Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Bees Go 'Off-color' When They Are Sickly
Bumble bees go "off color" and can't remember which flowers have the most nectar when they are feeling under the weather. The behavior of the bumbling bees reveals that, like...
Marsupials share our gene process
Genetic imprinting, a process involved in fetal development, is identical in marsupials and humans and evolved 150 million years ago, according to research.
USDA awards $4.1M to study bee disease
WASHINGTON, July 17 (UPI) -- The University of Georgia will get a $4.1 million grant to study diseases affecting the bee population, U.S. Agriculture Department Secretary Ed Schafer...
Lightning remains a striking mystery
As common as lightning is, it still sparks considerable confusion among scientists. Many of the basics are understood, but researchers admit they don't really understand how lightning gets from there...
Gene Signatures For Scleroderma Discovered
Distinct genetic profiles can discern different groups of patients with scleroderma, a vexing autoimmune disease in which the body turns against itself, Dartmouth Medical School researchers report. Their discovery of...
Tumor-inhibiting protein could be effective in treating leukemia
Angiocidin, a tumor-inhibiting novel protein discovered by Temple University researchers, may also have a role as a new therapeutic application in treating leukemia, according to a study by the researchers.
Brain scientists spot nature/nurture gene link
(PhysOrg.com) -- Neuroscientists at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory found that a previously unsuspected set of genes links nature and nurture during a crucial period of brain development.
Primal fights: When females dominate
Among monkeys and other primates, males typically bully females around. But when males outnumber females, surprisingly females often prove the dominant sex. These new findings could also hold true with...
How birds spot the cuckoo in the nest
It's not always easy spotting the cuckoo in the nest. But if you don't, you pay a high price raising someone else's chick. How hosts distinguish impostor eggs from their...
Frogs With Disease-resistance Genes May Escape Extinction
As frog populations die off around the world, researchers have identified certain genes that can help the amphibians develop resistance to harmful bacteria and disease. The discovery may provide new...
Scientists Reduce Alzheimer's-like Plaques In Fly Brain
Neuroscientists have succeeded in demonstrating that overexpression of an enzyme in the brain can reduce telltale deposits causally linked with Alzheimer's disease.
Pathologists Believe They Have Pinpointed Achilles Heel of HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) researchers believe they have uncovered the Achilles heel in the armor of the virus that continues to kill millions. read more
Gaining Ground On Sickle Cell Disease
Although sickle cell disease is a single-gene disorder, its symptoms are highly variable. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists report five gene...
Tigers Disappear From Himalayan Refuge
World Wildlife Fund is alarmed by the dramatic decline of at least 30 percent in the Bengal tiger population of Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal, once a refuge that boasted...
Genetic contribution to autism examined
PASADENA, Calif., July 15 (UPI) -- A joint study by two U.S. universities found further evidence of a genetic contribution to autism, researchers said Tuesday.
Massive Mangrove Restoration Backfires
Philippine conservation effort dooms ecologically critical trees
Scientists identify mechanism behind mind-body connection
Every cell contains a tiny clock called a telomere, which shortens each time the cell divides. Short telomeres are linked to a range of human diseases, including HIV, osteoporosis, heart...
Faux Hawk: Why Do Cuckoos Mimic Raptors? [News]
Cuckoos are notorious freeloaders, conning other species into rearing their young, often at the expense of the hosts' chicks. But a new study suggests that the parasitic birds are not...
Beached whale of species rarely seen in Bay of Fundy
Samples taken from the plates in a beached whale's mouth have confirmed the species of the animal that died in Slack's Cove, N.B., in early July.
Stem cells are good for the brain
For some years, scientists have been speculating over why stem cells exist in the brain, as brain regeneration is limited. A German team of neuroscientists believe these stem cells help...
The Emerging Story Of Plant Roots
Biologists have uncovered a fascinating new insight into the unseen side of plant biology - the root. Although less visible than shoots, leaves and flowers, plant roots are critical to...
Feature: Reporting on the GM Debate
Ultimately, the most critical issue for sustainable farming is whether we can grow enough food to sustain the human population, writes Nerissa Hannink.
Breeding rate fall for rare bird
One of the rarest birds in the UK is facing its worst breeding season on record, RSPB Scotland says.
Leatherback turtles go with the flow
Not much is known about the world's largest living turtle, the leatherback. So-called for its tough, oily skin and lack of a hard shell, the behavior and habitats of this...
Rare snail kite nests found in Florida
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., July 15 (UPI) -- Rare Everglade snail kite nests found in Florida's Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, conservationists said.
Red lights keep turtles on track
JUNE BEACH, Fla., July 14 (UPI) -- A Florida beach community has added special filters to lights along an oceanfront roadway to keep sea turtles from losing their...
Researchers Map Cells' Inner Landscapes
Much of the field of stem cell biology and development remains uncharted territory. Just as famous explorers and astronomers mapped out landmasses and constellations, researchers are working fervently to chart...
VIDEO: Red Panda Breeding Success
A breeding program in India has successfully released captive-born red pandas into the wild.