Latest science news in Biology & Nature
'Queen of icebergs' A23a grounds off South Atlantic wildlife haven
The world's largest iceberg has run aground just off the coast of South Georgia. But what does this mean for the wildlife there?
Poll: Should we bring back woolly mammoths?
Colossal scientists just created "woolly mice" in another step towards their ultimate goal of resurrecting woolly mammoths. But should we be tinkering with extinct species? Take our poll and have...
Golden scaleless cave fish discovered in China shows evolution in action
The discovery of a golden scaleless fish in China is helping scientists understand how animals evolved to live in caves.
'Mini placentas' in a dish reveal key gene for pregnancy
Different versions of a gene called ACE2 affect how well the placenta grows during pregnancy, a laboratory study finds.
Elephant quiz: Test your smarts on the world's largest land animal
Elephants have good memories, but what about you? Take this quiz to find out how much you know about elephants.
'Let's just study males and keep it simple': How excluding female animals from research held neuroscience back, and could do so again
Neuroscience research has only recently begun to prioritize the inclusion of both male and female lab animals in studies. Could we see that shift reverse?
Is there really a difference between male and female brains? Emerging science is revealing the answer.
Brain scans, postmortem dissections, artificial intelligence and lab mice reveal differences in the brain that are linked to sex. Do we know what they mean?
Do 'elephant graveyards' really exist?
Stories of vast graveyards where elephants go to die only scratch the surface of the fascinating death-related behaviors in these mammals.
Is there life out there? The existence of other technological species is highly likely
Is there life out there? The existence of other technological species is highly likely
Rare dolphin sighting delights West Vancouver onlookers
A pod of Pacific white-sided dolphins swimming near Ambleside Beach was caught on film by Vancouver resident Imaan Jiwa, who was out for a walk on Friday night. The encounter...
Scientists brought to tears by huge loss of U.S. butterflies
Scientists calculated just how much U.S. butterfly populations have declined in the past 20 years. The results brought some scientists to tears, and have them warning about dire implications for...
5 things we learned this week
Photo illustration by Liz Zonarich/Harvard Staff Campus & Community 5 things we learned this week Sy Boles Harvard Staff Writer March 6, 2025 1 min read How closely have you been following...
Butterfly populations are plummeting across the United States
The American lady ( Vanessa virginiensis ) is one of the most common and widespread butterflies across the United States. But over the past 2 decades, this orange-and-black beauty—along with almost all other...
Cutting off rhino horns to prevent poaching makes them homebodies
When rhino poaching reached a crisis level in 2014, wildlife managers in southern Africa turned to a last-ditch defense. They started sawing off horns, which doesn’t hurt rhinos, but may dissuade poachers from...
Marvel's new 'Predator vs Wolverine' miniseries pits alien against mutant in a clawed showdown
Claws will fly when Marvel Comics releases its new "Predator versus Wolverine" comic miniseries starting Sept. 20, 2023.
People's choice: Snowy owl and kingfisher triumph as Finland's most attractive birds
Recent research has revealed which bird species are the most pleasant to the human eye, and which are less attractive. The most visually appealing species were often colorful birds, but...
INHS researchers reveal "virgin birth" in a crocodile
In a recent study published in the journal Biology Letters, a female crocodile living in isolation for 16 years at a Costa Rican zoo laid a clutch of eggs, a...
Researchers Demonstrate First Precision Gene Editing in Miscanthus
Miscanthus thrives on marginal lands with limited fertilization and tolerates drought and cool temperatures, making it an ideal bioenergy candidate. Previous efforts to genetically improve miscanthus focused on introducing external...
New insight into how xeroderma pigmentosum causative gene products ensure the accuracy of DNA repair
Our genomic DNA is continuously damaged by endogenous factors such as reactive oxygen species, and also by environmental factors such as ultraviolet light, radiation, and chemicals. Failure to repair damaged...
CRISPR/Cas9-based gene drive could suppress agricultural pests
Researchers have developed a "homing gene drive system" based on CRISPR/Cas9 that could be used to suppress populations of Drosophila suzukii vinegar flies—so-called "spotted-wing Drosophila" that devastate soft-skinned fruit in...
Masai giraffes more endangered than previously thought, finds new study
Giraffes in eastern Africa may be even more endangered than previously thought. A new study led by researchers at Penn State reveals that populations of Masai giraffes separated geographically by...
Watch: 10-foot crocodile removed from Florida swimming pool
A Florida Keys family called in some help from experts when they arrived home and found a 10-foot crocodile swimming in their pool.
Researchers: Why we're 'interviewing' captive birds to find the best to release into the wild
Not all animals are the same. Even within a species, some are bolder and better at solving problems than others. We have found this to be true in the case...
New study traces amino acids synthesized by gut microbes in wild animals
The role of the gut microbiome in our health has become an important topic in recent years, but a new study out of The University of New Mexico is the...
Invasive fish spotted in Missouri can even be found on land. Kill it if you see one
An invasive fish species last seen in Missouri in 2019 is now back, and there are concerns it could continue to spread throughout the state.
New imaging technique can capture entire plant tissues in 3D
The cellular life inside a plant is as vibrant as the blossom. In each plant tissue—from root tip to leaf tip—there are hundreds of cell types that relay information about...
Twenty species of sea lettuce found along the Baltic and Scandinavian coasts
The number of species of the green alga sea lettuce in the Baltic Sea region and Skagerak and is much larger than what was previously known.
Twenty species of sea lettuce found along the Baltic and Scandinavian coasts
The number of species of the green alga sea lettuce in the Baltic Sea region and Skagerak and is much larger than what was previously known. Researchers at the University...