Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Cells 'speed date' to find their neighbors when forming tissues
In developing hearts, cells shuffle around, bumping into each other to find their place, and the stakes are high: pairing with the wrong cell could mean the difference between a...
Mosquito pain receptors found to be less sensitive during extreme heat, which could nullify some natural bug sprays
Hotter temperatures may render natural insect repellents less effective against mosquitoes, according to a new study. Researchers found that a pain receptor called TRPA1 becomes less sensitive in mosquitoes when...
A new name for one of the world's rarest rhinoceroses
A new study revealed significant differences in the appearance and behavior of the two one-horned Asiatic rhinoceros species, challenging long-standing classifications and supporting a re-evaluation of their status.
Bumblebees winter nest-building 'due to climate'
Active worker bumblebees were spotted in Scotland over the Christmas break.
'We sing to them': LA stables turn Noah's Ark for fire rescue animals
Pigs, donkeys and even a mini cow named Cuddles found a temporary home after the LA fires.
Scientists find structural variation that boosts grain number in sorghum
Chinese scientists have uncovered two major genes responsible for sorghum's double-grain spikelet that dramatically enhance grain number and crop yield. A substantial 35.7-kilobase intrachromosomal inversion at the DG1 (Double-Grain 1)...
She's Better at Making Her Bed
Young female chimpanzees make their nests earlier and more often than young male chimps, demonstrating their independence right from the start, a new UdeM study finds.
'Fishial' Recognition: Neural Network Identifies Coral Reef Sounds
Faster identification of fish sounds from acoustic recordings can improve research, conservation efforts
BGSU Researchers Make First-of-Its-Kind Discovery Into Hummingbird Behavior, Lives
Hummingbirds are often highly aggressive and territorial, but in the tough terrains of the Andes Mountains, BGSU researchers found a species is living cohesively with its peers
NASA Continues BioNutrients Space-Fermented Food Research
2 min readNASA Continues BioNutrients Space-Fermented Food Research NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams displays a set of BioNutrients production packs during an experiment aboard the International Space Station. The experiment...
Computational model enhances protein kinase target prediction for therapies
Protein kinase research presents an opportunity to explore molecular targets in the body to treat diseases like cancer and autoimmune disorders. These enzymes have the potential to bind to cellular...
These octopuses inject their lovers with one of the world’s deadliest toxins
The octopuses in the genus Hapalochlaena , known as blue-ringed octopuses, wield one of the deadliest substances known to science. The tetrodotoxin in their venom is such a potent paralytic that a single...
Hibernating lemurs can turn back the clock on cellular aging
We're all familiar with the outward signs of aging. The face that greets you in the mirror each morning may have sagging skin or thinning hair. But many age-related changes...
Spider development and vision: A genetic perspective
A new study provides detailed insights into the embryogenesis and eye development of the cave-dwelling spider Tegenaria pagana. The research, published in EvoDevo, examines key genetic mechanisms involved in eye...
Engineered cell cultures boost anti-inflammatory compounds in endangered snow lotus
Researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have developed a novel method to enhance the production of valuable medicinal...
Life on Mars? It probably looks like something you'd find in your stomach
Organisms known as extremophiles have been found inhabiting a range of extreme conditions on Earth, including inside our bodies. Could they be on Mars, too?
Misha the elephant lived in zoos, but her tooth enamel helps reconstruct wildlife migrations
Teeth recovered from a beloved zoo elephant that died in 2008 are helping University of Utah geologists develop a method for tracking the movements of large herbivores across landscapes, even...
Why a deadly parasite is not all bad news for bees in Australia
Researchers say Australia is in a unique position to prepare native species for the impacts of the Varroa destructor—a mite now on our shores after decimating honeybee populations in other...
Wild bees thrive among diverse flower communities, study shows
Spring is approaching in the northern hemisphere, and with it come the perennial considerations about which kinds of flowers to plant and where. These questions go far beyond mere aesthetics....
Inside the sex lives of chimpanzees: It's about much more than just reproduction
Doug was the leader of his chimpanzee group. He had quickly gained a reputation from human observers as a fair and tolerant alpha male. One day he was separated from...
Study finds soccer teams move as though they are a single person, offering new insights into collective behavior
What do albatrosses searching for food, stock market fluctuations, and the dispersal patterns of seeds in the wind have in common?
The special effects in Netflix's 'The Electric State' look amazing, but we can't stop thinking about the animatronic Mr Peanut cameo (video)
Mr Peanut is in The Electric State (and my nightmares).
Parasites are ecological dark matter, and they need protecting
The two species of African rhinoceros are conservation icons. Large, charismatic, and vitally important for their ecosystems, to lose either species would be a devastating blow.
Birds' high blood sugar defies aging expectations
A large-scale study of 88 bird species reveals that some birds with high blood sugar levels show resistance to protein glycation, suggesting they have evolved mechanisms to avoid the harmful...
Baby elephant separated from mother rescued in Indonesia
Indonesian authorities rescued a critically endangered baby Sumatran elephant after it became separated from its mother at a palm oil plantation, a local official said on Tuesday.
Heliconius butterfly mating choices linked to simple neural change, which could speed evolution
A simple neural change alters mating preferences in male butterflies, aiding rapid behavioral evolution, Nicholas VanKuren and Nathan Buerkle at the University of Chicago, US, and colleagues, report in the...
East Asians who can digest lactose can thank Neanderthal genes
Unique versions of the lactase gene found in the genomes of East Asian people may have increased in prevalence within the population over time because they bolstered immune responses against...
Look: Pennsylvania firefighters rescue cat from car engine
Firefighters in Pennsylvania responded to a neighborhood for an unusual rescue when a resident discovered a cat hiding under the hood of a car.