Biology
Scientists reveal how our cells conduct emergency repairs for DNA
Two new studies from Johns Hopkins University are providing scientists with an unprecedented view of how human cells repair one of the most dangerous forms of genetic damage: a br…
How migrating cells build their leading edge: Master regulator may resolve long-standing debate
The ability of cells to move and change position is essential for various processes in our bodies. Immune cells move to sites of action, epithelial cells migrate during wound clos…
Low-cost sensor tracks soil pH continuously for months across varied soils
At first glance, a farm field doesn't seem all that complicated. It's just dirt and crops.
Tiny wild cat newly identified as a species draws curious visitors in Bolivia
A tiny wild cat hidden away in the cloud forests of Bolivia has become an unlikely tourist attraction, drawing a stream of visitors hoping for a glimpse of the animal that scienti…
Newly identified Bolivian wildcat 'Tigrino' plays in his enclosure – video
Scientists who identified a previously unknown wildcat in Bolivia have called the new species Leopardus tilcayo. The 10-year-old wildcat, called Tigrino, had been adopted by a fam…
A newly discovered mechanism helps cells prevent errors during DNA replication
At the scale of individual cells, the human body is constantly in motion. Every second, millions of cells divide, particularly in tissues such as the bone marrow, intestine and sk…
Lemur uses opera singer's trick to belt out forest songs
We are often left open-mouthed in awe as an opera singer hits a soaring top note. Now, researchers at the University of Warwick have found that the indri, the world's only known s…
Elusive builders of nearly perfect hexagonal tunnel fossils were probably small crustaceans—not worms
For more than 170 years, paleontologists have been trying to solve the mystery of what created the strangely uniform hexagonal tunnels found in fossils. In a new study published i…
Under stress, bacterial RNA and proteins tell different stories
During infection, bacteria encounter rapidly changing and stressful environments inside the body. To understand how they adapt, researchers often measure messenger RNA (mRNA), whi…
Newly identified Bolivian wildcat 'Tigrino' plays in his enclosure
Scientists who identified a previously unknown wildcat in Bolivia have called the new species Leopardus tilcayo. The 10-year-old wildcat, called Tigrino, had been adopted by a fam…
A mushroom-powered boost for soybean byproducts
Scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have demonstrated in a lab-scale study a fermentation method that could transform okara, a nutrient-ric…
Family interactions can help young beetles cope with climate stress, study finds
Climate change is one of the most complex challenges of our time and places considerable strain on a wide range of animal groups. A research team at the University of Bayreuth has…
Discovery of new Australian stick insect species reveals case of mistaken identity
New study describes two species, Anchiale robusta and Anchiale mabiensis, both found in far north QueenslandGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo new larg…
Q&A: Tiny spores for a big critical minerals challenge
Scientists at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are exploring how durable, customizable bacterial spores could capture rare earth elements (REE…
Flies, mice and humans share a walking pattern despite radically different bodies
Flies, mice and humans move in different ways because of their very different physiques, but their movements follow a common pattern— joints farther from the center of the body mo…
Nasal spray for humans may help dogs during surgery
Dr. Jun-Yan Sek, a small-animal surgical registrar at JCUVet, lecturer at James Cook University and JCU veterinary alumnus, led a study investigating the use of xylometazoline hyd…
What's keeping schoolchildren from eating local foods?
To get locally grown food onto a schoolchild's lunch tray, communities need supply chains that sort, process and package local farm products. They don't always exist.
Tree vaccines and gene-edited butterflies among biotechnology projects funded by UK ‘invention agency’
Exclusive: The tax-funded research aims to protect British wildlife from the human-caused climate crisisVaccines for ash trees, skin treatments for newts and gene-edited swallowta…
Baby girls’ greater interest in faces offers clue to nature v nurture debate
Study finds overall differences between groups of newborns by sex that are likely to be determined by biologyThe question dates back to the first man and woman: how does the world…
Genes that help flatworms regenerate their brains revealed
The human brain is terrible at healing itself from injury or disease. But some animals can harness their own cellular abilities not only to repair injuries but also to regrow thei…
AI-powered barcode unmasks 'zombie cells' in aging tissue
As we age, some of the cells in our body enter a state of senescence, in which they stop dividing but do not die. Those senescent cells can contribute to age-related disorders suc…
New Zealanders pick endangered black robin as Bird of the Year
A record number of New Zealanders turned out at the polls this month, not for national elections but to vote for their Bird of the Year—the critically endangered black robin.
Starwatch: Autumnal equinox in northern hemisphere, spring in the south
Precise moment of equinox in UK is 1.05am on Wednesday – but day and night will not be equal until FridayThe September or autumnal equinox takes place this week. It marks the astr…
Trump reportedly to form health funding board that could veto ‘woke’ initiatives
President’s latest order expected to bring NIH funding under control of Trump administration to align with agendaDonald Trump’s latest executive order is expected to establish a b…