Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Unusual Reproductive Life Of The Naked Mole-Rat
Naked mole-rats are very ugly, but also very interesting mammals. Now scientists want to find out whether the males influence the distribution of male and female progeny.
Engineering tissues and organs
(PhysOrg.com) -- As a high school sophomore, Asad Moten read a news story about engineering new organs for patients waiting for a transplant, and decided to start his own tissue-engineering...
Scientists determine 3D structure of proteins in living cells for the first time
(PhysOrg.com) -- A University of Glasgow scientist was part of a team of researchers which has, for the first time, been able to determine the three-dimensional structure of protein in...
Captive Bred Black Tiger Prawns Lack Lust, 'Prawnography' Shows
A researcher has filmed hours of prawn "sex tapes" to find out why prawns bred in captivity did not go on to breed well.
Stem cells could halt osteoporosis, promote bone growth
While interferon gamma sounds like an outer space weapon, it's actually a hormone produced by our own bodies, and it holds great promise to repair bones affected by osteoporosis. In...
200000 rice mutants available worldwide for scientific investigation
Scientists across the world are building an extensive repository of genetically modified rice plants in the hope of understanding the function of the approximately 57,000 genes that make up the...
With Genomes, Bigger May Really Be Better
Biologists analyzing DNA in search of the molecular underpinnings of life have consistently favored species with small genomes, which are cheaper to sequence and lack the repetitive "junk" that clutters...
Tiny Pests Foul Seacage Netting On Fish Farms In Norway
Tiny creatures - growing rapidly on seacage netting - cause serious problems for fish farmers.
Lemurs: Secret Social Drama Among Humanity's Distant Cousins
Terror in the treetops: by measuring the presence of a stress hormone in the feces of male sifaka and correlating hormonal peaks with seasonal breeding events, primatologists have found hard...
Microbicide protects monkeys from HIV-like virus
Gel may fight virus by suppressing counterproductive immune responses.
Guatemalan experts improve genetic identification of Chagas
Using a genetic test, scientists in Guatemala have detected a type of Chagas disease which previously only was found in South America.
Newborn Blue Whale Caught on Film -- A First
For the first time, a newborn blue whale has been captured on camera, experts say. The baby is the first proof that a blue whale hot spot is a birthing...
Male Nightingales Explore by Day, Seduce by Night
In a first among birds, unpaired nightingales chirp different tunes to lure mates at night than they do for exploring territory during the day.
Holding a mirror up to a gibbon`s mind
(PhysOrg.com) -- University of Queensland developmental psychologists have taken a step into our evolutionary past by studying gibbons.
Is my chemo working? Scans may give faster answer
(AP) -- When Mike Stevens learned his lungs were riddled with cancer, it took only a week to start chemotherapy - but six weeks to find out if it...
Antibody key to treating variant CJD, scientists find
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have determined the atomic structure of the 'binding' between a brain protein and an antibody that could be key to treating patients with diseases...
RNA research strategy for Europe takes shape
Research into RNA, a molecule found in every cell of our bodies, could lead to remarkable advances in the treatment of diseases such as cancer and diabetes, a meeting organised...
R U Down Wiv Txt Slang?
Texting slang is, according to one report, more an art than a crutch for the semi-literate. The study found more of a correlation between reading ability and "sound-based textisms," such...
South Asia News in brief: 19 February–4 March
India isolates new strain of H5N1 from birds, Kashmiri goat to be cloned for wool, iron fertilisation project needs discussion, and more.
Dude fish looks like a lady — but why?
Around the world, increasing numbers of male fish are developing female traits — growing new sexual organs and sometimes even producing eggs. The phenomenon that has been blamed mostly on...
Whale sonar: Two pings are better than one
Many whale species have sonar systems that send out two pings at once, allowing them to detect underwater objects with greater accuracy than even the most sophisticated human technologies, according...
Human actions threaten Dead Sea levels
DARMSTADT, Germany, March 4 (UPI) -- A German study suggests human water consumption is causing an alarming drop in Dead Sea water levels, with serious environmental consequences.
Study offers clues to beating hearing loss
Researchers at the University of Leeds have made a significant step forward in understanding the causes of some forms of deafness.
Regional sheep 'more vulnerable'
A survey highlights the heightened risk of disease faced by regional breeds of sheep.
Fish feast frenzy caught on film
A feeding frenzy featuring thousands of sharks, dolphins and seabirds feasting on sardines is captured on camera.
First Jaguar Caught in U.S. Put to Sleep
The first wild jaguar to be caught in the U.S. was recaptured just a few weeks later on Monday and euthanized the same day, wildlife officials said.
Jacob T. Schwartz, 79, Restless Scientist, Dies
Mr. Schwartz was a mathematician and computer scientist who did seminal research in fields as diverse as molecular biology and robotics.
Genome scan may save Tasmanian devils from cancer
Scientists say identifying resistant animals could be key to combating a contagious tumour.