Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Resurgent Humpbacks On Comeback Trail
In 1966, there were less than 1,500 humpback whales swimming the waters of the North Pacific Ocean. Recent studies show the humpback population has climbed to nearly 20,000.
The Genetics Of Fat Storage In Cells Revealed
New research has revealed the genetic determinants of fat storage in cells, which may lead to a new understanding of and potential treatments for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Senegalese fisherman save dozens of stranded whales
YOFF, Senegal (Reuters) - Senegalese fishermen dragged dozens of stranded pilot whales back out to sea on Wednesday but at least 20 more died on the beach after mysteriously coming...
Endangered tiger becomes proud mama of five!
Five rare tiger cubs have been born at the Saint Louis Zoo.
Method to duplicate primitive stem cells found
Research from the University of Southern California (USC) has discovered a new mechanism to allow embryonic stem cells to divide indefinitely and remain undifferentiated. read more
Many Paths, Few Destinations: How Stem Cells Decide What They'll Be
The conventional view of how stem cells differentiate assumes that cells are "instructed" to progress along prescribed signaling pathways. However, new research shows that the decision is made collectively by...
Relocation Of Endangered Chinese Turtle May Save Species
There are only four specimens of the Yangtze giant softshell turtle left on Earth -- one in the wild and three in captivity. In order to save this species from...
Oregano oil works as well as synthetic insecticides to tackle common beetle
New research in the Society of Chemical Industry’s Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture shows that oregano oil works as well as synthetic insecticides to combat infestation by...
Climate change does double-whammy to animals in seasonal environments
Plant-eating animals in highly seasonal environments, such as the Arctic, are struggling to locate nutritious food as a result of climate change, according to research that will be published in...
Identical Twins' DNA Varies
Scientists discover differences that really set identical twins apart.
Airlines' Own Sites Can Offer the Best Deals
Many airlines keep their best fare deals for their own Web sites.
Brain's 'trust machinery' identified
The brain centers triggered by a betrayal of trust have been identified by researchers, who found they could suppress such triggering and maintain trust by administering the brain chemical oxytocin....
A Strange Crustacean Transformation
Seen previously only in larval form, an enigmatic creature turns into something unexpected
Ask an Interspecies Musicologist
Humpback whales sing some of the most beautiful songs in the animal world. It’s not just “woo, woo, woo”—their songs last 10 to 15 minutes and have a definite form,...
"Frog-amander" Fossil May Be Amphibian Missing Link
A 290-million-year-old fossil may be an evolutionary missing link in the family tree of amphibians, scientists say.
Polar bear numbers set to fall
Climate-change icon gains 'threatened' status from United States.
3-D picture of protein receptor obtained
HOUSTON, May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers reported obtaining the first three-dimensional picture of the protein responsible for generating the sense of heat from spicy hot foods.
Tiny robot replicates grasshopper's long leaps
Taking their cue from leaping insects like the grasshopper and flea, French roboticists have built a tiny robot with spring-powered legs, capable of jumping 27 times its own size.
Fungus That Produces Biofuels From Plants: Genome Sequenced
The fungus Trichoderma reesei optimally breaks down plants into simple sugars, the basic components of ethanol. The fungus's genome has recently been sequenced. The results show that only a few...
Targeting A Pathological Area Using MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a common tool in clinical diagnosis due to the use of contrast agents, which are like colorants, enabling the contrast between healthy tissue and...
Caribou facing extinction as recovery efforts stall, biologist says
There has been no real progress in efforts to save the southern mountain caribou in B.C., according to a longtime wildlife biologist.
Disabling mouse enzyme increases fertility
ST. LOUIS, May 21 (UPI) -- A U.S. study shows changing the sugars attached to a hormone produced in the pituitary gland of mice increased fertility levels by...
Saltwater sleuths: Seeking clues to help determine the ages of fish and shellfish populations
Fishery biologist Sandy Sutherland looks through the lens of the microscope at tiny sections of fish earbones, known as otoliths, each showing annual bands of growth. She carefully counts the...
A foamy drink and the future of food
Michael Pollan`s recent bestseller The Omnivore`s Dilemma revealed to millions of readers the centrality, and dangers, of commodity corn in the modern industrialized agriculture system as developed in the United...
Virtual Biopsy Can Tell Whether Colon Polyp Is Benign Without Removal, Researchers Say
A probe so sensitive that it can tell whether or not a cell living within the human body is veering towards cancer development may revolutionize how future colonoscopies are done.
Kangaroos Threaten One Of Australia's Last Remaining Original Grasslands, And Endangered Animals
Australian Department of Defense is currently culling hundreds of kangaroos on the outskirts of the capital Canberra that have produced heated discussions and hit international headlines. Australia's iconic animal has...
New Peanut Variety Resistant To Nematodes, Virus
A new peanut variety may help farmers in their battle against two key peanut problems. Peanuts are a very popular commodity, with annual U.S. production well above 2 billion pounds....
Corn Rootworm Population Studies: Faster, Cheaper, And Just As Good
A new technique to obtain genetic markers to sort out corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera) populations has been developed. The new method is faster and cheaper than existing techniques, and it...