Latest science news in Biology & Nature
DARPA's air-breathing hypersonic missiles ready for free-flight tests
Captive carry tests of two hypersonic weapons have been completed, with their first free flights scheduled for later this year, according to DARPA and the U.S. Air Force.
New study on migration success reinforces need for monarch butterfly milkweed habitat
A recent study presents evidence that the migration success of monarchs hasn't declined in recent years and thus cannot explain the steep decline in the monarch population over the last...
Using tattoo ink to find cancer
The humble ink in a tattoo artist's needle could be the key to improving the detection of cancer. Researchers recently developed new imaging contrast agents using common dyes such as...
Genomic analysis of Shiga-toxin E.coli (STEC) in a child reveals insights on a virulent, emerging foodborne pathogen
Researchers have completed the genomic analysis of an increasingly common strain of Shiga-toxin E. coli (STEC) that can cause severe disease outbreaks.
Globalization is reweaving the web of life
As introduced species spread around the world, the complex networks of interactions between plants and animals within ecosystems are becoming increasingly similar, a process likely to reinforce globalization's imprint on...
New study shows birds can learn from others to be more daring
House sparrows can be found on nearly every continent including North America, South America, Africa and Australia, where they are not native but an invasive species. New research into these...
An unprecedented discovery of cell fusion
Like humans, bacteria live together in communities, sometimes lending a hand—or in the case of bacteria, a metabolite or two—to help their neighbors thrive. Understanding how bacteria interact is critical...
Birds can learn from others to be more daring
New research into highly social yet invasive house sparrows reveals that they can learn from each other and adapt their behavior.
An unprecedented discovery of cell fusion
Understanding how bacteria interact is critical to solving growing problems such as antibiotic resistance, in which infectious bacteria form defenses to thwart the medicines used to fight them. Researchers have...
Zimbabwe investigating deaths of 22 elephants, more expected
The number of elephants dying in western Zimbabwe from a suspected bacterial infection, possibly from eating poisonous plants, has risen to 22, and "more deaths are expected," a spokesperson for...
Microbial genetics: A protean pathogen
The bacterium Helicobacter pylori is linked to increased risk of stomach cancer, and is genetically highly variable. A new study by researchers of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich explores the role...
Parasitic plants attack crops when defending themselves from microbes
Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan have discovered a link between defensive responses in plants and the beautiful but devastating crop parasite witchweed. Published...
Origin of a complex life form revealed
Researchers from McGill University have revealed the steps by which two very distinct organisms—bacteria and carpenter ants—have come to depend on one another for survival to become a single complex...
Study details how general anesthetics and 'benzos' act on receptors in the brain
As you drift into unconsciousness before a surgery, general anesthetic drugs flowing through your blood are putting you to sleep by binding mainly to a protein in the brain called...
Guilt by dissociation: Study sheds light on serotonin in autism
A study on serotonin, a mood-regulating molecule in the brain that regulates many brain synapses, is helping to unravel the puzzle surrounding its role in autism. The activity and regulation...
Watch: British zoo's parrot impresses patrons with Beyonce cover
A parrot at a British zoo has become a hit with visitors and a viral sensation online after belting out a rendition of Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy."
Nicola Adams joins 'Strictly Come Dancing,' will have female partner
Nicola Adams will be the first contestant to compete as part of a female same-sex dance team on the BBC series "Strictly Come Dancing."
Viruses on glaciers highlight evolutionary mechanism to overcome host defenses
Viruses are often thought of as a human problem, however they are the most abundant biological entities on the planet. There are millions of viruses in every teaspoon of river,...
Common species mirror rare animals' response to global change
A study of more than 2,000 species reveals animal populations around the world - from the very common to endangered species - are going up and down as global change...
Common sunscreen ingredients prove dangerous for freshwater ecosystems
The results show that long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) filters -- including avobenzone, oxybenzone, and octocrylene -- is lethal for some organisms living in freshwater environments. One of the largest...
Subtypes and developmental pathways of innate T cells identified
Study finds T cells differentiate into memory cells before meeting antigens - a clue to developing new immunotherapy.
New research shows lyrebirds move more litter and soil than any other digging animal
When you think of lyrebirds, what comes to mind may be the sound of camera clicks, chainsaws and the songs of other birds. While the mimicry of lyrebirds is remarkable,...
The impact of microplastics on soil organisms
A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in China and one in France has found that microplastics making their way into soil can lead to a decrease in the...
New study reveals migratory habits of teenage green turtles
Researchers and conservationists who have been tracking turtle migration for over a decade believe a new study highlights the need for investment and conservation of vital marine habitats which play...
Viruses could be harder to kill after adapting to warm environments
Enteroviruses and other pathogenic viruses that make their way into surface waters can be inactivated by heat, sunshine and other microbes, thereby reducing their ability to spread disease. But researchers...
Reviewing research about the evolution of complex cognition in birds
So far, the majority of studies investigating brain functions and intelligence have been carried out either on humans or animals that are known to be most similar to humans, such...
Eat more to grow more arms...if you're a sea anemone
Scientists have discovered that the number of tentacle arms a sea anemone grows depends on the amount of food it eats.
Open access resource provides most comprehensive library for biological protein interactions
Researchers looking for up to date information about protein interactions within cells will benefit from a new open source resource created by academics at the University of Reading.