Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Sea Turtles of the Gulf of Mexico
Biologists Celebrate Hatching of Nearly 15,000 Sea Turtle Eggs in Gulf
GM maize could also benefit non-GM farmers, says study
Developing countries that plant both GM and non-GM maize seeds could better protect crops from pest infestation, say researchers.
Past key to possums’ survival
Clues to the survival of Australia’s highly endangered pygmy possum may be found in re-establishing them in their ancestors’ habitats.
Sustainable palm oil production doubles
Global production of sustainable palm oil has doubled so far this year, meaning that buyers have access to more palm oil than ever before that was produced without damaging biodiversity,...
Biologists scour Mojave in desert tortoise roundup
Reptiles are being moved to make way for a solar-powered generating station.More than 100 biologists and contract workers fanned out across a nearly pristine stretch of the eastern Mojave Desert...
Pictures: Return to the Crystal Caves
Returning to Mexico's otherworldly Cave of Crystals, explorers have uncovered a new cavern, microscopic life-forms, and more.
Improving sonography: Spatial ability is key to becoming a successful sonographer, study finds
Diagnostic ultrasounds are the most widely used medical tests in the world. Though the technology is more than 50 years old, scientists continue to discover new uses for it, ranging...
New class of highly electronegative chemical species discovered
Researchers have discovered a new class of highly electronegative chemical species called hyperhalogens, which use superhalogens as building blocks around a metal atom. The new chemical species may have application...
One small step for a snail, one giant leap for snailkind
Gastropods shed shells in single shot
West Nile virus discovered in Texas quail population
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers with a conservation alliance based at Texas Tech University have found a quail loaded with high levels of the antibody that fights West Nile virus.
Boehringer Stops Work on a 'Female Viagra'
Boehringer Ingelheim's announcement is the latest in a series of failures by drug companies to produce a "female Viagra."
Biodiversity: Facts and figures
Laura Hood summarises the latest data on the world's biodiversity, with facts and figures on its value and efforts to conserve it.
Plants kick-started evolutionary drama of Earth's oxygenation
Scientists have taken a significant step toward unlocking the secrets of oxygenation of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere. The new research indicates that the appearance of large predatory fish as...
Studying illnesses caused by worms: Scientists are learning how immune cells communicate
Saranac Lake, N.Y. -- A billion people living in underdeveloped areas around the world are infected with parasitic helminthes, worms that survive by residing in and feeding on their...
ScienceShot: Purple Fins Drive Male Ciclids Wild
Female fish sport an unusual feature to grab a male's attention
HSAN 1: Identification of new mutations, more accurate diagnosis and improved genetic counseling
Belgian researchers at the University of Antwerp have identified several mutations that play an important role in the development of Hereditary Sensory and Autonomous Neuropathy Type 1 (HSAN 1). HSAN...
How Toxic Grass Puts Animals to Sleep
Microbes called fungal endophytes turn needle grass toxic. The plant is known as "sleepy grass" for its sedating effects on animals. Researchers are studying these endophytes because of their impact...
Turtle, dugongs ‘at risk under climate change’
The "turtle and dugong capital of the world", the northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and Torres Strait region, faces increased pressure under climate change from human actions such as...
MIT researchers develop a better way to see molecules at work in living brain cells
By creating a better way to see molecules at work in living brain cells, researchers affiliated with MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory and the MIT Department of Chemistry...
Consciousness: One of the last great mysteries | Alok Jha
Alok Jha introduces a lecture by Christof Koch of the California Institute of Technology on how the brain creates the sensation of consciousnessThere are tens of billions of neurons in your brain. Groups...
Molecule structure hope for HIV
Scientists have determined the structure of a molecule linked to cancer and HIV, which could help treat the diseases
GM profit boost to non-GM crops
Pest control by genetically-modified crops can raise yields and profits from non-GM varieties grown nearby, a study from the US suggests.
Bacteria can stand-up and 'walk'
Researchers have discovered that bacteria are capable of "standing up" and moving while vertical. Apart from being an extraordinary insight into the behavior of bacteria, the findings have important biomedical...
Plastic surgery set for shot sea lion
A sea lion that was found shot on the Sacramento River will undergo plastic surgery to repair its muzzle.
Video: Walking Tall, Bacterial Style
Protein-based "legs" allow some microbes to walk upright
At last, a living model for an important body channel
(PhysOrg.com) -- Ion channels provide a way for key molecules to cross into cells, are the means for many swift physical reactions and regulate the movement of fluid across internal...
Parasites Join Forces, For Better or Worse
Infection risks vary wildly for hosts depending on whether parasites compete or play nicely together
Scientists reveal first structure of a class of proteins that help guide blood cell movement
Researchers have determined the structure of a protein that helps guide blood-forming stem cells, or hematopoetic stem cells. The protein is also one of the main receptors used by the...