Biology
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…
Although research on animal production and climate is growing, implementation in the field remains challenging
Climate change is reshaping global livestock production systems and leading to increased research on the topic. However, science still faces the challenge of translating advances …
Adaptation and a 'Noah's Ark for trees' offer hope for endangered black ash
With the invasive emerald ash borer beetle decimating black ash across North America, according to the U.S. Forest Service, a team led by researchers at Penn State conducted an ex…
Hydroclimate whiplash damages California's tallest redwoods after years of drought
Tall trees are generally associated with high-biomass forests. This is particularly true for forests dominated by Sequoia sempervirens (hereafter redwood), the world's tallest tre…
Habitat changes found to be no deterrent for some Fijian native bees
While extreme weather and habitat changes can spell doom for many native animals, including insects, a different picture has emerged from a new study led by Flinders University. L…
Scientists unlock 'ancestral code' of banana family
Scientists have recently reconstructed the ancestral karyotype of the banana family, revealing how chromosome numbers decreased stepwise from 17 to 9–11 over evolutionary time.
Pomegranate emerges as a promising natural phytobiotic for veterinary medicine
Researchers have identified a broad range of biological properties of pomegranate with potential medical applications, including antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, immunom…
Developing a genetic toolkit for manipulating abundant intestinal microbes
Weill Cornell Medicine investigators have developed a set of molecular tools to regulate the activity of specific genes in one of the most common classes of intestinal bacteria. T…
Even biodiversity-friendly policies may not halt declines in Europe's common birds and butterflies by 2050
As part of its efforts to map out Europe's science-policy interface for biodiversity, a paper on the correlation between governance objectives for safeguarding the biosphere and o…
Machine learning method uncovers hidden patterns in DNA methylation
In a study recently published in Nature Communications, researchers from Berlin, Potsdam, and Jena present a new method for analyzing the epigenome. The machine-learning method id…
Electron beams cut poultry pathogens while preserving turkey quality
Researchers are gauging the effectiveness of electron beams in the fight against foodborne pathogens in poultry. "Impact of Electron Beam (eBeam) Treatment on Meat Quality and Sen…
Grassland birds are disappearing even from areas designed to protect them
Even in protected areas, birds are disappearing from America's prairies, and unpredictable weather isn't helping. That's the takeaway from a new study by researchers at Michigan S…
New workflow helps ecologists measure how individual animals use their habitat
A researcher has developed a new, reproducible workflow that lets ecologists measure, in a standardized way, how individual animals within a species differ in their habitat use, b…
Scientists resurrect ancient proteins, offering new antibiotic leads
University of Oregon biologists have resurrected prehistoric proteins up to 160 million years old that carry natural antimicrobial properties. The revived molecules could inspire …
Moving turtle nests to save the eggs can have hidden consequences
Moving threatened sea turtle nests to cooler, safer parts of the beach can save entire clutches from rising tides and extreme heat, but new research suggests it may have hidden co…
Genetic evidence reveals how goosegrass colonized a newly formed volcanic island
Opportunities to directly observe how life colonizes newly formed land and how ecosystems subsequently develop are exceedingly rare. In a study published in the Journal of Plant R…
Listening for extinction: Study finds areas of critical concern for northern spotted owls
Northern spotted owl populations are approaching or have already crossed functional extinction across large areas of the Pacific Northwest, a new study, published in Ecological Ap…
Egypt's deserts were once home to a diverse shark community
During the Late Cretaceous period, parts of Egypt were covered in water. A new study, published in the journal Cretaceous Research, describes new evidence that this tropical sea w…
Climate change may halve omega‑3 fatty acids in fish and the organisms they eat
You've probably heard that eating fish and other seafood is good for your health. One of the main reasons is that seafood is an excellent source of two important omega-3 fats call…
Nanoscale hairs may help gecko skin trap moisture and slow evaporation
In a dry shrubland, a gecko sprints toward shelter. Its greatest danger is not a predator, although hawks circle overhead and sand cats wait in ambush. Rather, its most pressing c…
A tiny drop of water is all that's needed to find threatened frogs
New James Cook University research has used highly sensitive environmental DNA (e-DNA) techniques to find two species of threatened frogs in places they've never been seen before—…
Young golden eagles leave their parents' territory late
When a young golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) finally leaves its parents' territory, it leaves behind the only safety net it has ever known. Until now, biologists had assumed that…
The hidden physics behind the shape of rose thorns
Roses are known for their thorns, the sharp structures that can sting and prickle the skin. Thorns, botanically known as prickles, are thought to discourage animals from feeding o…
Cow gut enzyme could help target bacterial biofilms and antibiotic-resistant infections
The bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii poses a substantial threat in health care settings, readily forming biofilms on wounds and medical surfaces and contributing to persistent in…