Biology
New gene activity tool measures biological age of cells and screens aging-related compounds
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University have developed a new tool that estimates a cell's biological age by analyzing its gene activity. In an article publis…
Distinct neurons drive mice's social sounds and squeaks
Mice use almost completely distinct sets of neurons for their two different types of vocalizations—the squeaks they produce when in distress or fighting and the whistle-like ultra…
'Ecological engineers' an existential threat to wildlife of iconic wetland
A study examining how feral water buffalo interact with landscapes has uncovered the pest's disastrous impacts on northern long-necked turtles in the Top End's tropical wetlands.
How body size and habitat shape the vocal repertoires of primates
Biologists, zoologists and psychologists have been trying to trace the origins of human language for centuries. One well-known theory, known as the social brain hypothesis, sugges…
How tomato 'golden hour' research could help crops survive heat waves and drought
What if the secret to drought-resistant crops isn't how much water plants use, but when they use it? A new study identifies a daily window that could help breeders develop tomatoe…
Whales spark joy in New York but face threats from boat traffic
"WHALE AT ONE O'CLOCK!" Eager cruise passengers zipping around New York's southern shores rush to the starboard bow: A humpback whale is up for air, a breathtaking sighting set ag…
The ultra rich are collecting fossils, and that’s bad for science – podcast
One of the UK’s best fossil collections has been sold overseas in what experts have called a loss to the nation. The collection, which is now on display at the Natural History Mus…
Molecular memory: How a mother's age echoes in her offspring's cells
In humans and many other animals, a mother's age can affect the physical and behavioral characteristics of the next generation. Scientists call these changes maternal age effects,…
Billions of invasive round goby are in the Great Lakes. Researchers want to stop them from spreading inland
For decades, the round goby has been one of the Great Lakes' most destructive invasive species. Scientists estimate its population numbers in the billions, making eradication unre…
Immune cells have a 'sense of touch,' scientists discover
Scientists have long believed that tissue-resident memory T cells—which remain in tissues after an infection has cleared and respond rapidly if the threat returns—are shaped prima…
Molecular electromagnetic sensor may enable remote-controlled gene therapy
The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of living organisms contains regulatory elements that control when, where and to what extent specific genes are turned on or off. They can be co-op…
Male Neanderthal pelvises resemble those of modern females, challenging decades-old assumptions
A new study by the Department of Anatomy and Anthropology at Tel Aviv University, published in Scientific Reports, offers an explanation for one of the striking differences betwee…
Researcher is trying to save biodiverse landscapes, one unkempt garden at a time
You've probably seen it before: A native garden starts out lush and intentional, then slowly unravels. A meadow is overtaken by weeds. Native grasses are cut down to sad little st…
Researchers identify ways to reduce the lag between biodiversity data and action
Biodiversity is enormously diverse, unevenly observed and constantly in motion across space and time. This makes it far harder to monitor than many other parts of the environment.…
Pesticides make Argentine ants go crazy, sending them roaming or clustering before workers die
Don't assume an uptick in ant activity after setting out pesticide traps means the treatment failed. New UC Riverside research shows their behavior changes as chemicals make their…
How rugged gullies protect hidden rainforests in the Greater Blue Mountains
Researchers have uncovered rainforest communities previously hidden within the rugged gullies of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area that are protecting vegetation not …
Butterflies on the move to higher ground as warming redraws Alpine habitats
Climate change presents animals and plants with a fundamental challenge: What can they do when their established habitats become increasingly warm? They can adapt to the changing …
Brazil's vast coastline could help address food insecurity through sustainable seafood
New research into seafood consumption and production in Brazil highlights how one of the world's most populous countries could build healthier and more sustainable food systems by…
Engineered E. coli convert kimchi radish waste into biodegradable bioplastic
Every year, thousands of tons of radish by-products generated during kimchi production are discarded despite containing valuable carbon and nutrient resources. Researchers at the …
How plants selectively silence jumping genes while protecting essential ones
Histone variants help establish DNA methylation at transposons (jumping genes) while preventing this epigenetic modification from spreading to essential genes in plants, a study f…
Locust neurons detect PFAS at environmentally relevant levels, pointing to portable sensors
Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that neurons in a locust's brain can distinguish among multiple PFAS compounds, including PFOS, one of the world's most co…
Despite appearing to recover, sunflowers retain drought damage
Sunflowers are unable to fully recover from drought, new research has found, contradicting previous findings on the plant's ability to reverse drought-induced failure of water-tra…
Last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees could have been a vertical climber, no matter its feet
New research suggests that no matter what we eventually determine the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees to be, we'll learn it was a primate that climbed trees.
Are zoos ready for the changing climate?
When people think about climate change and animals, they might picture melting sea ice, drought-stricken landscapes or species struggling in the wild. Far less attention is given …