Latest science news in Biology & Nature
'Playing hard to get' really works; here's why
Researchers examined the effects of playing hard to get, a mating strategy that is likely to instill a certain degree of uncertainty. In a new study they show that making...
Milkweed, only food source for monarch caterpillars, ubiquitously contaminated
New evidence identifies 64 pesticide residues in milkweed, the main food for monarch butterflies in the west. Milkweed samples from all of the locations studied in California's Central Valley were...
Late blight research pairs spectroscopy with classic plant pathology diagnostics
Kaitlin (Katie) Gold is an assistant professor within the Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology section of the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University. At her lab, the Grape...
3D-printable material that mimics biological tissues
Researchers have 3D printed a complex, porous lattice structure using liquid crystal elastomers creating devices that can mimic cartilage and other biological tissues.
Armor on butterfly wings protects against heavy rain
An analysis of high-speed raindrops hitting biological surfaces such as feathers, plant leaves and insect wings reveals how these highly water-repelling veneers reduce the water's impact.
Study on shorebirds suggests that when conserving species, not all land is equal
Princeton University researchers may have solved a long-standing mystery in conservation that could influence how natural lands are designated for the preservation of endangered species.
Infected insects may warn of impending citrus disease a year in advance
Citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing of HLB), transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid, is currently the biggest threat to the citrus industry and is threat to many parts of the world,...
Study identifies network of genes that directs trachea and esophagus development
A new study reporting how a network of genes directs the development of the trachea and esophagus in mice has been published today in eLife.
Armor on butterfly wings protects against heavy rain
An analysis of high-speed raindrops hitting biological surfaces such as feathers, plant leaves and insect wings reveals how these highly water-repelling veneers reduce the water's impact.
Scientists identify ancient origin for key hormone system
A key set of proteins that help regulate hormones necessary for many essential functions in humans and other vertebrates have ancient origins in much simpler creatures such as sea cucumbers,...
The disgusting at-home foot peel that will prepare your feet for summer
A review of the gross but effective Baby Foot exfoliating foot peel.
Engineers put tens of thousands of artificial brain synapses on a single chip
Engineers have designed a 'brain-on-a-chip,' smaller than a piece of confetti, that is made from tens of thousands of artificial brain synapses known as memristors -- silicon-based components that mimic...
UK pesticide standards could be slashed in new trade deals, threatening public health and the environment
UK consumers are likely to be exposed to larger amounts of more toxic chemicals in their food if trade negotiators from the US have their way, warns a new report...
Survival of coronavirus in different cities, on different surfaces
One of the many questions researchers have about COVID-19 is how long the coronavirus causing the disease remains alive after someone infected with it coughs or sneezes. Once the droplets...
Team decodes another piece of the histone code puzzle
Inside our cells, DNA is tightly packed and spooled around proteins called histones. Packaging DNA in this way allows large amounts of genetic material to exist inside the cell in...
Biohybrid model uses organic lungs, synthetic muscles to re-create respiration mechanics
Benchtop tools for studying the respiratory system misrepresent the interdependence between the diaphragm, abdomen and lungs. Meanwhile, computational models often hide the mechanisms in a black box computation, without a...
France's wolf population rises further to 580 adults
France's wild wolf population rose again last year, with officials counting 580 adults at winter's end compared with an average of 530 a year ago, France's OFB biodiversity agency said...
A new mechanism improves the efficiency of antibacterial surfaces
Resistance to antibiotics has become a serious public health problem. Hospital infections, prostheses or surgical implants that become infected and do not respond to treatment are a real challenge to the research community,...
Parasitic fungi keep harmful blue-green algae in check
When a lake is covered with green scum during a warm summer, cyanobacteria—often called blue-green algae—are usually involved. Mass development of such cyanobacteria is bad for water quality because they...
The Evolution of a Bacterial Navigation System
Caltech researchers and collaborators have discovered how the bacteria Escherichia coli evolutionarily repurposed cellular machinery into a kind of navigation system to control movement through its environment. The study was led by...
Engineers put tens of thousands of artificial brain synapses on a single chip
MIT engineers have designed a “brain-on-a-chip,” smaller than a piece of confetti, that is made from tens of thousands of artificial brain synapses known as memristors — silicon-based components that...
Rewiring plant reproduction for higher seed yields
Exploiting quirks in plant reproduction could boost yields in two staple crops, sorghum and cowpea, for crop farming communities in sub-Saharan Africa (SA).
Human presence weakens social relationships of giraffes
The effects of human presence on the social relationships of wild animals have rarely been studied. Even if the animals are not hunted or killed, increasing contact with humans could...
Scientific fieldwork 'caught in the middle' of US-Mexico border tensions
Imagine you're a scientist, setting out camera traps to snap pictures of wildlife in a remote area of southern Arizona. You set out with your gear early in the morning,...
BTS sing 'Baby Shark' in never-before-seen 'Carpool Karaoke' clip
South Korean boy band BTS sing children's song "Baby Shark" in a never-before-seen "Carpool Karaoke" clip that was released by James Corden in celebration of the group raising money for...
Invasive rushes spreading in upland farm fields
A new study involving University of Liverpool ecologists shows invasive native species of rushes are spreading across UK upland farms and have the potential to threaten wildlife and the livelihoods...
Ontario doubling limit on gatherings, more businesses to reopen in next stage of COVID-19 recovery plan
Ontarians will soon be allowed to gather in groups of up to 10 and many more businesses and services will be allowed to begin operating again as part of the...
Once COVID-19 vaccine is ready, getting people to take it may be challenge
Flattening the curve to contain the coronavirus is the current mantra, but after that, what?