Latest science news in Biology & Nature
New diamond frog species found in northern Madagascar
Scientists have discovered a new species of diamond frog in the dense tropical forests of northern Madagascar.
Shhhh, the whales are resting
We need new guidelines to shield whales from human-made noise to ensure them some peace and quiet. It is no good keeping whale-watching boats out of whales' sight if the...
Hormone systems can still be adapted in adulthood
How do animals adapt their behavior during life in order to assure survival and reproduction? This is a question of great interest for behavioral biologists worldwide. An essential step is...
Newly discovered plant gene could boost phosphorus intake
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen 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...
Overlooked: The role of bacterial viruses in plant health
We know how important bacteria and fungi are for the health of plants. In marine environments and in our own gut, bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) are important in regulating...
World's most complete health analysis of nesting sea turtles conducted in Florida
The most comprehensive health assessment for a green turtle rookery in the world to date is providing critical insights into various aspects of physiology, biology, and herpesvirus epidemiology of this...
Video: Microrobots roll against blood flow to deliver drugs
With the help of magnetic fields, the bots might one day navigate the circulatory system to target tumors
Scientists uncover new mechanism for balancing protein stability during neuronal development
A research team led by Dr. Chaogu Zheng from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), in collaboration with a team led by Professor Martin...
How plants' vascular cells turn into holes
Theoretical biologists have solved a unique puzzle in the structure of plants' vascular tissue. Two mutations that had opposite effects appear to lead to the same result. Professor of Computational...
How does our brain trigger different sighs? New findings could provide answers
One group of neurons controls various types of sighing, but they receive their instructions from different areas of the brain depending on the reason for the sigh, according to a...
Summer favorite bitter gourd genome shows unusual domestication, insight into evolution
The bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is a summer vegetable that graces the tables of many homes and restaurants in Asia. In Okinawa and Kyushu, the southern islands of Japan, the...
Understanding water-repellent enzymes
The ability of some molecules, such as fatty or oily molecules, to repel water is known as hydrophobicity. The opposite, water attracting, is hydrophilicity. The hydrophobic force that keeps water...
Amyloid formation on the International Space Station
Amyloids, abnormal fibrillar aggregates of proteins, are associated with various disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of amyloid formation is critical for developing clinical...
A new family of nanocars ready for the next nano 'Grand Prix'
Researchers have developed a new family of nanocars ready to compete on a gold surface against the 9 other teams selected for the 2nd Nanocar Race in 2021.
Researchers uncover mysterious tanaids
Tanaids are one of the most underappreciated animals in the world. These small crustaceans can be found in virtually all marine benthic habitats, from mangroves, rocky shores and coral reefs...
World's most complete health analysis of nesting sea turtles conducted in Florida
While it's only about a 10-kilometer stretch, Juno Beach is home to one of the largest aggregations of nesting green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Florida and is one of...
Researchers perform southern white rhino oocyte collection and embryo creation
In order to prevent the extinction of species such as the northern white rhino, the BioRescue consortium is developing new methods and technologies for conservation. An important part of this...
Shining like a diamond: A new species of diamond frog from northern Madagascar
Despite the active ongoing taxonomic progress on the Madagascar frogs, the amphibian inventory of this hyper-diverse island is still very far from being complete. More new species are constantly being...
Could Africa have a sustainable palm industry?
Palm plantations are associated with deforestation and ecological harm, but researchers are pointing to ways things can be done differently in Africa.
Father of Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar dies of COVID-19
The father of Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar has died of complications from the coronavirus disease.
Wild hummingbirds see a broad range of colors humans can only imagine
To find food, dazzle mates, escape predators and navigate diverse terrain, birds rely on their excellent color vision. “Humans are color-blind compared to birds and many other animals,” said Mary Caswell...
Jitterbug: Roaches and Robots Shake It To Transition Between Movements In Tricky Terrain
Animals in their natural environments effortlessly switch up their movements to hunt, escape from predators and travel with their packs every day. By chasing cockroaches through an obstacle course and...
Red Sea plankton communities ebb and flow with the seasons
The communities of tiny picoplankton in oceans reveal a great deal about the health of marine ecosystems and food webs. KAUST researchers have examined how numbers of these organisms vary...
Researchers fabricate functionalized black phosphorus nanosheets for circulating tumor DNA detection
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) refers to DNA found in the bloodstream that comes from cancerous cells and tumors. CtDNA identification is one of the most meaningful approaches to early cancer...
Fitbit-like devices used to save turtles in Australia
Researchers from Murdoch University are using Fitbit-like technology to monitor the activity of flatback turtles to inform better conservation management practices.
Streamlined and scalable CHANGE-Seq method improves understanding of genome editors
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have developed an easy to use, sensitive and high-throughput method to define sites of unintended double stranded breaks in DNA caused by genome...
Cats wreak havoc on native wildlife, but we've found one adorable species outsmarting them
Feral and pet cats are responsible for a huge part of Australia's shameful mammal extinction record. Small and medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals are most susceptible.
Challenge of hunting, hiding on land accelerated brain evolution
Computer models suggest the unique challenge of hunting on savanna-like landscapes accelerated brain evolution among terrestrial species.