Latest science news in Biology & Nature
A Molecule that Seeks Out Forever Chemicals in Water
PFAS are ubiquitous substances with an insidious name: forever chemicals. Recently, numerous variants of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been detected throughout the environment, including in the blood of...
Unlocking Garlic's Secret to Long-Term Freshness
Garlic, a globally significant food and medicinal crop, suffers major quality loss during storage due to sprouting and decay. In a comprehensive study, researchers evaluated the bulb storability of 501...
Why Tomato and Pepper Can't Get Along: New Study Reveals Immune Battle at Graft Site
Grafting between different plant species can offer advantages like disease resistance and structural resilience. However, graft incompatibility remains a biological mystery. This study uncovers the molecular basis behind the long-standing...
Unlocking Safflower's Secrets: Scientists Identify Key Gene in Flavonoid Glycoside Biosynthesis
Safflower is widely valued for its flavonoid glycosides, particularly for cardiovascular therapeutics and natural dyes. However, the biosynthetic mechanism of these bioactive compounds has long remained elusive.
Mapping the Future of Ginseng: New SNP Chip Speeds Up Breeding
A team of researchers has developed the first high-resolution genetic map and a versatile SNP chip for Panax ginseng, a tetraploid medicinal plant with complex genomic architecture. These tools are...
Scutellarin From Tomatoes? Vacuum Method Powers Synthetic Biology in Fruit
Researchers have developed an improved vacuum-infiltration system that overcomes long-standing barriers in tomato genetic engineering. This innovative system enables high-efficiency Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression in both tomato leaves and, for the...
One Gene, Two Gains: New Discovery Increases Sterols and Oils in Rapeseed
Sterols are beneficial plant metabolites with proven human health effects. In rapeseed (Brassica napus), enhancing sterol content could add significant nutritional value to edible oils. This study integrated quantitative trait...
How Apple Roots Fight Chloride Overload: ABA's Hidden Molecular Pathway Revealed
Chloride toxicity is a growing threat to salt-sensitive crops, causing oxidative stress, membrane damage, and cell death. A recent study reveals that abscisic acid (ABA), a well-known stress hormone, enhances...
Planes are having their GPS hacked. Could new clocks keep them safe?
How a new atomic clock might be the way to tackle attacks on plane GPS systems
Kew Gardens' Palm House will close for five years for major makeover
The 175-year-old glass house will begin a £50m renovation in 2027.
Tiny creatures gorge, get fat, and help fight global warming
Scientists find out how the epic deep sea migration of a tiny animal is storing planet-warming carbon.
Work begins to create artificial human DNA from scratch
Scientists start a controversial project to create the building blocks of human life, in what is thought to be a world first.
Tiny creatures gorge, get fat, and help fight global warming
Scientists find out how the epic deep sea migration of a tiny animal is storing planet-warming carbon.
Kew Gardens' Palm House will close for five years for major makeover
The 175-year-old glass house will begin a £50m renovation in 2027.
Watch this cute robot elephant go bowling — it's the first 3D-printed robot of its kind
Researchers have unveiled a miniature robot elephant with special 3D-printed "tissues" that allow for more complex and natural movements. A video shows the elephant grasp a flower with its trunk...
Best underwater cameras 2025 — take photos of marine and freshwater wildlife and fauna
The best cameras for marine observation, surveying and recording your underwater adventures — just in time for Prime Day.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Young bats with multiple infections may drive new coronavirus strains in nature
New research by the University of Sydney offers important insights into how and when new coronavirus variants arise in bats.
Researchers use AI to discover when different forest birds sing
Everyone knows that if you want to enjoy the full experience of the dawn chorus in the forests of Central Europe, or carry out scientific research on bird species, you...
Flies like it cool: Study reveals evolutionary shifts in temperature preference among drosophila larvae
New research from Queen Mary University of London reveals how fruit fly larvae have repeatedly evolved their temperature preferences, shedding light on the intricate ways animals adapt to their environments....
New molecule shields mitochondrial DNA from stress-induced degradation
When environmental stress harms DNA, it can set off a cascade of failures linked to heart conditions, neurodegeneration, and chronic inflammation. A new chemical tool developed at UC Riverside interrupts...
When plants attack themselves: Protein mix-ups spark self-destructive immune alarms
Plants, with their unique immune systems, sometimes launch "autoimmune responses" by mistakenly identifying their own protein structures as pathogens. In particular, "hybrid necrosis," a phenomenon where descendant plants fail to...