Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Researchers map out intricate processes that activate key brain molecule
For researchers looking to understand and someday treat certain neuropsychological ailments, one place to start is a molecule known as GABA, which binds to receptor molecules in neurons and helps...
Tomato's hidden mutations revealed in study of 100 varieties
DNA and all. After centuries of breeding, what was once a South American berry roughly the size of a pea now takes all sorts of shapes and sizes, from cherry-like...
Knock-knock? Who's there? How coral let symbiotic algae in
New work from a team of Carnegie cell, genomic and developmental biologists solves a longstanding marine science mystery that could aid coral conservation. The researchers identified the type of cell...
Humans found able to infer behavioral information from chimpanzee vocalizations
A team of researchers from the University of Amsterdam, the University of York and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, has found evidence of human ability to infer behavioral...
60 minutes of endurance training is enough to shift body clock in mice
New research shows that just one 60 minutes bout of exercise shifted the muscle clocks of mice by around an hour in either direction. If this research is replicated in...
Researchers uncover mysterious tanaids
Biologists are on a quest to discover more of the still nameless tanaids, specifically in the relatively species-rich but poorly studied tropical Indo-Pacific.
Nanosponges could intercept coronavirus infection
Nanoparticles cloaked in human lung cell membranes and human immune cell membranes can attract and neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus in cell culture, causing the virus to lose its ability to...
Human trafficking, over-incarceration in Australia an ongoing concern
In the charged atmosphere of Black Lives Matter demonstrations, Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently made the mistake of stating there was no slavery in Australia. Morrison later apologized for causing...
Wind farms 'turn off times' could help save Eastern European bat populations
The Via Pontica, an important migration route for birds in Eastern Europe, runs along the Black Sea coast of Romania and Bulgaria. Bats also use this route. In this region,...
Study suggests bright patches on Titan are dry lake beds
A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.S. and one in France has found evidence that suggests the bright patches spotted on Titan's surface 20 years ago...
Watch: Gwyneth Paltrow introduces new Goop candle, son Moses says hi on 'Tonight Show'
Gwyneth Paltrow announced the follow-up to her "This Smells Like My Vagina" Goop candle on "The Tonight Show."
Nanosponges could intercept SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection
Nanoparticles cloaked in human lung cell membranes and human immune cell membranes can attract and neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus in cell culture, causing the virus to lose its ability to...
Mapping the genome could help in race to save native rat
Scientists from The University of Western Australia have unveiled a genetic analysis of an endangered native rodent, which could help researchers and conservation authorities better understand how to protect the...
Slimy Mudflat Biofilms Feed Migratory Birds--and Could Be Threatened
The highly nutritious, shimmering goo is a vital source of energy for long-distance fliers -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Report finds that unionist and nationalist identities in NI became stronger in the run-up to Brexit
A research study on political attitudes and identities in Northern Ireland has been released today by ARK—a joint initiative between Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University.
New structural 'map' solves mysteries of gigantic gene regulator
Structural biology has been used to 'map' part of a protein called SMCHD1, explaining how some changes in SMCHD1 cause certain developmental and degenerative conditions.
How fish got onto land, and stayed there
Research on blennies, a family of fish that have repeatedly left the sea for land, suggests that being a 'jack of all trades' allows species to make the dramatic transition...
Persistent DNA damage in the placenta affects pregnancy outcomes
Scientists have shown that a dysfunctional placenta can play a previously unrecognized role during the earliest stages of development in mouse models of Cornelia de Lange syndrome. People with this...
'Relaxed' T cells critical to immune response
Researchers model the role of relaxation time as T cells bind to invaders or imposters, and how their ability to differentiate between the two triggers the body's immune system.
Newly discovered plant gene could boost phosphorus intake
Researchers have discovered an important gene in plants that could help agricultural crops collaborate better with underground fungi -- providing them with wider root networks and helping them to absorb...
Chemistry behind bombardier beetle's extraordinary firepower
Researchers show how how the bombardier beetle concocts its deadly explosives and in the process, learn how evolution gave rise to the beetle's remarkable firepower.
At least 20 killed in India-China Himalayan border dispute
A decades-long border dispute between China and India in the Himalayas has turned deadly for the first time in nearly a half-century.
Hunting in savanna-like landscapes may have poured jet fuel on brain evolution
Compared to the vast emptiness of open water, land is rife with obstacles and occlusions. By providing prey with spaces to hide and predators with cover for sneak attacks, the...
Whales are disturbed by engine noise from whale watching boats
Whale watching vessels need to do more than keep their distance. New research suggests whales in need of peace and quiet are disturbed by the engine noise of encroaching boats.
New species extinction target proposed for global nature rescue plan
A scientist proposes a prominent political target to give discussions of species conservation more vigor. Together with a group of experts from other research institutions, he proposes to limit species...
Hormone systems can still be adapted in adulthood
Behavioral biologists have now been able to demonstrate for the first time that male guinea pigs are still able to adapt their hormone systems to changes in their social environment...
Large non-native snapping turtle captured in Virginia
Police in Virginia said officers responded to a residential neighborhood to apprehend an unusual suspect: a 65-pound alligator snapping turtle.
Snake found in store on first day of reopening
A store in England that opened for the first time since the start of the coronavirus lockdown had to immediately close for several hours when a snake was found inside.