Latest science news in Biology & Nature
The rise of pelagic fungi and their crucial role in oceanic ecosystems
Fungi play a vital and previously neglected role in the complex tapestry of marine ecosystems, a study by Eva Breyer and Federico Baltar of the University of Vienna reveals. The...
Researchers build on Human Genome Project advances
The Human Genome Project (HGP), the world's largest collaborative biological project, was a 13-year effort led by the U.S. government with the goal of generating the first full sequence of...
Scientists identify fungal proteins responsible for suppressing host plant immunity from infection
While infectious fungal plant diseases relentlessly wreak havoc on many crops, they are also picky when choosing their hosts. Each fungus generally exhibits a specific host range, but the mechanism...
Air pollution monitoring may accidentally help scientists track biodiversity
The ability to track animals and plants is up in the air — literally — thanks to help from an unexpected source. Around the globe, many air quality control stations filter air...
The stories about whales helping tackle climate change are overblown, says new research
Whales have long fascinated us with their size and beauty. Once we stopped whaling, their populations have begun to recover, in a major win for conservation.
'Butterfly chaos effect' discovered in swarms and herds of animals
Researchers at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) have discovered a phase shift between chaotic states that can appear in herds of...
How a microbe creates its own sulfate reduction machinery
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, have uncovered the molecular secrets of a methane-generating microbe that can transform sulfate into sulfide—a ready-to-use cellular building...
Identifying new genes may elevate efficiency of photosynthesis in crops, could boost yields
Awash in a rowed sea of its brethren, a corn leaf relegated to the lowest rung of its stem spends much of a June afternoon doused in shade cast by...
How studying poop may help boost white rhino populations
Researchers at North Carolina State University have identified significant differences in the gut microbiome of female southern white rhinos who are reproducing successfully in captivity, as compared to females who...
Protein serves as a breaking point for cell membrane rupture during cell death
Every day, millions of cells die in our body. Cells do not simply burst at the end of their lives but rather, a specific protein serves as a breaking point...
A simplified method to assess the synchronization properties of the body clock
Numerous organisms are equipped with circadian clocks (internal body clocks) that help them adapt to daily environmental changes in light and temperature. For synchronizing the clock phase (timing) with these...
Ultrasound Puts Animals into a Curious Hibernation-Like State
A state of torpor might rescue oxygen-starved brain cells or aid extended human space missions
Fungi seem to 'sweat' to stay cool and scientists don't know why
This discovery reveals a mostly unstudied but apparently universal aspect of fungal life.
California launches investigation into migrants flown from Texas to Sacramento
Officials in California said they have launched an investigation after more than a dozen migrants were left on the doorstep of a Sacramento church without prior arrangement or care over...
Saving moths may be just as important as saving the bees
Night-time pollinators such as moths may visit just as many plants as bees, and should also be the focus of conservation and protection efforts, a new study from the University...
Don't count on whales as 'climate savers,' says study
Do whales increase the removal of carbon from the atmosphere?
'Extinct' butterfly species reappears in UK
The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner - a keen naturalist - has been on their trail.
How to stay dry and safe while hiking in the rain
Stop thinking of hiking in the rain as an accident and make it a plan. Greg Rosenke / Unsplash Hikers and backpackers are like cats: prone to wander and will sleep anywhere...
Why do cats knead?
If a cat kneads on your lap, it's likely because it feels safe around you. But why do they knead in the first place?
Why we need to fall out of love with flaky white fish - study
The UK's growing mismatch between the fish we catch and the fish we want to eat has clear implications for our future food security, according to new research.
Ancient viruses discovered in coral symbionts' DNA
An international team of marine biologists has discovered the remnants of ancient RNA viruses embedded in the DNA of symbiotic organisms living inside reef-building corals.
Delaware customs agents seize 14 ounces of poppy pods
Customs and Border Protection agents in Wilmington, Del., seized an illicit shipment of poppy pods Wednesday.
AI software can provide 'roadmap' for biological discoveries
Predicting a protein's location within a cell can help researchers unlock a plethora of biological information that's critical for developing future scientific discoveries related to drug development and treating diseases...
Synthetic DNA could help scientists modify genes and create new biofuels
Unlocking the potential of laboratory-crafted DNA, known as synthetic DNA, holds the key to groundbreaking advancements across multiple domains, according to quantum biologists from the University of Surrey.
45 bags of human remains found during search for missing Mexican workers
Mexican investigators discovered 45 bags containing human remains in a ravine near Guadalajara in Jalisco state. The bodies were discovered in the Mirador del Bosque ravine as police searched for...
Study shows more mutations likely with genetically engineered synthetic DNA
Unlocking the potential of laboratory-crafted DNA, known as synthetic DNA, holds the key to groundbreaking advancements across multiple domains, according to quantum biologists from the University of Surrey.
Speaking up for the annoying fruit fly
Fruit flies can be truly annoying when they are buzzing around your living room or landing in your wine. But we have much to thank these tiny nuisances for—they revolutionized...
New species of frog discovered in NSW already feared endangered
A new paper published today in Zootaxa reveals a new species of forest frog has been identified in New South Wales, and concerningly it warrants listing as endangered.