Latest science news in Biology & Nature
The week in wildlife – in pictures
The world's smallest frog, a 'walking' lungfish and Christmas gifts for wildlife lovers - the pick of this week's images from the natural world
Plant growth affected by tea seed powder
Natural products marketed as plant growth enhancers are becoming increasingly sought-after. Many of these products, typically produced by small companies with limited research capabilities, have not...
Early springs bring bees, flowers
ITHACA, N.Y., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- As spring arrives earlier each year as a consequence of global warming, bees and plants seem to be keeping pace, U.S. researchers say.
Making copies at the right time
All 10 trillion cells in the adult human body are genetically identical, but develop into distinct cell types, such as muscle cells, skin cells or neurons, by activating some genes...
15 new conservation concerns
A review carried out by a group of international specialists has identified several emerging issues that are likely to damage biodiversity in the coming years. The review was conducted by 22...
Think a shark is fierce? Check out a guppy!
Lions and tigers and bears and… guppies? Don't let its tiny size or fondness for aquarium life fool you; a new chemical analysis places the guppy high up on the...
New finding clears malaria in mice
Researchers have discovered how malaria manipulates the immune system to allow the parasite to persist in the bloodstream. By rescuing this immune system pathway, the research team was able to...
A whole new meaning for thinking on your feet: Brains of small spiders overflow into legs
Smithsonian researchers report that the brains of tiny spiders may fill their body cavities and overflow into their legs. As part of research to understand how miniaturization affects brain size...
Hundreds of threatened species not on official US list
Many of the animal species at risk of extinction in the United States have not made it onto the country's official Endangered Species Act list, according to new research.
Simple, model-free analysis of voltage-gated channels
A new study in the Journal of General Physiology provides fresh insight into voltage-gated channelstransmembrane ion channels that play a critical role in the function of neuronal and muscle tissue.
Size matters: Sugars regulate communication between plant cells
Multicellular organisms must have a means for cells to communicate with one another. Past research has shown that plants possess the ability to directly transfer materials between adjacent cells, through...
Two-faced leukemia?
One kind of leukemia sometimes masquerades as another, according to a study published online this week in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
208 species discovered — in just one year
Deep in a remote forest, locals report that the small black-and-white monkeys with tiny upturned noses are easy to locate, especially when it rains.
Only few seabird species contract avian malaria
Seabirds often live in large colonies in very confined spaces. Parasites, such as fleas and ticks, take advantage of this ideal habitat with its rich supply of nutrition. As a...
Blue light irradiation promotes growth, increases antioxidants in lettuce seedlings
The quality of agricultural seedlings is important to crop growth and yield after transplantation. Good quality seedlings exhibit characteristics such as thick stems, thick leaves, dark green leaves, and large...
Early defoliation of Great Lakes wine grapes tested
Wine grape production in the Great Lakes Viticultural Region can be a challenging enterprise. Spring frost, winter injury, short and variable growing seasons, and cool, humid growing conditions subject grape...
Most China-based hacking done by select few
Bulk of cyberattacks originating from communist giant carried out by as few as 12 different groups, experts say
Control by the matrix: Researchers decipher the role of proteins in the cell environment
How astrocytes, certain cells of the nervous system, are generated was largely unknown up to now. Bochum's researchers have now investigated what influence the cell environment, known as the extracellular...
Cellular processing of proteins found in Congolese child birthing tea now revealed
Many plants produce compounds that serve as a defense against predators or pathogens. Some are also used by humans for a variety of beneficial purposes, such as in medicines. As...
The week in wildlife – in pictures
Pandas arrive in the UK, rare proboscis monkeys, and parakeets in Wormwood Scrubs are among this week's best images from the natural world
Fish may provide key to stopping disease spread, researcher says
A small fish may prove useful to understanding a worldwide health problem, if a Wayne State University researcher is correct.
Moon cycles and petrels... migration and mating
Creatures on Earth have annual cycles consisting of life history stages of breeding, moult and migration. For some, moon cycles influence their periodic behavior, particularly in the case of birds....
Study shows how nutrient levels affect enzyme associated with aging process
(Medical Xpress) -- Restricting calorie intake extends life span in many species, and a new study at the School of Medicine helps illuminate how: Low-nutrient conditions activate an enzyme that...
Memory like a fish
(PhysOrg.com) -- Heard the one about the goldfish with the short memory? It is a commonly held belief that fish are the polar opposites to elephants. They always forget.
Neuroscientists visualize neural circuitry at once-unattainable depths
A recent breakthrough in biological sample preparation by scientists at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Wako may give Astro Boys x-ray vision a run for its money. By treating...
Fluorescent probes increase understanding of bacterium's electron transfer
(PhysOrg.com) -- When it comes to transporting a cell's valuable electrons, the metal-reducing microbe Shewanella oneidensis only trusts stable, mature proteins, according to scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Immature...
BBC denies misleading Planet fans
The BBC denies misleading viewers with footage of newborn polar bear cubs filmed in an animal park, rather than in the wild.
Seniors in Sweden 'stayin' alive' with exercise
The disco beat of 'Stayin' Alive' pulses through the room as Lennart Zetterqvist heaves dumbbells out to his side, zipping through the paces of a workout class with a twist:...