Latest science news in Biology & Nature
North Carolina State University study finds genes important to sleep
For many animals, sleep is a risk: foraging for food, mingling with mates and guarding against predators just aren't possible while snoozing. How, then, has this seemingly life-threatening behaviour remained...
Q and A: A Green Comet
We hear a lot about "going green" these days. The latest to join in the trend is comet Lulin, which is making an appearance in the nighttime sky this...
UCLA class project: Find Bin Laden
Geographers think the terrorist could be hiding in one of three buildings in Pakistan. Using tools for finding endangered species and fugitives, they formed their hypothesis, which they have offered...
Enlisting microbes to solve global problems
In the search for answers to the planet's biggest challenges, some MIT researchers are turning to its tiniest organisms: bacteria. The idea of exploiting microbial products is not new: Humans...
Pterosaur Wings With a Rib Cage to Match
Ancient flying reptiles may have been more like today's birds than thought
Photos trace Florida reef fish decline
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- A U.S. researcher has used historic photographs as evidence of fishing's impact on marine ecosystems and the decline of "trophy fish."
Controlling cucumber beetles organically
As the popularity of organic produce increases with consumers, growers need more options to manage pests naturally.
Tuning in on cellular communication in the fruit fly
In their ongoing study of the processes involved in embryonic development in fruit flies, researchers at WPI's Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center at Gateway Park have identified the function of...
Cloned wolves to mate to test reproduction: SKorea researcher
One of the world's first cloned wolves will mate with another clone to test their reproductive ability in an unprecedented experiment, according to a South Korean cloning expert.
Link between unexploded munitions in oceans and cancer-causing toxins determined
During a research trip to Puerto Rico, ecologist James Porter took samples from underwater nuclear bomb target USS Killen, expecting to find evidence of radioactive matter - instead he found...
Meningitis bacteria dress up as human cells to evade our immune system
The way in which bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis mimic human cells to evade the body's innate immune system has been revealed by researchers at the University of Oxford and...
Microlending: Do Good, Make Money?
I've long been a fan of microfinance or microlending where a small loan can make a big difference. To date, I've made several small investments via both Microplace.com and Kiva.org....
Forget the antioxidants? Researchers cast doubt on role of free radicals in aging
For more than 40 years, the prevailing explanation of why we get old has been tied to what is called oxidative stress. This theory postulates that when molecules like free...
Conservation: The genome of the American West
What does it mean to save a species? For some, preserving the American bison means keeping its genome pure, finds Emma Marris.
South Asia News in brief: 5–18 February
Fisheries to be hit hard by climate change, satellites track bird flu, nuclear scientist freed in Pakistan, and more.
Report: FDA scaled back enforcement at labs
(AP) -- An independent watchdog group says the government has quietly scaled back enforcement of federal quality regulations at labs that develop medical devices.
Lick Like You Mean It
How well do you know your tongue? Linda Bartoshuk, Ph.D, the director of Human Research at the University of Florida's Center for Smell and Taste, says the fleshy flap inside...
CSHL researchers identify gene that helps plant cells keep communication channels open
Plant cells communicate via microscopic channels called plasmodesmata that are embedded in their cell walls. For the stem cells in the plants' growing tips, called 'meristems,' the plasmodesmata are lifelines,...
Cells with double vision
In comparison to many other living creatures, flies tend to be small and their brains, despite their complexity, are quite manageable. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in...
Research unravels genomic secret
An Australian researcher has discovered a unique role of non-coding RNA, and has shed light on a genomic mystery - what do we do with 98 per cent of our...
Grizzlies reveal 'fancy footwork'
Underwater cameras reveal how grizzly bears use their feet to collect dead salmon from the bottom of pools.
Ready to quit smoking?
Breaking the habit is never easy, but research shows us what might help. ...
Growing Peppers: Does Hotter Mean Healthier?
Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is a major plant disease that affects many crop species worldwide, including chile peppers in New Mexico. Farmers' observations suggested that Phytophthora capsici caused...
Engineers Create Intelligent Molecules That Seek And Destroy Diseased Cells
Current treatments for diseases like cancer typically destroy nasty malignant cells, while also hammering the healthy ones. Using new advances in synthetic biology, researchers are designing molecules intelligent enough to...
Nanotube's 'Tapestry' Controls Its Growth
Materials scientists have put a new "twist" on carbon nanotube growth. The researchers found nanotubes grow like tiny molecular tapestries, woven from twisting, single-atom threads. The research finds a direct...
Assisted colonization key to species' survival in changing climate
Species are adapting slowly to climate change and 'assisted colonisation' can play a vital role in helping wildlife to survive in a warming world.
Has the Female Science Student Gone Extinct?
Has science education become a male dominated field? ... Possibly a silly question. No Boys Allowed!
Built-in Volume Control Helps Protect Auditory Nerve Against Loud Sounds
When our ears are exposed to very loud sounds, such as the blast of a firecracker, too much of a neurotransmitter is released, damaging these auditory nerve cells and causing...