Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Bee colony collapse associated with viral, fungal infection, biologist says
The sudden death of bee colonies since late 2006 across North America has stumped scientists. But today, researchers may have a greater understanding of the mysterious colony collapse disorder.
Deceitful lily fools flies: Solomon's lily imitates a yeasty odor to lure vinegar flies into a trap
Scientists in Germany have solved a case of fraud that has been pending for 40 million years. Arum palaestinum, called the Solomon's lily, attracts vinegar flies as pollinators by emitting...
Scientists trick bacteria into embedding small molecules in cell wall
Scientists have engineered the cell wall of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, tricking it into incorporating foreign small molecules and embedding them within the cell wall. The discovery represents the first...
Japanese flower may have longest-ever genome
An ordinary-looking white flower from Japan may carry something quite extraordinary within its pale petals - the longest genome ever discovered.
Genetically modified crop resistance to pests benefits non-modified crop
Transgenic corn's resistance to pests has benefited even non-transgenic corn, a new study led by scientists from the University of Minnesota shows...
Stem cells shape up to their surroundings
Many scientists aspire to take control over the stem cell differentiation process, so that we can grow organs and implants perfectly matched to each patient in the future. Now research...
Biomonitoring - How Bacteria Can Make Oil Fields More Efficient
Oil fields are highly specific ecosystems - they contain no oxygen and the temperature, pressure and salinity are often high, which makes them home to a very particular community of...
New tool in the fight against tuberculosis: Algorithm enables cell-scale simulations
Researchers have developed a way to harness prodigious quantities of genomic and metabolic data by developing an algorithm that automatically integrates both data sets. The model, called probabilistic regulation of...
Elusive intermediary: Newly discovered protein may help improve crop yields, solar cells
Plants use specialized protein complexes to collect the light that drives photosynthesis. Researchers in Germany have now identified a protein that is necessary for the assembly of one such complex....
Novel protein critical for cellular proliferation discovered
Researchers have identified a novel protein that is highly conserved in higher eukaryotes. They have shown that in human cells, this protein binds to heterochromatic structures, and plays an essential...
Biopiracy regime could strangle pest control efforts
The biological control of pests, which has notched up thousands of successes, is threatened by the biopiracy regime to be agreed next week.
In plants, small changes make big impact
(PhysOrg.com) -- You cant see them or feel them, but right now countless biochemical interactions in your body affect your life in countless ways. These interactions are important because if...
Mechanism for changing adult cells into stem-like cells discovered
Scientists have discovered that so-called "grim-reaper" caspase genes are the gatekeepers that can open the door to allow differentiated adult cells to regress to undifferentiated iPSCs.
Rare Japanese plant has largest genome known to science
Scientists have discovered that Paris japonica, a striking rare native of Japan, has the largest genome of them all -- bigger than the human genome and even larger than the...
Little-known shark species gets a closer look
A tiny, little-understood shark species that lives off the coast of Ireland has garnered more attention lately from a scientist who spent four years getting to know the wee creatures.
Life-saving in the bacterial world: How Campylobacter rely on Pseudomonas to infect humans
The bacterium Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of food poisoning in humans. It is normally transmitted from contaminated chicken meat, as it is frequently found in the intestines of...
Giving the Honeybee Its Due
Given the source of food they provide, not to mention the honey-based medicines of old, bees have saved us -- or at least soothed us -- as a species over...
Diabolical (and Nutty) Plan to Arm Rats to the Teeth
Stem cells were used to replace rat teeth in the lab.
The 10 Most Diabolical and Disgusting Parasites
Parasites are wild creatures, ranging from Toxoplasma gondii, which sends rats after a whiff of cat pee, to a the particularly gory parasite that sucks the blood from a fish’s...
Mystery Bird: Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea | GrrlScientist
Mystery bird demystified!
Surprising similarities between human and zebrafish tumors
Most human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes, the large bundles of DNA that store all of a cells genetic information. However, scientists realized more than 100 years ago that...
Killer disease decimates UK frog populations
(PhysOrg.com) -- Common frog (Rana temporaria) populations across the UK are suffering dramatic population crashes due to infection from the emerging disease Ranavirus, reveals research published in the Zoological Society...
Muscling in on toxic seafood
Real-time toxin screening of shellfish could put an end to seafood related food-poisoning
Protein cocktail is 'elixir of life'
A cocktail of amino acids - the building blocks of proteins - is the latest contender in the age-old search for the elixir of life.
Green heron makes rare UK visit
An extremely rare sighting of a green heron is made in Cornwall, the first time the bird has been seen in the UK since 2008.
Clean Living in the Henhouse
At an Indiana farm, precautions are taken to keep hens and eggs free of salmonella.
Nature’s sights and sounds -- but not cityscapes and noise -- ease spinal pain during bone marrow extractions
As the song says, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, and now researchers have found that the sights and sounds of chirping birds, ribbiting frogs and water...
Response: Landowners play a crucial role in wildlife conservation
Farmers and foresters must be allowed to continue their land management methodsThe Making Space for Nature review rightly says more must be done to protect our wildlife networks as "England's nature reserves, national...