Latest science news in Biology & Nature
New bacteria and algae process could help decarbonize UK military
A new biological engineering process that could help to decarbonise the UK military is set to be developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield.
How tadpoles provide insight into pandemics
A virus affecting wood frog tadpoles throughout the eastern United States is offering scientists a rare opportunity to investigate the role of environmental factors in the spread of infectious disease.
Uncovering the hidden life of 'dead' coral reefs
'Dead' coral rubble can support more animals than live coral, according to researchers trialing a high-tech sampling method. A researcher said that reef rubble habitat was often overlooked as desolate,...
Following African elephant trails to approach conservation differently
Elephant trails may lead the way to better conservation approaches. “Think of elephants as engineers of the forests,” said Melissa J. Remis, professor and head of anthropology at Purdue University, who...
Red fox displaces Arctic fox thanks to littering
Animal species that are at home in the high mountains are finding their habitats reduced and fragmented by roads. In addition, they face competition from scavengers from lower boreal areas...
Giant leap for molecular measurements
Spectroscopy is an important tool of observation in many areas of science and industry. Infrared spectroscopy is especially important in the world of chemistry, where it is used to analyze...
Mapping the 3-D geometry of SARS-CoV-2's genome
The novel coronavirus uses structures within its RNA to infect cells. Scientists have now identified these configurations, generating the most comprehensive atlas to date of SARS-CoV-2's genome.
Brain estrogen is key to brain protection when oxygen is low
When the brain isn't getting enough oxygen, estrogen produced by neurons in both males and females hyperactivates another brain cell type called astrocytes to step up their usual support and...
Crew death renews concerns over film set safety amid COVID-19
John Nolan, an assistant director who died last week after a battle with COVID-19, worked on a commercial shoot in Texas.
Brazilian researchers complete sequencing of native stingless bee genome
A consortium of researchers funded by Brazil's National Council for Scientific and Technological Development and FAPESP has sequenced the genome of Frieseomelitta varia, a native stingless bee (common name: marmelada)....
Researchers develop new chip design for analyzing plant-microbe interactions
Plants interact with certain microbes, such as bacteria and fungi, in mutually beneficial ways that scientists are only beginning to fully understand. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)...
New advancement in nanophotonics has the potential to improve light-based biosensors
As COVID-19 swept across the world this year, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives, it quickly became clear that one essential factor for controlling its spread is the ability to...
Uncovering the hidden life of 'dead' coral reefs
"Dead" coral rubble can support more animals than live coral, according to University of Queensland researchers trialing a high-tech sampling method.
Rare cinnamon black bear with cubs captured and moved out of Fort St. John, B.C.
A family of black bears that was generating hourly calls to the conservation officer service in Fort St. John, B.C., has been tranquilized and relocated, wildlife officials say.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: How many crocodiles can you see?
Gharial crocodiles may number less than 1,000 individuals in the wild - but there is always hope.
Dodder uses the flowering signal of its host plant to flower
Researchers have investigated how the parasitic dodder Cuscuta australis controls flower formation. They showed that the parasite eavesdrops on the flowering signals of its host plants in order to activate...
Genetic mutations may be linked to infertility, early menopause
A new study identifies a specific gene's previously unknown role in fertility. When the gene is missing in fruit flies, roundworms, zebrafish and mice, the animals are infertile or lose...
Scientists develop first drug-like compounds to inhibit elusive cancer-linked enzymes
Structural biology techniques helped researchers target the nuclear receptor-binding SET domain family for the first time; its malfunction is associated with several types of cancer.
Secret weapon to stop invasive honeysuckle: Satellites
Researchers found that satellite imagery can identify non-native and invasive Amur honeysuckle, an ornamental shrub introduced from Asia that has spread in forests across much of the United States.
Newly discovered sugar transporter might help beans tolerate hot temperatures
MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory (PRL) scientists have characterized a sucrose transporter protein found in common beans. The recently discovered protein could help us understand how beans tolerate hot temperatures. The...
Secret weapon to stop invasive honeysuckle: Satellites
One common invasive species is so widespread that you can see it from space.
Scientists develop first drug-like compounds to inhibit elusive cancer-linked enzymes
A team of scientists from the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center has developed the first drug-like compounds to inhibit a key family of enzymes whose malfunction is associated with...
Stealing information from host plants: How the parasitic dodder plant flowers
About 4,000 to 5,000 parasitic plant species exist. Among these, dodders (Cuscuta, Convolvulaceae) are distributed worldwide. Compared with normal autotrophic plants, they have a unique morphology—they are rootless and leafless...
Discovery of an ancient dog species may teach us about human vocalization
In a study published in PNAS, researchers used conservation biology and genomics to discover that the New Guinea singing dog, thought to be extinct for 50 years, still thrives. Scientists...
Study finds missing link in the evolutionary history of carbon-fixing protein Rubisco
A team led by researchers at the University of California, Davis, has discovered a missing link in the evolution of photosynthesis and carbon fixation. Dating back more than 2.4 billion...
Prior exposure to powdery mildew makes plants more vulnerable to subsequent disease
A key to surviving in the wild is fighting off infection -- and not just once. For plants, as with humans, one infection may or may not leave a plant...
Study finds missing link in the evolutionary history of carbon-fixing protein Rubisco
A team has discovered a missing link in the evolution of photosynthesis and carbon fixation. Dating back more than 2.4 billion years, a newly discovered form of the plant enzyme...
COVID lockdown offers insight into human-wildlife interactions
As COVID-19 lockdowns forced billions indoors, wildlife came out to play in many parts of the world. Sightings have been reported of coyotes roaming through San Francisco, dolphins frolicking along Istanbul’s shores, and...