Biology
Museum specimens reveal pathogen behind decades-old mystery of disappearing frogs
In the 1970s, researchers began to observe drastic amphibian declines in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, a global hotspot of frog biodiversity. For decades, these disappearances remaine…
Border-hopping virus identified in Chilean pepper and tomato crops
An international team of scientists recently collaborated to identify a mysterious viral disease damaging pepper and tomato crops in Chile.
Most marine protected areas fail to curb fishing: Study
Fishing is increasing in most marine reserves worldwide in spite of conservation pledges, a study published Wednesday found.
Muscle cells self-organize into spirals, advancing efforts to engineer tiny blood vessels that regulate flow
Different tissues need different amounts of blood depending on what they are doing. Meeting those changing demands requires the circulatory system to continually balance how much …
Indonesia rescues starved orangutan from fires: Officials
A female orangutan that was likely starving was evacuated Wednesday from an area razed by fire on the Indonesian island of Borneo, officials said, as the country rescues hundreds …
Scientists establish new genus of deep-sea 'spaghetti worms'
Scientists have announced a new genus of deep-sea segmented marine "spaghetti worms" with suction cups on their bodies, showing just how much undiscovered biodiversity is out ther…
SpaceX rocket launch causes stunning ‘jellyfish cloud’ visible off US east coast
Expanding plume of fuel exhaust crystalized in the sky and reflected sunlight off frozen particles after Florida launchA SpaceX rocket provided a stunning pre-dawn display over Fl…
Fighting off microbial invasions drains plants' iron stores, but one protein helps restore balance
Energy production in our cells, oxygen traveling in our blood and immune cells fighting infection all depend on iron, an essential mineral that enters the food chain when plants a…
New DNA tool could help detect harmful algal blooms before they spread
A new study by researchers at the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University has demonstrated that a DNA sequencing tool can rapidly identify harmful algae in coa…
Removing rats and restoring native plants could help atolls withstand rising seas
Protecting seabirds and restoring natural vegetation could give low-lying tropical atoll islands a fighting chance against the threat of sea-level rise, a new study reveals.
Could AI ‘change the stakes’ in the development of bioweapons?
Experts say the technology could help terrorists and nation states with production but that significant hurdles remainIn his annual speech on threats to the nation, Sir Ken McCall…
Bacteria turn 3D-printed sand into solid building elements
Cement manufacturing is one of the largest sources of CO₂ emissions in the construction industry. At the Department of Architecture, Karen Antorveza Paez, who has just completed h…
Toothless 'hell chicken' dinosaur may have had a taste for fruit
While many dinosaurs were fearsome predators with razor-sharp teeth, others were peaceful herbivores munching on plants. We can now add a new species to the list of plant-eaters, …
Local DNA motion inside the cell stays nearly constant throughout interphase
Human genomic DNA is wrapped around core histone proteins to form nucleosomes, the fundamental units of chromatin. During interphase, the period between cell divisions, DNA is rep…
How drought shapes the impact of Xylella fastidiosa on almond trees
Xylella fastidiosa is a pathogen that poses a serious threat to agri-food systems. An insect-borne bacterium that eventually causes trees to dry out and die, it was first detected…
Ocean discovery: Pacific bluefin tuna confirmed in Victorian waters
A discovery has led to the first confirmed records of recreational catches of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) in Victorian waters.
Ivy bees fight back against honeybees that drive other pollinators off flowers
Honeybees are outcompeting wild pollinators in the U.K., and new research has found evidence of their aggressive behavior, recording for the first time the extent to which they re…
The stubby legs of ancient sled dogs helped people traverse the Arctic for the past 9,000 years
For centuries, dogs have helped people travel across the Arctic, hauling supplies, equipment and other goods through snowy landscapes where other domesticated animals struggled to…
Sustained pressure halts cancer cell migration and triggers death in 3D lab models
The growth and death of cancer cells in the lab are studied primarily in two-dimensional cell cultures. In a study published in the journal Developmental Cell on Oct. 14, research…
Not all early birds evolved toward better flight, Jurassic fossil suggests
For early birds, evolution wasn't always about becoming better flyers. This conclusion is supported by the recent discovery of a remarkably well-preserved, 150-million-year-old bi…
Modeling study shows early tetrapods had surprisingly little ability to move their necks
A new model using sturgeon as a material analog has made it possible to estimate how the backbones of some of the first animals on land could and could not move. These results dis…
Little fish, big deal—Record haul of baby sturgeons offers hope for the future
Just a few centimeters long, slimy and covered in razor-sharp spines, baby sturgeons look like creatures from one of the Alien movies. But for the people who pull them from the ri…
How shark ecotourism sparks long-term conservation
People who join shark ecotourism tours are more likely to take action to protect sharks, including donating to related causes, signing petitions or speaking up online, new researc…
DNA analysis uncovers first known genetic connection between rare New Caledonian plant and parasitic plant
A new genetic analysis tool developed by UF assistant professor of biology Liming Cai, Ph.D., has led to the discovery of the first known interaction between Amborella, a rare New…