Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Green is more than skin-deep for hundreds of frog species
The through-and-through greenness of hundreds of frog species that can be found deep in their lymphatic fluid, soft tissues and even bones, comes from a clever biochemical workaround that combines...
Genetic variation shapes individual perception of fatty foods
Most people would agree that the pleasure of some foods stems in part from its fat content. New research has now found that liking of fatty food is more complex...
When calling loudly, echolocation is costly for small bats
Calling in the ultrasonic range enables small bats to orient themselves in the dark and track down insects. Louder calls travel farther, improving a bat's ability to detect their prey....
Listeria protein provides a CRISPR 'kill switch'
A single protein derived from a common strain of bacteria found in the soil will offer scientists a more precise way to edit RNA.
Researchers uncover molecular architecture of natural photosynthetic machinery
Biological membranes play important roles in shaping the cell, sensing the external environment, molecule transport, and generating energy for life. One of the most significant biological membranes are the thylakoid...
Echolocation is costly for small bats when they're calling loudly
Calling in the ultrasonic range enables small bats to orient themselves in the dark and track down tiny insects. Louder calls travel farther, improving a bat's ability to detect their...
Listeria protein provides a CRISPR 'kill switch'
A single protein derived from a common strain of bacteria found in the soil will offer scientists a more precise way to edit RNA.
Human sperm stem cells grown in lab, an early step toward infertility treatment
Infertility affects one in seven men of reproductive age worldwide. One idea for treating male sterility is spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) therapy. In this approach, sperm stem cells in the...
Turning off 'junk DNA' may free stem cells to become neurons
For every cell in the body there comes a time when it must decide what it wants to do for the rest of its life. In an article published in...
Researcher develops method for mapping brain cell change, development in mice
Researchers have developed a new method for studying key moments in brain development. Researchers are studying how oxytocin receptor expression changes in normally developing mice and mouse models of autism...
Bird droppings carry risk of antibiotic resistance
Engineers analyze the droppings of urban birds and show persistent levels of antibiotic-resistant genes and bacteria that may be transferred to humans through the environment.
Serval captured after two weeks on the loose in Japanese city
Officials in a Japanese city said a serval, an exotic cat native to Africa, was captured after about two weeks on the loose.
COVID-19 and Brexit can help with the recovery of UK fish stocks
The United Kingdom has a unique opportunity to start rebuilding its fish stocks by taking advantage of the slowdown in commercial fishing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing Brexit...
The colorful history of plastids
A billion years ago, a single-celled eukaryote engulfed a cyanobacterium—an organism capable of converting the sun's energy into food in the form of carbohydrates. In one of the single most pivotal events in...
Genetic differences between global American Crocodile populations identified in DNA analysis
A genetic analysis of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) has re-established our understanding of its population structure, aiding its conservation.
Engineered llama antibodies neutralize COVID-19 virus
Antibodies derived from llamas have been shown to neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus in lab tests, researchers have found. They hope the antibodies -- known as nanobodies due to their small...
Parasite infestations revealed by tiny chicken backpacks
Blood-feeding livestock mites can be detected with wearable sensor technology nicknamed ''Fitbits for chickens.'' To help farmers detect mite infestations, a team of entomologists, computer scientists, and biologists has created...
Bat research critical to preventing next pandemic
The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has a likely connection to bats, and the next viral outbreak probably will too. A recent review calls for more research into bats' molecular biology and...
Watch: Escaped sheep captured near Dunkin Donuts
A sheep was returned to his family at a California ranch after ending several days on the loose with a trip to Dunkin Donuts.
Look: Olivia Culpo, Jasmine Sanders, Kate Bock land Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover
Olivia Culpo, Jasmine Sanders and Kate Bock appear on the cover of the 2020 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
New bioink for cell bioprinting in 3-D
A research group led by Daniel Aili, associate professor at Linköping University, has developed a bioink to print tissue-mimicking material in 3-D printers. The scientists have developed a method and...
Crop infesting spores 'tricked' by new biomaterials to aid global wheat production
New man-made materials developed by scientists have been successfully used to confuse and trick harmful spores which attack wheat crops into growing on an alternative host to help farmers protect...
Hidden in our genes: Discovering the fate of cell development
As cells develop, changes in how our genes interact determines their fate. Differences in these genetic interactions can make our cells robust to infection from viruses or make it possible...
Parasitic worms use their keen senses to wriggle through their hosts
Parasitic filarial nematodes infect hundreds of millions of people, causing diseases such as river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, which can lead to elephantiasis, a severe swelling of the limbs. Mosquitoes...
Acid rain and mercury legacy decreases the number of loon chicks in Ontario lakes
Gathered around a crackling campfire, a flat calm on the lake, the sunset's brilliant orange reflecting off the water, you hear a haunting cry echo through the trees. It's the...
Genetic differences between global American Crocodile populations identified in DNA analysis
A genetic analysis of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) has re-established our understanding of its population structure, aiding its conservation. The collaborative study spanning seven countries and led by the...
Bat research critical to preventing next pandemic
The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has a likely connection to bats, and the next viral outbreak probably will too, unless scientists can quickly learn more about the thousands of viruses carried...
A few months ago, science gave this rare lizard a name, and it may already be headed for extinction
Bushfires are a threat to most animal species. But for one rare lizard living on a rocky island in the sky, a single blaze could wipe the species off the...