Biology
Two decades of fieldwork produce the first complete guide to the native reptiles of the Turks and Caicos Islands
A researcher from the University of North Carolina Asheville has published the first comprehensive checklist of the native terrestrial reptiles of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TC…
Species discoveries reveal emerging biodiversity hotspots worldwide
We share our planet with millions of plants and animals. This variety of life is known as biodiversity, a term encompassing everything from microscopic genes to entire ecosystems,…
Near total lunar eclipse will be seen from North and South America Thursday night
Earth’s shadow will appear to be a reddish ‘blood moon’ due to the way sunlight is scattered by the atmosphereA near total lunar eclipse will be visible across large swathes of No…
Iconic Australian mammals could be at real risk from bird flu. Could they be protected with vaccines in baits?
The deadly rabies virus was once common across Europe. A bite from an infected dog, wolf or fox could be fatal.
Black Box: The Chatbots: a new series from The Guardian Investigates – trailer
People are becoming convinced AI chatbots have helped them make scientific breakthroughs, cure diseases or invent new technologies. What does this reveal about a technology used b…
Cellular 'glue' helps epithelial tissues engulf dead cells while staying sealed
A protein that sticks cells and tissues together has been found to have a surprising second job: helping cells that are packed into a continuous sealed layer, also known as epithe…
Fleeting sugar pairs may help curb abnormal cell-growth signals
Acting as armor, a scaffold and a communication platform in one, our cells' plasma membrane lies at the heart of many crucial cellular processes. Traditionally, it has been though…
Virtual cell model could accelerate protein-degrader therapy design
A team of Weill Cornell Medicine investigators has developed a computer model that will help scientists more efficiently develop protein-destroying therapies, a newer type of trea…
‘Sad moments ahead’: Kew Gardens to fell rare trees in race to save Victorian greenhouse
Horticulturalists begin moving and propagating plants before the rusty and warped Palm House begins renovation – but some are too tall to saveIt will be a gut-wrenching moment for…
Wild swimming linked to higher risk of stomach bugs and skin rashes
Findings from research into illnesses associated with bathing in lakes and rivers come amid boom in hobbyWild swimming has been linked to a higher risk of stomach bugs and skin ra…
How to spot a psychopath: ‘It’s like the difference between a domestic cat and a wild cat’
People with persistent predatory personalities cause an inordinate amount of pain. Recently, our shared understanding of them has grown – and it could help protect usThe classic c…
Some Galápagos 'yellow' sea turtles remain homebodies, surprising scientists
Sea turtles are famous for being prodigious wanderers. Guided by Earth's magnetic field, ocean currents and the sun, they tend to crisscross the seas in search of food, returning …
Team identifies an evolutionarily conserved enhancer that regulates tendon and ligament development
A research team has uncovered fundamental molecular mechanisms governing the formation of tendons and ligaments, which are essential for musculoskeletal integration. Understanding…
Virtual reality reveals glassfish synchronize through split-second copying of single neighbors
For centuries, scientists have been fascinated by the remarkable coordinated movements of flocking birds, swarming insects and schooling fish. Researchers have studied these natur…
Reworked tRNAs enable protein design with up to 34 amino acids
Scientists have been hard at work for more than 20 years to instruct biological systems, such as E. coli cells, to produce proteins they don't naturally produce. Success could mea…
How plants use scoop-shaped pores to distribute their pollen efficiently
Bees are the most important pollinators of flowering plants, and approximately 10% of flowering plants are functionally specialized for buzz pollination. Buzz pollination is a mec…
We discovered rare dinosaur tracks from the Coniacian age near Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia
Imagine the Western Plains of North America, from Texas to Alaska, submerged under a broad, shallow seaway. To the west lay the ancestral Rocky Mountains. To the east were low-lyi…
Reference genome of the Saimaa ringed seal released
Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Oulu have produced the first chromosome-level reference genome for the Saimaa ringed seal. The sequence of e…
How plants evolved a molecular switch to cope with heat
As climate change drives more frequent and intense heat waves, plants face growing challenges to survive and remain productive. Researchers at VIB, Ghent University, KU Leuven and…
Hidden switch in cell division may point to new cancer treatments
When a cell gets ready to divide, it shuts down its gene-reading machinery almost entirely. For decades, the mechanism behind that shutdown was only partially understood. A new st…
Australia's lizards and snakes disappearing faster than previously thought
Australia's lizards and snakes are facing a far more precarious future than previously understood, with a new review led by Monash University researchers revealing that around 127…
Unexpected source of genetic diversity found in human sperm
Scientists have identified an unexpected source of genetic variation in human sperm that occurs earlier in sperm development than previously thought. Published in Nature, research…
Africa's herbarium collections are a scientific treasure. They need to be digitized before more biodiversity is lost
Universities and biodiversity institutes have hidden treasures: their collections of pressed plant specimens. These plants have been flattened, dried and mounted on special cardbo…
AI designs new antibodies that pass blinded laboratory tests
Researchers affiliated with UTHealth Houston, competing under the team name Novamab AI, placed among the top five teams in the international AIntibody Challenge, a blinded, prospe…