Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Rats show empathy to trapped cage mates
CHICAGO, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Rats can be empathetic and will help free a trapped cage-mate even in the absence of any reward for doing so, U.S. researchers report.
Is cannibalism in polar bears on the rise?
(PhysOrg.com) -- A series of photographs of cannibalism in polar bears have been released, and the researchers who witnessed the act think the rate of cannibalism may be increasing. They...
Cabbie training 'changes brains'
The structure of a London taxi driver's brain changes during the gruelling process of learning the quickest way around the capital, scans have revealed.
Scientists use animal-free reagents to create clinical-grade neurons from skin cells
(Medical Xpress) -- Using a specially designed facility, UCLA stem cell scientists have taken human skin cells, reprogrammed them into cells with the same unlimited property as embryonic stem cells,...
Nighttime images help track disease from the sky
Normally used to spot where people live, satellite images of nighttime lights can help keep tabs on the diseases festering among them, too, according to new research. Princeton University-led...
Law enforcement vital for great ape survival
Recent studies show that the populations of African great apes are rapidly decreasing. Many areas where apes occur are scarcely managed and weakly protected. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute...
Study shows species can change
A study of South American songbirds completed by the Department of Biology at Queen's University and the Argentine Museum of Natural History, has discovered these birds differ dramatically in colour...
Neuroscientists boost memory in mice using genetics and a new memory-enhancing drug
When the activity of a molecule that is normally elevated during viral infections is inhibited in the brain, mice learn and remember better, researchers report.
Helping your fellow rat: Rodents show empathy-driven behavior
The first evidence of empathy-driven helping behavior in rodents has been observed in laboratory rats that repeatedly free companions from a restraint, according to a new study by University of...
Researchers identify key plant immune response in fight against bacteria
Researchers at the University of Missouri have found a key process in a plant's immune system response that may help future crops fight off dangerous diseases.
Corals survive acid test ... or, the acidic test
SAN FRANCISCO — Certain species of corals have been discovered living in the surprisingly acidic waters of the Caribbean's submarine springs, areas thought inhospitable to corals, a new survey has...
Study: Rats aren't selfish, but show compassion
WASHINGTON (AP) -- New experiments show that rats, despite their selfish reputation, don't act like, well, rats....
Scientists capture single cancer molecules at work
Researchers have revealed how a molecule called telomerase contributes to the control of the integrity of our genetic code, and when it is involved in the deregulation of the code,...
Mere fear shrinks bird families
Just hearing recordings of predators caused sparrows to raise fewer babies
Danish mushroom inspires cancer researchers
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have explored the active principles of a Danish mushroom and found that some of the substances it contains are particularly toxic towards cancer cells....
New synthetic e. coli strains are the swiss army knife for biofuel production
Cellulose is amongst the most abundant biomass on the planet. And for good reason. It’s sturdy, and it’s simple. The dry weight of an oak tree is mostly cellulose, for...
Evolution reveals missing link between DNA and protein shape
BOSTON, Mass. -- Fifty years after the pioneering discovery that a protein's three-dimensional structure is determined solely by the sequence of its amino acids, an international team of researchers...
Extreme cold good for exercise recovery
Athletes go to great lengths to protect their muscles and recover from exercise-induced muscle damage, but there has been little work to determine what methods are most effective. Now, a...
How Salmonella forms evil twins to evade the body's defenses
To swim or not? The same biological control that determines which capability genetically identical Salmonella will have impacts the virulence of the food pathogen. Swimmers do better in the gut,...
How Similar Are Populations On "urban" And "natural" Islands?
Although human habitats often differ from natural areas in obvious ways, there are sometimes unexpected similarities. For instance, urban "habitat islands"--or patches of suitable habitat separated by barriers such as...
Medical dye is good news for frogs
A readily available medical dye could become an key tool in amphibian conservation and management and the research is soon to be published in the Herpetological Journal.
Seal study shows diverse parenting styles
To most of us, one seal seems much like another. But a new study shows they have varied personalities that lead to distinctive approaches to parenting.
African sleeping sickness: a tale of two parasites
(Medical Xpress) -- The savannahs and rainforests of Africa bring to mind romantic notions of wildlife, adventure and exploration. But beneath this natural beauty lies a deadly, long-neglected disease: trypanosomiasis,...
Mozambique to build study of natural resource management
The UN University is teaming up with partners in Germany and Mozambique to boost Africa's management of its natural resources.
Wine dregs shown to improve cows' milk
Feeding dairy cows the stems, seeds and skins from wine grapes boosts milk production and dramatically cuts the animal's methane emissions, Australian researched published Thursday shows.
How penguins 'time' a deep dive
Emperor penguins time their dives by the number of times they can manage to flap their wings to propel themselves forward, say scientists.
Why does the same mutation kill one person but not another?
The vast majority of genetic disorders (schizophrenia or breast cancer, for example) have different effects in different people. Moreover, an individual carrying certain mutations can develop a disease, whereas another...
Lightweight GPS tags help research track animals of all sizes
GPS tracking has shown its utility for wildlife studies, and now, development of light-weight GPS tags will allow researchers access to information about a broader range of small- to medium-sized...