Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Florida says it flew migrants to California as flights come under investigation
Florida has confirmed that it flew migrants to California where investigators are probing the flights to see if any laws were broken.
Why scientists have a hard time getting money to study the root causes of outbreaks
Understanding what conditions prime pathogens to leap from animals to people could help us prevent outbreaks. DepositPhotosThis article was originally featured on ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for...
When and why did masturbation evolve in primates? A new study provides clues
Though masturbation is common across the animal kingdom, it seems, at its face, to be an evolutionary paradox: Why would an animal waste time, energy and reproductive resources on self-pleasure instead of copulating...
Electrical synapses in the neural network of insects found to have unexpected role in controlling flight power
A team of experimental neurobiologists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and theoretical biologists at Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin has managed to solve a mystery that has been baffling scientists for...
The "Sooty Bark Disease", harmful for maples and humans, can be monitored by pollen sampling stations
Especially after the last few COVID-affected years, nobody doubts that emerging infectious diseases can threaten the whole world. But humans are not the only ones at risk! With intensive global...
Super semen could be one reason why primates evolved to masturbate
Primates evolved to be prime masturbators. Deposit Photos Despite centuries of taboo and titillation, masturbation in primates appears to serve an evolutionary purpose. A study published June 6 in the journal Proceedings of...
Development of communication in chimpanzees echoes that of human infants
Young chimpanzees combine different gestures, vocalizations and facial expressions in a way which echoes the development of communication in human infants, according to new research.
Study explains the evolutionary origins and advantages of masturbation
Masturbation is common across the animal kingdom but is especially prevalent among primates, including humans. Historically, this behavior was considered to be either pathological or a by-product of sexual arousal,...
Just keep swimming: SoCal study shows sharks, humans can share ocean peacefully
You're gonna need a bigger ... drone.
Researchers visualize communication of G protein-coupled receptors, paving way for new drug discovery
A group of researchers led by Prof. Arun K. Shukla in the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) has unraveled a previously...
Study suggests long-lived tree species play greater role in generating genetic diversity
A study of the relationship between the growth rate of tropical trees and the frequency of genetic mutations they accumulate suggests that older, long-lived trees play a greater role in...
Bombardier beetle vs. assassin bug: Mimetic interactions via a shared enemy
Animals can defend themselves against their natural enemies in various ways. Well-defended species often share conspicuous body colors with other well-defended or undefended species, forming mimetic interactions.
CRISPR/Cas9 reveals a key gene involved in the evolution of coral skeleton formation
New work led by Carnegie's Phillip Cleves uses cutting-edge CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tools to reveal a gene that's critical to stony corals' ability to build their reef architectures.
Unraveling brood parasitism in predatory mites
Several animal species display brood care, a phenomenon where 'caring' parents provide their offspring with food and protection against predators.
Bombardier vs. assassin: Mimetic interactions via a shared enemy
Animals can defend themselves against their natural enemies in various ways. Well-defended species often share conspicuous body colors with other well-defended or undefended species, forming mimetic interactions.
Cincinnati Reds call up shortstop Elly De La Cruz, MLB's No. 4 prospect
Shortstop Elly De La Cruz is headed to the big leagues, ending the wait for one of MLB's top prospects, the Cincinnati Reds announced Tuesday.
'Too small and carefree': Endangered animals released into the wild may lack the match-fitness to evade predators
Breeding threatened mammals in fenced, predator-free areas is a common conservation strategy in Australia. The method is designed to protect vulnerable species and breed animals for release into the wild.
Giant Seaweed 'Blob' Could Carry Dangerous Bacteria
The combination of a massive seaweed bloom, plastic in the ocean and climate change is increasing the risk of dangerous infections
Changing wild animals' behavior could help save them—but is it ethical?
When large and warty cane toads were first brought to Australia nearly 100 years ago, they had a simple mission: to gobble up beetles and other pests in the sugarcane...
Unraveling brood parasitism in predatory mites
Several animal species display brood care, a phenomenon where 'caring' parents provide their offspring with food and protection against predators. However, there are many others that prefer not to do...
Loud launches: Researchers study how rocket noise affects endangered wildlife
A new study will monitor the short- and long-term impacts of rocket launches on endangered wildlife near California's Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Study uncovers new clues about the process of cell plasticity
Researchers have long thought that once a cell starts down its path of differentiation, growing into a skin cell or a liver cell or a neuron, that path could not...
A compound from fruit flies could lead to new antibiotics
Scientists at the University of Illinois Chicago have found that a peptide from fruit flies could lead to new antibiotics.
A gene therapy shot might keep cats from getting pregnant without being spayed
Invasive surgeries to spay cats could one day be a thing of the past, replaced instead with a single shot. An injected gene therapy given to female cats prevented them from...
Study reveals honey bee nest structure is surprisingly adaptive, resilient
Researchers from the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University have discovered that honey bee colonies have surprising abilities to adapt and maintain their nest structure, even in the face...
Preventing pandemics by leaving bats undisturbed
As the COVID-19 pandemic slowly subsides, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) experts and colleagues from the Wildlife Conservation Society have partnered on a new analysis in The Lancet...
A compound from fruit flies could lead to new antibiotics
Research shows that the natural peptide, called drosocin, protects fruit flies from bacterial infections by binding to ribosomes in bacteria. Once bound, drosocin prevents the ribosome from making new proteins.
Gene therapy produces long-term contraception in female domestic cats
Currently there are no contraceptives capable of producing permanent sterilization in companion animals. Spaying, the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus, is the most widely used strategy to control...