Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Versatile symbionts: Reed beetles benefit from bacterial helpers through all life stages
Insects that feed only on plants have a number of challenges to overcome. But they also have some active helpers to assist them with the supply of important nutrients. So-called symbiotic microorganisms make...
Study reveals impacts of climate change on migrating mule deer
When drought reshuffles the green-up of habitats that mule deer migrate across, it dramatically shortens the annual foraging bonanza they rely on.
Water bacteria have a green thumb
The sheer endless expanses of the oceans are hostile deserts—at least from the perspective of a bacterium living in water. Tiny as it is, its chances of finding sufficient nutrients...
From bacteria to you: The biological reactions that sustain our rhythms
Every second of every day, countless biochemical reactions take place in our bodies' cells. The organization of this complex system is the result of billions of years of evolution, fine-tuning...
Single enzyme responsible for gender-based plumage color differences in canaries
A team of researchers affiliated with multiple institutions in Portugal and the U.S. has found that a single enzyme is responsible for gender-based plumage color differences in mosaic canaries. In...
Scientists report heavy ion transfer in charged vdW cluster for the first time
Since the discovery of the double helix form of DNA and the hypothesis of DNA mutation induced by proton transfer more than 50 years ago, it has been recognized that...
Using light to speed up CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing
A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University has developed a way to speed up the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing process by using light-sensitive nucleotides. In their paper published in the journal...
Environmental DNA shows promise in estimating sport fish populations
Anglers often lament how hard it can be to land a fish for dinner, but the tougher job usually falls to fisheries managers, who have set sustainable catch limits for...
Unlocking PNA's superpowers for self-assembling nanostructures
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a method for self-assembling nanostructures with gamma-modified peptide nucleic acid (γPNA), a synthetic mimic of DNA. The process has the potential to impact...
An El Niño hit this banana prawn fishery hard. Here's what we can learn from their experience
Prawns are a staple of many Australian barbecues, and we're fortunate to have wild-caught prawns from sustainably-managed fisheries that boast best management practice.
"Forever Chemicals" Are Building Up in the Arctic--and Likely Worldwide
An ice-core analysis reveals the chemicals that replaced ozone-depleting substances are leading to an increase of nondegradable compounds in the environment -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The way the coronavirus messes with smell hints at how it affects the brain
The virus responsible for COVID-19 can steal a person’s sense of smell, leaving them noseblind to fresh-cut grass, a pungent meal or even their own stale clothes. But so far, details remain...
Pangolin released into wild under China's new protections
Activists in China have released a pangolin into the wild to celebrate new protections for the armadillo-like animal whose numbers in the country have dropped to near extinction levels.
Baby dragons take their bow in a Slovenian cave
Three rare aquatic creatures known as baby dragons are going on display in an aquarium at Slovenia's Postojna Cave, one of the country's biggest tourist attractions.
Lockdowns are no problem for whale sharks in Tanzania
Global lockdowns pose few problems for whale sharks off Tanzania. New research shows that these gigantic fish prefer to stay in the bay they call home.
New global extinction target proposed
With species fast disappearing, the world needs a single target for fighting extinction, say experts.
HIV can travel from the brain, study with animals shows
HIV can reside in brain cells and spread the AIDS-causing virus to the body, a new study in mice indicates.
2020 MLB Draft: Tigers add more bats, Astros make first picks on Day 2
Less than 24 hours after taking Arizona State slugger Spencer Torkelson with the No. 1 overall pick, the Detroit Tigers used their first four picks on hitters during the second...
Three neuroscience start-ups raise funds for small molecules that regenerate or protect brain tissue
Athira, Autobahn, and Prilenia together raised more than $220 million this month
One gene could explain why some male birds are more colorful than females
The gene codes for an enzyme that degrades reddish-orange pigments seen in the plumage of some male birds
'Matador' guppies trick predators
Trinidadian guppies behave like matadors, focusing a predator's point of attack before dodging away at the last moment, new research shows.
Denisovan DNA influences immune system of modern day Oceanian populations
More than 120,000 novel human genetic variations that affect large regions of DNA have been discovered, some of which are linked to immune response, disease susceptibility or digestion.
Solving a Parkinson's disease puzzle through protein design
Scientists have developed a computational protein design approach, and used it to obtain the first ever high-resolution structure of an activated dopamine receptor in its natural cell membrane environment. The...
Crop pathogens 'remarkably adaptable'
Pathogens that attack agricultural crops show remarkable adaptability to new climates and new plant hosts, new research shows.
Return of sea otters to B.C. coast worth millions, but not everyone seeing the benefits, study says
The return of playful, popular sea otters to the Pacific shores of British Columbia is adding nearly $50 million a year to the province's economy despite their impact on valuable...
Research reveals function of genetic pathway for reproductive fitness in flowering plants
Small RNAs are key regulators involved in plant growth and development. Two groups of small RNAs are abundant during development of pollen in the anthers—a critical process for reproductive success....
Watch: Florida family finds alligator swimming in backyard pool
A Florida family captured video of an alligator trespassing on their property and taking a dip in their backyard swimming pool.
Terrestrial extinctions during Great Dying altered the chemistry of Earth's oceans
The loss of plants and animals on land during the the Permian-Triassic extinction led to significant chemical changes in Earth's oceans.