Endurance athletes that carry Neanderthal genes could be held back from reaching their peak
A Neanderthal variant in an enzyme involved in energy production has been linked to a 50% lower probability of achieving elite athletic performance.
OM System OM-3 review — a camera for wildlife and astrophotographers alike?
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Scientists discover changes to the polar vortex that are plunging parts of US into deep freeze
When the polar vortex stretches, North America feels the chill. New research reveals some of the stratospheric patterns controlling these cold snaps.
Amazfit Helio smart ring review — Accurate sleep tracking without breaking the bank
The Amazfit Helio is a great budget-friendly alternative to the Oura Ring — as long as you can look past its short battery life and limited range of sizes.
Why do sharks freeze when flipped upside down?
Many shark species are temporarily paralyzed when turned upside down. But what benefit does this trait have?
Colugo: The 'flying lemur' that doesn't fly and isn't a lemur
This big-eyed rainforest mammal looks like a cross between a bat and a squirrel. It glides between treetops using a furry membrane that connects its limbs.
New pocket-size model of ALS 'breathes and flows like human tissue'
A stem-cell-based "organ-on-a-chip" model of ALS mimics early biological changes seen in the degenerative disease.
Shark Week team discovers unusual 'black makos' off California coast
Weird makos filmed off the California coast in a new Shark Week show raise questions about what these sharks actually are.
New-age and old school shark bite prevention strategies put to the test on Gold Coast beaches
Amid growing concerns about shark bites on Australian beaches, researchers have developed a new framework to compare and assess the broad range of prevention measures available to help identify which...
Mapping DNA repeats: Newly found genes may explain brain evolution and language disorders
What makes the human brain distinctive? A new study published in Cell identifies two genes linked to human brain features and provides a road map to discover many more. The...
Mammals found most at risk as Australia's largest animals face 100,000 years of change
Over the past 100,000 years, Australia and New Guinea's large animal communities have been disrupted by extinctions and invasive species, altering entire ecosystems and threatening the conservation of remaining species.
Cellular quality control mechanism revealed through chaperone study
How proteins in our cells attain their correct three-dimensional structure is crucial to their function—and to our health. Errors in this process can lead to serious diseases. Researchers at the...
New molecular mechanisms of ovarian aging discovered
Investigators led by Francesca Elizabeth Duncan, Ph.D., the Thomas J. Watkins Memorial Professor of Reproductive Science, have discovered new molecular mechanisms that lead specialized immune cells to cause ovarian aging...
Endangered minnow rallies conservationists in race to save laurel dace
A few streams on the Cumberland Plateau northeast of Chattanooga are the only places where a small freshwater fish called the laurel dace lives in the wild, so when drought...
Slow and steady progress in decade-long project to save B.C.'s only native turtle
The 10-year project began in 2019, although the zoo was releasing turtles before that and has freed around 3,000 of them over the past decade.
How researchers are mapping genetics in N.B. to detect inherited diseases sooner
Researchers at Vitalité are studying the genes of New Brunswickers to find common variants they may have inherited from their parents. The hope is that with a full map of...
For these dolphins, using sponges to dig up fish is a family tradition
Dolphins off the coast of Australia are swimming around with sponges on their noses. But unlike the orcas who wear salmon on their heads, “sponging” isn’t a fashion statement or...
GPS ear tags help track bison at Sask.'s Buffalo Pound Provincial Park
Buffalo Pound Provincial Park is believed to be the first provincial park in Saskatchewan using GPS ear tags to track the location of bison.
Spotting rare right whale off Newfoundland had this tour guide 'Out of my skin excited'
There are less than 370 North Atlantic right whales left in the world — and a local man spotted one off the southern Avalon Peninsula earlier this month.
SeaWorld veterinarians euthanize orca that had lung disease
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- SeaWorld euthanized one of the entertainment company's last killer whales to come from the wild, marking the third orca...
Science Says: DNA test results may not change health habits
NEW YORK (AP) -- If you learned your DNA made you more susceptible to getting a disease, wouldn't you work to stay healthy?...
Weird 'Obelisks' Found in Human Gut May be Virus-Like Entities
Rod-shaped fragments of RNA called “obelisks” were discovered in gut and mouth bacteria for the first time
What Apple's New Vision Pro Headset Might Do to Our Brain
The release of Apple’s mixed-reality headset raises questions about hours spent in a virtual replacement of our world
Chimpanzees and Bonobos Have Surprisingly Different Parenting Styles
Chimpanzee “helicopter moms” often protect their offspring from bullies, but bonobo moms are more hands-off
An Evolutionary 'Big Bang' Explains Why Snakes Come in So Many Strange Varieties
Snakes saw a burst of adaptation about 128 million years ago that led to them exploding in diversity and evolving up to three times faster than lizards
Scientists create safer pig organs with goal of transplants for humans
(Reuters) - Scientists at a Massachusetts company seeking to make pig organs safe enough to be transplanted into humans have used gene-editing technology to clone piglets that lack a potentially...
Majority of fruit fly immunity studies can be replicated, huge analysis finds
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Paleontologist to lead U.S. national academy
Neil Shubin, an evolutionary biologist best known for discovering an important fish fossil, has been nominated to head the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS). He will take over next year with the...