Biology
Dry seeds preserve fully formed mitochondria, unlocking rapid energy at germination
The majority of plant seeds have the special ability to almost completely dry out and yet remain viable. While most living cells die with a 90% loss of water, cells in seeds enter…
For Legionella bacteria, taking over a cell means playing by its rules
When it comes to invading healthy cells, Legionella bacteria rely on blending in rather than breaking in. New research from Van Andel Institute scientists demonstrates how a prote…
Genetic traces reveal river residents: 1,072 species in a bucket of water
Can DNA traces in just two liters (0.5 gallons) of water reveal how a river's biodiversity changes over the course of a year? A study by the University of Duisburg-Essen using the…
When fruits and veggies are scarce, monkeys hunt for meat
Capuchin monkeys hunt prey when fruits and vegetables become scarce, potentially mirroring the habits of human ancestors, according to a study published in PLOS One by Susana Carv…
Chagas parasite's survival trick offers antimalarial-style target
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have identified a potential new target to prevent the spread of Chagas disease. The parasitic infection is transmitted through the bite…
Buried underwear shows land use is key to soil health
Soil is the foundation of our food supply. It stores water, carbon and nutrients and is home to a large share of the world's biodiversity. More than half of global biodiversity is…
Reconstructed Jurassic insect calls evoke a 165-million-year-old forest soundscape
The sights and sounds of the Jurassic era are long gone, and we will never know for sure what that ancient world looked and sounded like. Fossils can offer clues, and reconstructi…
FDA gives expedited approval to new groundbreaking pancreatic cancer drug
FDA officials approve first-of-a-kind pill called daraxonrasib to fight one of the deadliest types of cancerThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a groundbreaking new…
Looking into the eyes of gibbons: New noninvasive eye-tracking study features these little-studied apes
When you look at someone, you usually look at their face. It serves as one of the most important sources of social information in primates, so the evolution of face perception has…
Researchers develop hydrogels to create a programmable niche for blood stem cells
A research team from Tel Aviv University and the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF), led by Ayala Lampel and Carsten Werner, has developed a peptide-glycosaminogl…
Tangled plastic and fishing gear found in pilot whales stranded in Hawaii
A new study by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers shows that nearly 23% of short-finned pilot whales that stranded over 13 years in the main Hawaiian Islands ingested seve…
Bat DNA adaptations may connect virus defense, longevity and cancer resistance
Bats are anomalies in the mammalian world—they fly, have long lifespans and rarely get cancer. Scientists now suspect the bat immune system enables them to live longer without dis…
Sharpening an essential tool for biotechnology
Scientists at the Department of Energy (DOE)'s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have shown that more than 93% of possible E. coli CRISPR-Cas9 guide RNAs—molecules that direct …
Too hot to incubate: Nile crocodiles hatch on their own in French reserve
France's heat waves have produced an unusual outcome at a wildlife park, where 10 Nile crocodiles hatched without human assistance for the first time, the director of the reserve …
Dogs may use blinking as a subtle social signal
Blinking keeps eyes moist, sweeps away bits of dirt and dust, and helps the brain rest when processing visual information. But in dogs, it may also serve another function as a sub…
Researchers map tick habitat to strengthen African swine fever preparedness
A small, nest-dwelling tick found across large parts of Texas could play an outsized role in how the United States responds to African swine fever (ASF) should the virus reach dom…
Shingles vaccine linked to lower risk of heart attack and stroke, study finds
Researchers say benefits of two-dose Shingrix vaccine could be comparable to taking daily blood pressure medicationThe current shingles vaccine appears to significantly lower the …
Too small for fries: Drought shrinks Belgian potatoes
Mathieu Comijn inspected rows of potatoes in a field of cracked earth and browned leaves, pulling from the ground tubers barely the size of pingpong balls.
Sand overextraction weakening riverbanks as concrete demand soars
Research finds demand has more than doubled since 2000 and 80% of current demand comes from AsiaA booming demand for concrete has resulted in sand and gravel being extracted from …
From nuisance to new resource: Prickly pear could support fuels, foods and rural growers
Texans often view prickly pear cactus as a nuisance, but researchers with Texas A&M AgriLife Research are seeking opportunity. Susanne Talcott, Ph.D., a molecular researcher and p…
Strong oyster reefs start with genetic diversity
The European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) was once widespread but has now become so scarce in the North Sea that it no longer forms ecologically functioning reefs. Along with the d…
A near extinct plant in Galápagos is now recovering
A 30-year conservation effort has helped the critically endangered Galápagos snapdragon (Galvezia leucantha subsp. leucantha) recover from just six individuals to a small, careful…
Porpoise entanglement recorded in real time, revealing calls and escape attempts
Researchers at the University of St Andrews have gained unprecedented insight into marine mammal behavior when they become tangled in fishing nets. In a paper published Aug. 26 in…
Dogs blink more often when they see owners blinking, study finds
Scientists say research suggests blinking may have acquired a social relevance in interactions between dogs and peopleStare into a dog’s eyes and you may encounter a bemused expre…