Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Crabs help reef fight disease
Furry coral crabs are helping the coral reefs they inhabit tackle a deadly disease known as white syndrome, research has found.
News in Brief: Nerve stem cells treat gut disorder in mice
Therapy repairs intestines by connecting to nervous system
Beer’s bitter compounds could help brew new medicines
Researchers employing a century-old observational technique have determined the precise configuration of humulones, substances derived from hops that give beer [...]
14 Pygmy Elephants Die Mysteriously in Borneo
Fourteen endangered Borneo pygmy elephants died of mysterious causes, conservationists say.
Republic of Congo park to protect gorillas
NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The Republic of Congo has declared a new national park to protect a population of 125,000 western lowland gorillas, a U.S. conservation group...
Hello Kitty! Please Don’t Kill Me!
A new study reveals that cats prey on billions of birds and mammals every year.
Coffee Fungus Outbreak Resumes
Where there is coffee, there is ‘coffee rust’. But the long stalemate between growers and the fungus behind the devastating disease has broken -- with the fungus taking the advantage....
'Zoomable' map of poplar proteins offers new view of bioenergy crop
(Phys.org)—Researchers seeking to improve production of ethanol from woody crops have a new resource in the form of an extensive molecular map of poplar tree proteins, published by a team...
'Super' enzyme protects against dangers of oxygen
Just like a comic book super hero, you could say that the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1) has a secret identity. Since its discovery in 1969, scientists believed SOD1's only role...
Epigenetic control of cardiogenesis
Many different tissues and organs form from pluripotent stem cells during embryonic development. To date it had been known that these processes are controlled by transcription factors for specific tissues....
Rare kangaroos prefer 'girl next door'
A genetic study has revealed the Northern Bettong, a rare kangaroo, likes to mate with females close to them and may form long-term partnerships.
Mild winters leading to rat explosion in NE
Normally, brutal winters limit a rat population's ability to breed, but cities in New England haven't had the luxury recently
Tomorrow's life-saving medications may currently be living at the bottom of the sea
Two new research articles demonstrate how the next class of powerful medications may currently reside at the bottom of the ocean. In both cases, the researchers were focused on ocean-based...
Overharvesting leaves ‘Himalayan Viagra’ fungus feeling short
Rising demand for yarsagumba threatens to cause ecological damage.Nature News doi: 10.1038/nature.2013.12308
Peruvian bill aims to protect condors
A bill has been introduced to the Peruvian Congress that would protect Andean condors, a huge species of raptor that is in decline and in danger of dying out in...
Cultural evolution changes bird song
Thanks to cultural evolution, male Savannah sparrows are changing their tune, partly to attract "the ladies." According to a study of more than 30 years of Savannah sparrows recordings, the...
Better way to culture central nervous cells
A protein associated with neuron damage in Alzheimer's patients provides a superior scaffold for growing central nervous system cells in the lab. The findings could have clinical implications for producing...
Study assesses use of plants in antimalarial therapies
Extracts from plants are used widely to treat malaria in Benin, and their conservation should be promoted, says a study.
Tributes to 'baby-sitting' cat
A cat who "baby-sat" newborn animals including lion cubs at a Cambridgeshire zoo dies, leading to messages of sympathy from around the world.
Link found between insulin sensitivity, cells' powerhouses: Mice with mitochondrial mutation live longer, have less fat
Mice with decreased activity of a protein complex involved in mitochondrial function exhibit reduced body weight and decreased fat mass, and their media life span is 20 percent longer. This...
Sexual Selection In The Fossil Record: Survival Of The Prettiest?
Sexual selection refers to the evolutionary pressures that relate to a species' ability to repel rivals, gather mates and pass on genes. We can observe those processes happening in living...
Angry Birds - Now In Real Life Too
While male sparrows can fight to the death, a new study shows that they often wave their wings wildly first in an attempt to avoid a dangerous brawl. Swamp sparrows...
Pesticides can kill frogs in hours
Typical spraying of fields within commonly used pesticides is enough to cause the death of frogs
Researchers uncover protein's job protecting pneumonia-causing pathogen from copper poisoning
(Phys.org)—A team of chemists and biologists led by Indiana University chemistry professor David Giedroc has described a previously unknown function of a protein they now know is responsible for protecting...
Flies of the world embrace vegetarianism
(Phys.org)—Microbe-eating flies from at least three different locations around the world recently have evolved into herbivores, feeding on some of the most toxic plants on Earth. Fly detectives and UA...
Bigfoot Blamed for Strange Shrieks
Here's the scoop on roars and grunts heard in the Blue Mountains.
Elusive giant squid is still a deep mystery
The recent unprecedented video footage of a giant squid filmed in its deep ocean habitat has renewed interest in the enormous — and yet still mysterious — species.
Goggle-wearing rats learn predictive skills
Rats are sporting tiny, sci-fi-esque goggles in the name of science. The result: In addition to providing some pretty cute images, the fashionable rats have revealed that parts of the...