Latest science news in Biology & Nature
'Bigfoot' fails DNA test
Bigfoot remains as elusive as ever. One of the two samples of DNA said to prove the existence of the Bigfoot came from a human and the other was 96...
Extinction Most Likely For Rare Trees In Amazon Rainforest
Common tree species in the Amazon will survive even grim scenarios of deforestation and road-building, but rare trees could suffer extinction rates of up to 50 percent, predict scientists in...
Protein found to control blood cell growth
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists say they have discovered a specific protein signals stem cells in the bone marrow of mice to reproduce and remain...
Robot with biological brain to help memories research
A multidisciplinary team at the University of Reading has developed a robot which is controlled by a biological brain formed from cultured neurons. This cutting edge research is the first...
Ag pesticides put salmon at risk
SEATTLE, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Agricultural pesticides are putting Canadian and U.S. Pacific salmon stocks at risk of extinction, U.S. fisheries experts warn.
Midge-hunting Scientists Tackle Spread Of Devastating Bluetongue Virus
Scientists are stepping up the battle against the devastating and economically damaging bluetongue virus. By combining ingenious ways to trap and monitor midges with cutting edge computer modeling and weather...
Species 'damaging waterways'
A "dirty dozen" of the non-native species most likely to harm native wildlife along rivers is revealed.
Birds released in secret location
White tailed sea eagles are to be released from a secret location in Fife in a bid to reintroduce the species to the east of Scotland.
Can tourism and wildlife ever mix?
EVEN when they tiptoe discreetly through the undergrowth, nature lovers and ecotourists may be having an unexpectedly damaging impact on wildlife. A study of protected Californian forest has shown that...
Sea Slug Chemical Blast Deters Lobster Predators
Sea hares emit a strong chemical brew, including hydrogen peroxide, that gives spiny lobsters anxiety and a loss of appetite, a new study found.
Hollywood Hair is Captured at Last
(PhysOrg.com) -- UC San Diego computer scientists presented a new method this week for accurately capturing the shape and appearance of a person`s hairstyle for use in animated films and...
First reported video of cell's recognition of danger through its protein response
(PhysOrg.com) -- Cells are expected to respond defensively when an antigen lands on a cell membrane and prepares to cause mischief.
How DNA Repairs May Reshape The Genome
Researchers have shown how broken sections of chromosomes can recombine to change genomes and spawn new species. The scientists used X-rays to break yeast chromosomes, and then studied how the...
No cub for panda at National Zoo this year
The U.S. National Zoo says panda mother Mei Xiang will not give birth to a cub this year after all.
Intel Unveils Extensible Host Controller Interface Draft Specification to Support USB 3.0 Architecture
Intel Corporation today announced the availability of the Extensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI) draft specification revision 0.9 in support of the USB 3.0 architecture, also known as SuperSpeed USB. The...
Keeping an eye on the surroundings
Water is no passive spectator of biological processes; it is an active participant. Protein folding is thus a self-organized process in which the actions of the solvent play a key...
Cocaine-induced synaptic plasticity linked to persistent addictive behaviors
The persistent nature of addiction is its most devastating feature. Understanding the mechanism underlying this phenomenon is the key for designing efficient therapy. Two separate studies published by Cell Press...
Ancient sheep help pinpoint brain timing mechanisms linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research by Aberdeen scientists suggests that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) relates to an ancient timing mechanism in the brain dating back millions of years.
Using live fish, new tool a sentinel for environmental contamination
Researchers have harnessed the sensitivity of days-old fish embryos to create a tool capable of detecting a range of harmful chemicals.
Smells like bees' spirit
Bumblebees choose whether to search for food according to how stocked their nests are, say scientists from Queen Mary, University of London.
Navy sonar pact is reached
Federal court in San Francisco OKs an accord that restricts use of low-frequency active sonar to protect whales and other marine life. ...
Pit bull cloning called irresponsible
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- The Humane Society of the United States and the American Anti-Vivisection Society are calling pit bull cloning wasteful and irresponsible.
Climate Change Threatens One In Five Plant Species In Germany
One in five of Germany's plant species could lose parts of its current range, a new study reveals. Species distributions will be rearranged as a result of climate change; this...
Avian botulism suspected in Winnipeg duck deaths
Avian botulism may be killing ducks on the rivers in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba Conservation officials say.
PHOTOS: Primates Newly Listed as Critically Endangered
A black-and-white lemur, a tiny tamarin, and a monkey discovered just three years ago are among the species added in 2008 to the "critically endangered" category of the IUCN Red...
Observatory: Effects of Parasite Extend to Offspring
Parasite infections can have repercussions that go beyond individual hosts to the population as a whole.
Science Visuals: How the First Farmers Colonized the Mediterranean
Using a new set of criteria, researchers have determined that animals were domesticated much earlier than previously thought.
The Anthrax Case: From Spores to a Suspect
Full-genome sequencing played central role in linking Army scientist to attacks