Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Kirigami grips could help seniors keep their footing
You've never seen a pair of snake skin shoes like this before. Researchers have developed pop-up shoe grips, inspired by snake skin, that can increase friction between the shoe and...
Like a treasure map, brain region emphasizes reward location
Neuroscientists found that a brain region called the lateral septum encodes spatial information with a special emphasis on the location of the reward.
Universal virus detection platform to expedite viral diagnosis
The prompt, precise, and massive detection of a virus is the key to combat infectious diseases such as Covid-19. A new viral diagnostic strategy using reactive polymer-grafted, double-stranded RNAs will...
Big vegetarians of the reef drive fish evolution
A new study reveals the diets of reef fish dictate how fast different species evolve. The breakthrough adds another piece to the fascinating evolutionary puzzle of coral reefs and the...
Some fish do better when the shoal is in disorder
Some fish thrive in chaos -- researchers found a minority of fish are better at finding food and quicker to eat when the shoal is disorderly.
Disorder in fish shoals may reap rewards at dinner time
The advantages of animals foraging in an orderly group are well-known, but researchers have now found an element of unruly adventure can help fish in the quest for food.
FloChiP, a new tool optimizing gene-regulation studies
In the cell, proteins often interact directly with DNA to regulate and influence the expression of genes. For this to happen, proteins need to travel into the cell's nucleus where...
What Australian birds can teach us about choosing a partner and making it last
Love, sex and mate choice are topics that never go out of fashion among humans or, surprisingly, among some Australian birds. For these species, choosing the right partner is a...
Bacteria show their metal: An evolutionary path to survival
An investigation of two closely related proteins from a pathogenic bacterium has illustrated for the first time how evolution can shape the use of essential metals by enzymes.
Animals that can do math understand more language than we think
It is often thought that humans are different from other animals in some fundamental way that makes us unique, or even more advanced than other species. These claims of human...
Urban green spaces can help pollinators: new research provides basic recommendations
Bee populations are experiencing a global decline as a result of climate change, parasites and pathogens, and pesticide exposure, as well as a lack of foraging resources due to human...
Study resolves controversy surrounding tumor suppressor gene's role in pluripotent ESCs
The gene p53 is extremely important in cell biology and, hence, the world of cell replacement therapy. Its role is to regulate the cell cycle and halt the formation of...
Environmental filtering structures functional strategies of bryophytes in cloud forest
The distribution and performance of bryophyte species vary with vertical gradients, as a result of changes in environmental factors, especially light. However, the role of functional traits in bryophyte species...
Researchers reveal traits of distribution and life-form spectra of alien species across China
The role of invasve species in China has attracted wide attention because noxious alien invasive species significantly threaten biodiversity, environment, and economies of the country. Therefore, studying the regional distribution...
Developing a digital holography-based multimodal imaging system to visualize living cells
A research group led by Kobe University's Professor MATOBA Osamu (Organization for Advanced and Integrated Research) has successfully created 3-D fluorescence and phase imaging of living cells based on digital...
Minute molecular movements might lead to more efficient biofuel cells
Leiden researchers have found minute movements in the laccase enzyme. This discovery could lead to the development of much more efficient biofuel cells. Publication in Biophysical Journal.
Turn off the porch light: 6 easy ways to stop light pollution from harming our wildlife
As winter approaches, marine turtle nesting in the far north of Australia will peak. When these baby turtles hatch at night, they crawl from the sand to the sea, using...
Bryce Hirschberg, Nicole O'Brien split after a year of dating
Bryce Hirschberg and Nicole O'Brien have called it quits just one month after going public with their romance.
Researchers develop biotechnological process for jasmonic acid production
Plants produce the hormone jasmonic acid as a defence response when challenged, making their leaves taste bad to predators. Biologists want to determine whether biological precursors and other variants of...
Disorder in fish shoals may reap rewards at dinner time
The advantages of animals foraging in an orderly group are well-known, but research by the University of Bristol has found an element of unruly adventure can help fish in the...
Wayward whale takes city break in Montreal
A young humpback whale that swam up one of Canada's major rivers and has been exploring the waters off Montreal for a few days was likely led astray while on...
Coronavirus: Belgian zoo comes back to life from lockdown
After two months without visitors, Pairi Daiza is welcoming the public back, but in smaller numbers.
Conservation: Glimmer of hope for world's rarest primate
The discovery of a new breeding pair raises hope for the future of a critically endangered gibbon.
Boardwalk closed. University closed. Santa Cruz met the moment, but at a huge cost
Santa Cruz's economy is built around seasonal tourism and the UC Santa Cruz. Businesses are starting to reopen, but staying safe depends on how the county can manage an influx...
Likely That More Human Coronaviruses Will Arise
A team of scientists studying the origin of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that has caused the COVID-19 pandemic, found that it was especially well-suited to jump from animals to humans by...
In Photos: Clint Eastwood turns 90: a look back
The legendary actor and director Clint Eastwood turns 90 on May 31, 2020. Here's a look back on his career through the years.
Two bacteria allow spittlebugs to thrive on low-nutrient meals
A new study examines the symbiotic relationship between two types of bacteria and spittlebugs that helps the insect live on very low-nutrient food.
How bacteria purge toxic metals
Researchers combined genetic engineering, single-molecule tracking and protein quantitation to get a closer look at this mechanism and understand how it functions. The knowledge could lead to the development of...