Biology
Tire-derived pollutant found at elevated levels in critical fish habitats
Endangered coho salmon and steelhead trout live and spawn in habitats surrounded by human activity, such as the San Francisco Bay Area. During a recent storm, researchers found hi…
Research tackling immature fruit drop in avocado trees
Only a percentage of avocados ever make it to harvest, but CSIRO research is working on ways to combat what is called immature fruit abscission or early fruit drop, a major challe…
Word choice matters: 'Extinction of plants and animals' raises more concern than 'biodiversity loss'
The loss of Earth's animal and plant species is a crisis. Just don't call it an "extinction crisis" if you aim to mobilize public concern.
Gut bacteria use food cues to help time nutrient absorption, study finds
Biological clocks are often associated with light. Historically, most people started their days when the sun was up and ended their days when the sun set. But new research from Ca…
Drone measurements reveal rapid early growth in eastern Australian humpback whales
Eastern Australian humpback whales reach nearly their full adult size quickly, a new Griffith University–led study has found, as shown by the first contemporary growth curves for …
Schrödinger's penguin: One species, two contrasting outcomes
A new University of Otago—Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka study reveals two vastly different life courses for one of Aotearoa New Zealand's least-studied penguin species.
Have scientists finally found a way to save the banana from disaster?
With the climate crisis and diseases threatening one of the world’s most popular fruits, researchers are hoping a breakthrough in breeding techniques could give the Cavendish bana…
Some fish might thrive in a warming climate
Adelaide University researchers have found that some estuarine fishes that live in habitats with highly variable temperatures can withstand the warmer ocean conditions expected to…
Q&A: What's innovative about canned food?
To most consumers, canned food is an everyday convenience, but to John Coupland, professor of food science at Penn State, each can represents more than two centuries of invention,…
Algae-powered soft robot arm uses light to grasp and lift small objects
Tiny underwater algae sway gently in the current. All of a sudden, a light shines on them and they form robotlike arms that start to pick up small rocks and put them in floating b…
Elizabeth Holmes is back in the spotlight: why can’t we look away? – podcast
You Can See Everything, a documentary about the disgraced biotech company founder Elizabeth Holmes, has enjoyed a record-breaking opening in the US. It is a testament to how fasci…
Baby manta rays hunker down close to coasts before facing the open ocean's dangers
Giant manta rays can grow up to nine meters (30 feet) long with a disk size of seven meters (23 feet) across and weigh up to 2,000 kg (4,400 pounds). This size leaves them with ve…
Illegal fishing is thriving in African waters—a satellite system could help change that
A patrol boat off the coast of Gabon intercepted three trawlers in July 2026, inside the Grand Sud Reserve. This is one of West and Central Africa's largest marine reserves, where…
Virus that sickens cows, kills deer still rare in New York state—for now
An insect-driven disease that causes high mortality in white-tailed deer and mimics the symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle is still rare in New York state, but the warmi…
AI listens to bee buzzes to monitor activity without lethal traps
Populations of many pollinators, including bumblebees, have been crashing over the last few decades, thanks to the widespread use of chemical pesticides, loss of habitat and the a…
Venomous primate thought lost to science for nearly a century turns up in gardens and on roads across Indonesia
A big-eyed, venomous primate that had not been documented in scientific literature since the 1930s has been hiding in plain sight on the Indonesian island of Bangka, turning up in…
New optogenetic tool inhibits activity in neurons and heart muscle cells
Researchers from Ruhr University Bochum have partnered with colleagues in Göttingen, Berlin, Paris and Essen to develop new optogenetic tools that can selectively inhibit cellular…
Candida auris: A harbinger of further dangerous fungal species?
Why has the yeast Candida auris become a dangerous pathogen worldwide in just a few years? This question is on the minds of many researchers. Carla Schuh and Chaitanya Gokhale fro…
Sweeping changes to agri-food supply chain needed to tackle global food shortages
Systemic changes are needed across the entire agri-food supply chain to address the global impact of conflict and climate change on food shortages, writes an expert in The BMJ's c…
How rice coordinates signals to partner with beneficial soil fungi
Most plants do not gather nutrients from the soil entirely on their own. Many form partnerships with microscopic fungi that grow inside their roots and extend into the surrounding…
Why the humble rabbit might be Australia's worst introduced species
The 19th-century pastoralist Thomas Austin was homesick. He yearned for the pastimes of his home in England—especially rabbit hunting. He asked his family to send him some rabbits.
Not all rattlesnakes are alike: Research suggests personality influences how rattlesnakes use their venom
Imagine encountering a rattlesnake in your backyard or while on a hike. It will most likely "freeze" to avoid attracting attention, but if it feels especially threatened, it may r…
Wild fish are a precious resource—here's how aquaculture can bolster food security
Small fish such as sardinella are an affordable source of protein and essential nutrients for millions of people across West Africa.
Hearing laughter may cause orangutans to value rewards more
A new study from Indiana University shows that being in a positive mood leads orangutans to value what they learned more strongly. The study comes from the lab of Erica Cartmill, …