Biology
‘Hugely exciting’ finds on tiny Scottish island shed light on spread of Christianity
Community-funded archaeological excavations of ‘really important’ sixth-century monastery also rewrite story of LismoreTo the residents of the Scottish island of Lismore, populati…
Key protein for cells' gene regulation needs a chaperone to do its job
A protein that's essential to every cell's ability to turn off unnecessary genes is well known for its key function of compacting genes and its connection to cancer when it underg…
Ocean predator chemical cues could provide early warnings for toxic algal blooms
A team of marine scientists led by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has developed a new approach to predicting harmful algal blooms (HABs), changing how oc…
AI scientist autonomously generates and validates new biological discoveries
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed an AI scientist capable of generating scientific hypotheses, designing experiments and interpreting resul…
Tracking the fin whale and the sperm whale in the Mediterranean
Where are the great marine animals of the Mediterranean, such as the fin whale, the sperm whale or the bottlenose dolphin? How does their distribution change over a few weeks? All…
Anti-fibrotic drug could be repurposed to control cell communication
An experimental antifibrotic compound can dramatically alter how cells release the microscopic packages they use to communicate, according to new research from the University of S…
Fossil long known as world's oldest reptile dethroned
For nearly 30 years, a small fossil from Scotland has been celebrated as one of the earliest known reptiles. A new study out today in Nature and led by researchers at the American…
'Molecular movie' fills in blanks of how nonenveloped viruses infect cells
Viruses come in two major flavors—not chocolate and vanilla, quips Harvard Medical School structural biologist Stephen Harrison, but those enveloped in membranes, such as herpesvi…
Some threatened species may miss out as zoos try to balance conservation efforts with competing pressures
In the largest study of its kind, researchers at Nottingham Trent University analyzed more than 7,200 species across 613 zoos in 72 countries over a 30-year period. The team compa…
Groups of genetically identical fish follow different behavioral paths as they mature
Schooling fish have long fascinated us with their mesmerizing collective movements and seemingly perfect coordination. But a new study on clonal mollies suggests that this behavio…
How New World blackbirds conquered the Americas
Where did the roughly 100 species of New World blackbirds alive today originate, and how did they spread across the Americas? Dr. Axel Arango Garcia and professor Chaitanya S. Gok…
Longer lives despite mitochondrial defects? Worms rely on calcium-triggered 'cages'
If your car's engine develops a stutter, that's generally a sign that you should go to a mechanic before it stops running. We tend to think the same way about our bodies: When som…
New click beetle species named after Dominican Republic's Indigenous Arawak people
A new species of click beetle with a glossy and highly domed black body has been described from cloud forest sites in the mountains of the Dominican Republic and named in honor of…
Mysterious oarfish's fins inspire large underwater robot design
When designing a large underwater robot that could swim silently to avoid startling sea creatures, roboticist Rob Shepherd considered the unusual swimming system of oarfish, the m…
How sea squirts perceive underwater noise
Shipping, construction work and other human activities are altering the acoustic conditions in our planet's seas. Sound pressure is often examined to determine the effects that th…
Chlamydia packs DNA with lipids, revealing possible target for blocking infection
The bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Biologically, it is regarded as a highly specialized "nutrient t…
Adult fossil strengthens evidence for Homo erectus in southern Africa 2 million years ago
La Trobe archaeologists have described 18 new hominin fossils, including a second Homo erectus skull fragment that confirms the species first appeared in southern Africa 2.0 milli…
Honeybee silk could power smarter wound dressings
Biodegradable films made from engineered honeybee silk could form the basis of a new generation of "smart" wound dressings, according to researchers at CSIRO and Adelaide Universi…
Alpine bacteria show unexpected ability to fight viruses
A silent, long-running competition has been taking place in Swiss alpine lakes for millions of years, killing trillions of organisms every day without anyone noticing. This compet…
Drones, satellites and AI help scientists watch over Antarctica's smallest lifeforms
Monitoring Antarctica's tiny, scattered ecosystems is a challenge that has long plagued researchers. But a new study led by the University of Wollongong (UOW) offers a new approac…
Q&A: The safety and sterilization of pharmaceuticals manufacturing
Manufacturing modern medicines is a multistage process, and each step introduces the opportunity for contamination, which can be both deadly and expensive. Recently, epinephrine i…
Light-activated crystals break down DNA-like molecules in water, potentially curbing antibiotic resistance
Engineers have developed a new approach for turning ordinary water into a weapon against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a study published in the journal Chem Catalysi…
All of a flutter: how butterflies avoid being a predator’s lunch
Their whirring wings and bright patterns help keep them safe from birds, British study findsNaturalists have long wondered how brightly coloured butterflies manage to evade the at…
Butterflies use optical illusions to dodge predators
A bird attacking a butterfly will often find its beak snapping at thin air. According to new research, that split-second miss isn't just bad luck. It's caused by a visual illusion…