Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Hungry little crabs may help control coral-eating starfish numbers
Small, hidden crabs may be the missing link influencing coral-eating starfish populations, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
How nature organizes itself, from brain cells to ecosystems
Look around, and you'll see it everywhere: the way trees form branches, the way cities divide into neighborhoods, the way the brain organizes into regions. Nature loves modularity—a limited number...
Death by feral cat: DNA shows cats to be culprits in killing of native animals
Conservation scientists from UNSW Sydney have used DNA technology to identify feral cats as the primary predators responsible for the deaths of reintroduced native animals at two conservation sites in...
Muscles From the Printer
Empa researchers are working on artificial muscles that can keep up with the real thing. They have now developed a method of producing the soft and elastic, yet powerful structures...
Does exoplanet K2-18b host alien life or not? Here's why the debate continues
A paper published in 2023 spurred discussion about whether life exists on an exoplanet named K2-18b. Two years later, the puzzle continues — and some scientists are expressing doubt.
BREX system's unique DNA recognition mechanism enhances bacterial antiviral defense
Bacteriophages, the most abundant life form on Earth, infect bacterial cells and influence the structure of the microbial community. To fend off phage attacks, bacteria have evolved their own defense...
U.S. launches mobile app with 'Intent to Depart' feature for undocumented migrants
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has launched a new mobile app to give undocumented migrants, whose parole has been revoked, an easier way to voluntarily leave the United States.
An approach inspired by video games offers a new way to visualize limb development
From a single cell to an entire organism, embryonic development is a process of continuous and constant change. However, our understanding of this process is sometimes limited by the fact...
How humans can reinvent themselves to live on other worlds
Let's face it: Space is a hostile environment for humans. Even on Mars, settlers might have a hard time coping with potentially lethal levels of radiation, scarce resources and reduced...
Cold temperatures may trigger shapeshifting in metamorphic proteins
Metamorphic proteins can be thought of as the "shapeshifters" of human, animal and bacterial cells. Their ability to drastically switch between two different shapes enables them to adapt to changing...
Male octopus poisons its mate to avoid becoming post-sex snack
While the bite from a venomous blue-lined octopus (Hapalochlaena fasciata) can result in a painful, potentially life-or-death emergency for humans, new research indicates it’s part of everyday courtship for the eight-limbed mollusks. And...
Exploring the Greenland shark's secret to extreme longevity
Greenland sharks are thought to have lifespans that can reach 400 years. University of Tokyo-led researchers have now sequenced the first chromosome-level genome of the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), revealing...
Some trees are coping with extreme heat surprisingly well
Rising temperatures could reduce trees’ ability to photosynthesize. Scientists are trying to figure out just how close we are to that point.
Uneven hormone distribution in plants regulates cell division and growth, biologists discover
New research from an international team of plant biologists, led by researchers at the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, has revealed crucial insights into the role brassinosteroids—essential plant hormones—play...
600 million years of shared environmental stress response found in algae and plants
Without plants on land, humans could not live on Earth. From mosses to ferns to grasses to trees, plants are our food, fodder and timber. All this diversity emerged from...
Woolly mice are a first step to resurrecting mammoths, but there's a very long way to go
US biotechnology company Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences has a radical proposal: it wants to resurrect the woolly mammoth from extinction. In a preprint paper published on March 4, scientists at...
Studying structure of G protein-coupled receptor kinases could improve an array of drugs
Each cell in your body relies on precise communication with other cells to function properly. At the center of this process are the molecular switches that turn communication signals in...
New Insights Into Hypospadias: SOX9's Role in Urethral Formation Revealed
A recent study has uncovered the pivotal role of the transcription factor SOX9 in the development of hypospadias, a common congenital condition that affects male children. The research highlights how...
Circadian Rhythms in Tea Plant Microbiomes: A Key to Nutrient Cycling
A groundbreaking study has uncovered a fascinating connection between the circadian rhythms of tea plants and the microbial communities in their rhizosphere, providing new insights into nutrient cycling. Researchers have...
Molecular 3D structure of viral 'copying machine' deciphered
Researchers have shown, for the first time, how the genetic material of the Nipah virus replicates in infected cells. The virus can cause fatal encephalitis in humans.
Vertical farming research sheds light on producing medicinal compounds
New research on using controlled environment agriculture (CEA) to grow plants with medicinal properties could lead to production methods that will increase one anti-cancer compound naturally produced by certain species...
Shells of their former selves: How sea snails have adapted to invasive predators
Over the past two decades, the Gulf of Maine has become a popular landing spot for invasive species from across the world, says Geoffrey Trussell, an evolutionary biologist and professor...
Whales move nutrients from Alaska to Hawaii in their urine, supporting tropical ecosystems
Whales are not just big, they're a big deal for healthy oceans. When they poop, whales move tons of nutrients from deep water to the surface. Now new research shows...
Scientists Identify Key Gene Enhancing Citrus Survival in Cold Climates
A pioneering study has uncovered the role of a key gene, PtrPAT1, in boosting cold tolerance in citrus plants by regulating the accumulation of glycine betaine (GB).
New England Patriots to trade defensive tackle Davon Godchaux to New Orleans Saints
The New England Patriots agreed to trade defensive tackle Davon Godchaux to the New Orleans Saint in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a league source...
Meta scientists use AI to decode magnetic brain scans, revealing how thoughts translate into typed sentences
An AI model can scan your brain with non-invasive equipment and convert your thoughts into typed sentences — with no implants required.
Spring reading: 10 books being adapted for film, TV
"Long Bright River," "Forever," "Fear Street: Prom Queen" and other books are being adapted for film and television this spring.
Whale pee moves vital nutrients thousands of miles
Even for the world’s largest animals, “when you gotta go, you gotta go.” Whale’s volcanic poop offers up a treasure trove of biological information and nutrients for the ocean. Not to be...