Biology
Brain cells regulate cholesterol to control neuron signaling
Cholesterol, a fat-like substance in the body best known for its role in cardiovascular health, also plays a key role in how neurons—foundational cells for the brain's ability to …
Covid, Brexit and Liz Truss mini-budget led to lasting decline in mental health, study finds
Researchers found five events, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, caused serious damage to mental wellbeing across UKBrexit, Liz Truss’s mini-budget and other “shocks” over t…
Healthy reef sounds can boost coral and fish recovery efforts
Coral reefs are renowned for their visual beauty, but for the marine life they support, their sounds may be just as enticing. Two new studies led by UC San Diego's Scripps Institu…
As species decline, green turtles offer a glimmer of hope
The palm-sized green turtle hatchling flailing through the sand on a Malaysian island may seem vulnerable, but its species has emerged as a symbol of hope for wildlife conservatio…
New collar sensor could reveal how wildfire smoke affects animal health
When wildfire smoke fills the air, most people can go inside to avoid it. Wildlife does not have that option, and little is known about how animals living in remote areas respond …
Teenager becomes first person to have testicular tissue transplant in UK
Operation on 19-year-old who had no sperm after chemotherapy offers hope of preserving children’s fertility after cancer treatment Surgeons have performed the first testicular tis…
Listening to hidden insects could give farmers an early warning of crop pests
Crawling through muddy soybean fields to inspect several plant-mounted microphones was not on Emily Sur's graduate school bingo card, but she's not mad about it. Her research offe…
Rising seas threaten the world's migratory shorebirds
Birds undertake some of the world's most impressive migrations, traveling hundreds to thousands of kilometers every year in search of safe breeding grounds and seasonally abundant…
Margaret Hamilton, trailblazer whose software powered Apollo 11 moon landing, dies at 90
MIT computer scientist led development of software for moon mission and earned Presidential Medal of FreedomMargaret Hamilton, the computer pioneer whose software powered the firs…
How a harmful bacterium senses iron—and why it matters for fighting infections
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common culprit in hospital-acquired bacterial infections and is growing more resistant to antibiotics. New findings from Aaron Smith, professor of chem…
Superbug P. aeruginosa uses two protein plugs to seal channels against antibiotics
A joint research team has identified a new mechanism underlying antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major multidrug-resistant "superbug." The discovery provides imp…
Chain reaction that begins when tumor suppression gene is switched off offers clues to how cancer develops
A tumor suppressor gene known as p53 is mutated in more than half of all cancers, but how it acts to prevent cancer formation is largely unknown. A study by UT Southwestern Medica…
Eight-year analysis reveals how sunlight and nutrients shape sustainable urban farming
Factors such as sunlight and stage-specific nutrient application determine crop success in urban agriculture, far beyond fixed recipes or miracle solutions. The findings are publi…
New approach to plant stress studies could yield hardier crops and medical insights
At the University of Missouri, plant scientist Ron Mittler is rewriting the playbook for how scientists study life by asking what happens when living organisms face multiple stres…
First global genome atlas reveals overlooked microscopic life in hundreds of lakes and reservoirs
Tiny single-celled organisms help keep lakes clear, but some can also contaminate the water. An international research team has analyzed DNA data from 362 lakes to create the firs…
Giant tortoises outnumber people in Seychelles, with nearly 183,000 on Aldabra
A landmark survey of the world's largest free-roaming giant tortoise population has revealed that the once-endangered species is thriving and stable in the Seychelles.
Flexible tails could boost ancient sea predators' ambush speeds, fossil-based models suggest
Some of the giant marine reptiles that ruled the seas during the age of dinosaurs were better built for surprise attacks, while their relatives were better suited to chasing prey …
All the news and science from the 2026 Nobel prizes – podcast
This year’s Nobel prizes in chemistry, physics and physiology or medicine have celebrated work that has been used to develop countless drugs and transform modern medicine, allowed…
Compact CRISPR alternative uses bacterial proteins to insert large DNA segments
A new engineered gene-editing system, proven in bacteria and showing promise for use in plants, animals and humans, addresses some limitations of current gene-editing tools, with …
This is what the 2026 Nobel prize for chemistry is all about
The Nobel prize in chemistry 2026 has been awarded to two scientists, Henri B Kagan at Paris-Sud University in France and Kensō Soai at Tokyo University of Science in Japan. Their…
A honey trap: Female-baited beetle traps reveal habitat variation in Japanese forests
Monitoring biological indicators plays a crucial role in forest management, which requires finding a delicate balance between timber use and biodiversity conservation. Across fore…
Scientists uncover how the world's smallest flowering plant became so tiny
A new study has revealed how some plants pack the same structures as larger species into a tiny space, making them promising candidates for future crops.
194-year-old tortoise reveals stable gene switches that may help resist aging
Researchers studying a giant tortoise named Jonathan say it's not just good genes but a lack of genetic wear and tear that has kept him going for nearly two centuries.
Ancient spotted bat samples help researchers understand present-day population dynamics
Understanding changes in North American bat populations is critical to measuring the risk of extinction from emerging threats such as habitat loss, climate change, white-nose synd…