Biology
Scientists discover learning and memory formation in model membranes
A decades-long collaboration between two scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory is reshaping how we understand learning.
Kyoto's gardens provide habitats for local amphibians
Where they could once hop and amble freely, urbanization is diminishing amphibians' habitats. Yet small-scale water bodies managed by people—such as those found in the gardens of …
Rye reference genome uncovers diversity that could strengthen wheat breeding
Rye is not only a hardy and high-yielding crop, but also possesses a valuable gene pool for wheat breeding. An international research team led by the IPK Leibniz Institute has sig…
Too much RNA can starve cells of energy, study finds
A new study from researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) has uncovered a previously unknown consequence of viral infection: Too …
'Ecology of fear' can dramatically change the behavior of blue mussels
For a blue mussel, a good meal does not come entirely without risk. Blue mussels feed by filtering microscopic algae from seawater. But some unwelcome guests can slip in along wit…
Why apples react differently to climate change than wheat
Although climate change is already having a negative impact on crops, declines in yields have so far been offset by technological advances in agriculture. For field crops that do …
'Disarming' discovery could help scientists fight deadly fungal infections
Researchers from Monash University, in collaboration with the University of Warwick, have discovered how the bacterial antibiotic "gladiolin" can disarm Candida albicans, one of t…
Were Denisovans tall compared to other ancient humans? We should be skeptical
Take a walk in London's Trafalgar Square this summer, and people of all body sizes—some tall, some short—will be wilting in the heat: a real mix of sizes.
How we found a new transmissible cancer in bullhead catfish
For more than a decade, anglers on Lake Memphremagog—which straddles the Quebec–Vermont border—have been catching brown bullhead catfish marked with distinctive black lesions.
Evolutionary process behind live birth in lizards uncovered
Scientists studying one of nature's greatest reproductive innovations have discovered how some lizards evolved from laying eggs to giving birth to live young. The new research is …
Orange lips and roaring calls: Meet the DRC's shy new rainforest monkey
There are 536 species of monkeys in the world today, and the Democratic Republic of Congo has a new one. Named Likweli, this rainforest primate is one of only five new African mon…
The bloodsucking insect with a saw for a mouth: How the tsetse fly bites through almost anything
Tsetse flies transmit some of Africa's most persistent parasitic diseases. They have affected human health, livestock production and rural development for generations, across a re…
A viral 'loose cannon' enzyme helps phages shut down bacterial defenses
As antimicrobial resistance grows around the world, novel therapies to counter it become increasingly important. Phages—viruses that infect bacteria—are an exciting avenue of rese…
Harsher weather could encourage sustainable ecolabeling in fishing industry
New research by a Washington State University economist examines how changing environmental conditions may influence the practice and trustworthiness of sustainable ecolabeling in…
Microbial clocks can accurately estimate time since death across different climates
New research reveals that microbial clocks—forensic tools that track the succession and development of bacteria and fungi involved in decomposition after death—are highly accurate…
3D map of cell signaling sites could help improve cancer treatment
Cell-communication molecules called kinases play a key role in the growth and spread of many cancers. But exactly which kinases are active in a particular cancer is not always cle…
Most species in UK zoos are non-native and not threatened, undermining conservation goals
In British zoos and aquariums, fewer than 10% of vertebrate species are native to the UK, and just 2% are high conservation priorities, according to a study by Justin Lennon at th…
Genetic 'switches' could program 3D-printed bone tissue for blood vessel growth
An interdisciplinary team of engineers and chemists at Penn State has laid the groundwork for 3D printing spheroids—tiny clusters of living cells—capable of regenerating bone tiss…
What if our cities were designed for wildlife as well as people?
On a warm evening in May, swifts scream over rooftops, chasing insects above the traffic. A fox slips along a garden wall while gulls squabble on a supermarket roof. We tend to tr…
Parasite linked to 'mushy fish' could be much more widespread than thought
If you're a keen angler and regularly catch yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi), you may have encountered instances of the fish's flesh turning mushy and unpalatable once cooked…
Gentle chemical glow helps scientists capture sharper images of living cells
We reach for brighter, better lighting for sharper pictures, whether we're photographing a puppy or a microscopic cell. In most cases, the light comes from outside the object bein…
Astronomers detect fastest known star in Milky Way
Star’s extreme proximity to Sagittarius A* means it could open new window onto black hole’s fundamental propertiesAstronomers have detected the fastest known star in the Milky Way…
Shrews exhibit reversible size changes in their skulls and noses to get through the winter
Scientists had previously observed that some species of shrews undergo a form of biological plasticity in which their bodies, skulls, brains and some organs shrink in the winter, …
Jellyfish reveal how rapid cell turnover may suppress early cancer growth
Although increased cell proliferation is a hallmark of cancerous tissues, in some cases it may actually protect against tumor growth, according to a new study by Caltech researche…