Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Robots in record-distance ocean swim
HONOLULU, March 15 (UPI) -- Four wave-powered robots have set a record by swimming more than 3,200 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean, their U.S.-based developer said.
NGOs call for international regulation of synthetic biology
Dozens of NGOs have issued a joint statement urgently calling for the emerging field of synthetic biology to be internationally regulated.
Cancer epigenetics: Breakthrough in ID'ing target genes
Cancer is usually attributed to faulty genes, but growing evidence from the field of cancer epigenetics indicates a key role for the gene "silencing" proteins that stably turn genes off...
Few genes control neuronal function
How are 100 billion cells created, each with specific duties? The human brain is evidence that nature can achieve this. Researchers have now taken a step closer to solving this...
More Bad News: Nanoparticles Help Bacteria To Become Superbugs
You may have heard about certain potential dangers of nanotechnology; I like to write about some of them on occasion; and you probably know about the almost lost battle against...
Dangerous Growth Stopped for World's Tallest Man
The hormone disorder responsible for Sultan Kosen's height threatened his life, doctors feared.
Rats match humans in decision-making that involves combining different sensory cues
The next time you set a trap for that rat running around in your basement, here's something to consider: you are going up against an opponent whose ability to assess...
Non-stick spiders' delicate steps
Orb-weaving spiders avoid sticking to their own webs because of the way they move, say scientists.
Scientists produce eye structures from human blood-derived stem cells
For the first time, scientists have made early retina structures containing proliferating neuroretinal progenitor cells using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from human blood.
Online gamers help with genetics study
MONTREAL, March 13 (UPI) -- Swarms of online gamers have helped solve difficult biological problems and untangle a major problem in comparative genomics, Canadian researchers say.
Road closed for endangered salamanders
BURLINGTON, Ontario, March 13 (UPI) -- The Canadian community of Burlington, west of Toronto, has taken the unprecedented step of closing a road to protect an endangered type of...
Baboon-like social structure creates efficiencies for spotted hyena
As large, carnivorous mammals, spotted hyenas are well known for their competitive nature; however, recent work suggests that their clan structure has similarities to some primate social systems such as...
Eco-tourism may be good news for sharks
Imagine swimming in crystalline ocean waters shot through with sunlight when one of Earth's most notorious predators swims into view — a very close view.
Mild winters may shift spread of mosquito-borne illness
Species that transmits brain virus in the Southeast may turn to mammals earlier in warmer years
Gene known to protect against cancer can also promote tumor growth
Can a gene simultaneously protect against cancer and favor its growth? Researchers have discovered a gene with this double-edged property and suspect there may be many more that share it.
New 3D-nanoprinting speed record
Scientists find a way to build nano-sculptures the size of a grain of sand up to 1,000 times faster than previously possible.
Fertilization by invasive species threatens nutrient-poor ecosystems
Biologists have developed a new method for quantifying the effect of non-native species on ecosystem functioning.
Potential drug for speeding up cellular recycling
Cell biologists have identified a potential drug that speeds up trash removal from the cell's recycling center, the lysosome.
Post-exposure antibody treatment protects primates from Ebola, Marburg
Army scientists have demonstrated, for the first time, that antibody-based therapies can successfully protect monkeys from the deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses. In addition, the animals were fully...
Indonesia's "nightmare zoo" under fire
Critics lash out at scandalous, unsanitary conditions facing animals at Indonesia's largest zoo
Under the microscope #15 - Elephant fish embryo
Dr Andrew Gillis shows us an embryonic skate head and explains how the red denticles dotted all over it have very similar properties to human teeth.
Taking stock of subsurface microbial communities at Hanford
Taking a census provides valuable information about residents' ages, employment, makeup, living conditions, etc. Most censuses are taken door to door or by mail. But if the community lives in...
Ethiopia's Magnetic Stripes Hold Clues to Ocean Formation
Stripes are hallmarks of seafloor spreading but have now been found outside of the ocean.
Virginia Tech wildlife researchers explore DNA research to help save Nepal's Bengal tigers
Tigers are fast disappearing from the modern world. The 2010 tiger census in Nepal estmates that only 155 of the Bengal tiger subspecies still exist there. Conserving tigers is a...
Cockatoo survival under threat
The long-term survival of three black cockatoo species endemic to the south west of Western Australia is under threat.
Small DNA circles found outside the chromosomes in mammalian cells and tissues, including human cells
Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have helped identify a new DNA entity in mammalian cells and provided evidence that their generation leaves behind deletions in...
'Unique' prongwort discovery made
A nature reserve in the Scottish Highlands is the only place in the world where a type of liverwort plant has been found growing.
Park bids for dark sky protection
The night sky above the Brecon Beacons National Park could be awarded special protection.