Latest science news in Biology & Nature
An inventory providing information on more than 200 viruses that infect plants in Brazil
A Brazilian scientist has produced an inventory of 219 pathogens that infect plants in Brazil, including many agriculturally important species. The annotated list, published in Biota Neotropica, is the largest...
City growth favours animals 'more likely to carry disease'
Turning wild spaces into farmland or cities creates opportunities for diseases to cross into humans.
Belgian scientists name mantis after Attenborough
Belgian scientists have named a new "very large and robust" Vietnamese sub-species of praying mantis after British television naturalist David Attenborough.
How microbes in 'starter cultures' make fermented sausage tasty
Microbes in "starter cultures" impart a distinctive tang and longer shelf life to food like sourdough bread, yogurt and kimchi through the process of fermentation. To get a better grasp...
Consumers, quats and COVID-19: Are disinfectant products safe?
In the face of a persistent global pandemic, disinfectants are more important than ever. These products sometimes rely on quaternary ammonium compounds, or "quats," to kill bacteria and viruses on...
Bali sea turtles set free after poacher arrests
Around two dozen green turtles were released back to the wild in Bali on Wednesday after the endangered creatures were rescued from poachers on the Indonesian holiday island.
'Thermal displacement' reflects how far species must go to follow preferred temperatures
Marine heatwaves across the world's oceans can displace habitat for sea turtles, whales, and other marine life by 10s to thousands of kilometers. They dramatically shift these animals' preferred temperatures...
Land use changes may increase disease outbreak risks
Global changes in land use are disrupting the balance of wild animal communities in our environment, and species that carry diseases known to infect humans appear to be benefiting, finds...
Scientists find how clock gene wakes up green algae
Researchers have found the mechanism of the night-to-day transition of the circadian rhythm in green algae. The findings could be applied to green algae to produce larger amounts of lipids,...
Comedy Central orders 'Ren & Stimpy Show' reboot
Comedy Central announced on Wednesday a new reboot of classic Nickelodeon animated series, "The Ren & Stimpy Show."
The Weeknd to release song with Juice Wrld on Thursday
The Weeknd teased a posthumous collaboration with Juice Wrld, who died at age 21 in December.
Trade and climate change increase pest threat to Europe’s forests
Europe’s forests face a growing threat from pests due to global trade and climate change, but scientists are developing techniques that can give an early warning of infestations to help combat...
The role of Chinese cultural values in illegal wildlife trade interventions
A new study by the University of Kent's Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) suggests that utilizing Confucianist, Daoist, and Buddhist belief messaging in targeted campaigns could effectively change...
Changes in land evaporation shape the climate
Accurate estimation of how much water is evaporated from the vegetated land surface is a challenging task. A physical-based method—such as the complementary relationship (CR) of evaporation, which explicitly accounts...
How thoughts could one day control electronic prostheses, wirelessly
The current generation of neural implants record enormous amounts of neural activity, then transmit these brain signals through wires to a computer. But, so far, when researchers have tried to...
When rehoming wildlife, Indigenous leadership delivers the best results
Whakapapa [genealogy] binds tākata whenua [people of the land] to the mountains, rivers, coasts and other landscapes, linking the health of the people with that of the environment. Like humans,...
Is noise pollution killing whales and dolphins?
Dr Maria Morell studies their ears to discover if hearing damage led to their death.
Why do humans prefer to mate in private?
Yitzchak Ben Mocha, an anthropologist with Zürich University, has conducted a study of human procreation habits as part of an effort to understand why humans prefer to mate in private....
The complicated history of environmental racism
Many people understand the environment as a force of nature that cannot favor or disfavor different populations. However, similar to all things on Earth, the environment is subject to human...
Bumblebee larval growth impaired by insecticide
Researchers from Royal Holloway have found that an insecticide used in more than 81 countries, including within the EU, could contribute to a global decline in bumblebees.
Discovery could lead to more potent garlic, boosting flavor and bad breath
For centuries, people around the world have used garlic as a spice, natural remedy, and pest deterrent—but they didn't know how powerful or pungent the heads of garlic were until...
Study sheds new light on cell migration
The 3-D structure of the ELMO / DOCK2 complex, an important molecular machine that plays a crucial role in cell migration in the body, is now better understood thanks to new...
Weird Mystery Seeds Arriving by Mail Sprout Biodiversity Concerns
An invasive plant expert explains what could happen if enigmatic seeds shipped from China are released -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
30 years ago, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait
This week marks the 30th anniversary of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990.
Scientists discover new penguin colonies from space
A new study using satellite mapping technology reveals there are nearly 20% more emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica than was previously thought. The results provide an important benchmark for monitoring...
Tracking humanity's latest toxins in stranded whales and dolphins
As humanity develops new types of plastics and chemicals, researchers are constantly trying to keep up with understanding how these contaminants affect the environment and wildlife. A new study gives...
Small trees offer hope for rainforests
Small trees that grow up in drought conditions could form the basis of more drought-resistant rainforests, new research suggests.
Are vultures spreaders of microbes that put human health at risk?
A new analysis published in IBIS examines whether bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that are present in wild vultures cause disease in the birds, and whether vultures play a role...