Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Bird companions help black rhinos avoid poachers
Field observations suggest black rhinos with oxpeckers are better at avoiding human interactions.
Rare, damaging inherited mutations work together to reduce lifespan
Scientists report that the combined effects of rare, damaging mutations present at birth have a negative impact on healthspan and longevity.
How silver ions kill bacteria
The antimicrobial properties of silver have been known for centuries. Now scientists are seeking to better understand how the noble metal kills bacteria to help combat antiobiotic-resistant 'superbugs.'
Making sense of scents: 3-D videos reveal how the nose detects odor combinations
Every moment of the day we are surrounded by smells. Odors can bring back memories, or quickly warn us that food has gone bad. But how does our brain identify...
Widespread receptor-driven modulation in peripheral olfactory coding
Olfactory responses to single odors have been well characterized but in reality we are continually presented with complex mixtures of odors. We performed high-throughput analysis of single-cell responses to odor...
Transcription polymerase-catalyzed emergence of novel RNA replicons
Transcription polymerases can exhibit an unusual mode of regenerating certain RNA templates from RNA, yielding systems that can replicate and evolve with RNA as the information carrier. Two classes of...
Intravital imaging of mouse embryos
Embryonic development is a complex process that is unamenable to direct observation. In this study, we implanted a window to the mouse uterus to visualize the developing embryo from embryonic...
The Easter Bunny is most definitely coming to town. I'm sure of it
Easter is all about the unexpected, so be ready to roll back the rock and roll with the punches.
Risk aversion helps ants avoid obstacles, predators
Ants are adept navigators, but when ants find their typical route blocked by an obstacle or predator, they're able to adjust, according to a new study.
Black rhinos eavesdrop on the alarm calls of hitchhiking oxpeckers to avoid humans
In Swahili, red-billed oxpeckers are called Askari wa kifaru, or 'the rhino's guard.' Now, an article suggests that this indigenous name rings true: red-billed oxpeckers may behave like sentinels, sounding...
Stuttering DNA orchestrates the start of the mosquito's life
All organisms have DNA, the genetic material that provides a blueprint for life. The long double-helix-shaped DNA molecules in the body's cells are first translated into RNA molecules and then...
New coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) mapped out
Jean and Peter Medawar wrote in 1977 that a virus is "simply a piece of bad news wrapped up in proteins." The 'bad news' in the SARS-CoV-2 case is the new coronavirus...
New research insights into how a group of novel organelle-based disorders affects cells
A pioneering study has shed new light on how a group of novel organelle-based disorders affect cells. The study led by Professor Michael Schrader from the University of Exeter, and...
Risk aversion as a survival strategy in ants
Ants are excellent navigators and always find their way back to the nest. But how do they react when an obstacle or a predator blocks their path?
A plant defense metabolite specifically suppresses virulence of pathogenic bacteria
When attacked by pathogenic microbes, plants protect themselves by deploying numerous secondary metabolites inhibitory to the pathogen. These metabolites are thought to nonspecifically inhibit both pathogenic and beneficial microbes, which...
Engineered enzyme able to break down PET in ten hours
A team of researchers from TBI, Université de Toulouse, CRITT Bio-Industries and Carbios, Biopôle Clermont Limagne, has engineered a commonly known enzyme to efficiently break the chains that hold the...
Stuttering DNA orchestrates the start of the mosquito's life
There are large parts of the DNA that are not used for making proteins. This is called 'junk DNA', because its function remained unclear for a long time. However, a...
Hitchhiking oxpeckers warn endangered rhinos when people are nearby
Red-billed oxpeckers hitching rides on the backs of black rhinos are a common sight in the African bush. The birds are best known for feeding from lesions full of ticks or other...
Black rhinos eavesdrop on the alarm calls of hitchhiking oxpeckers to avoid humans
In Swahili, red-billed oxpeckers are called Askari wa kifaru, or "the rhino's guard." Now, a paper appearing April 9 in the journal Current Biology suggests that this indigenous name rings...
How do mantis shrimp find their way home?
Mantis shrimps have earned fame for their powerful punching limbs, incredibly unusual eyes, and vivid exoskeletons. And, it turns out, they're also really good at finding their way home. Through...
Race to save rare California frog beats coronavirus lockdown
Slammed by heavy winds and bearing precious amphibian cargo, the helicopter heaved skyward from a remote mountain ranch on the Baja California Peninsula.
Most laws ignore human-wildlife conflict—this makes us vulnerable to pandemics
Never before have we seen how the human use of wildlife can yield such catastrophe, as we have with COVID-19.
Listen: Selena Gomez's 'Rare' deluxe edition features 3 new songs
Selena Gomez released a new version of her album "Rare" featuring the tracks "Boyfriend," "She" and "Souvenir."
How filamentous fungi sense food
A team led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley used a multi-omics approach to reconstruct and model gene regulatory pathways used by the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, and...
Plants control microbiome diversity inside leaves to promote health
In a new study, published in the journal Nature, Michigan State University scientists show how plant genes select which microbes get to live inside their leaves in order to stay...
How Africa has developed its scientific research capabilities
Africa's preparedness for containing the spread of COVID-19 is determined by several factors. So far the focus has been on Africa's weak health systems. But the region's growing scientific competence...
Coronavirus: Why a blanket ban on wildlife trade would not be the right response
The early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic have been linked to a "wet" market in Wuhan, in the Hubei province of eastern China. Wet markets are common in Asia, Africa...
Vexing Nemo: Motorboat noise makes clownfish stressed and aggressive
Working on the reefs around Moorea in French Polynesia, an international team of scientists exposed 40 pairs of clownfish to recordings of natural reef sounds or motorboat noise for up...