Biology
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…
The Guardian view on AI v mathematicians: humans are still vital to the field, but tech firms refuse to see that | Editorial
OpenAI claims its agents have solved the Navier-Stokes problem. But questions remain about how useful and independent its work really isOn 8 September, OpenAI claimed that its AI …
Virtual cells built from 4D AI models and 'digital twins' could speed up drug discovery
Mitochondria—tiny structures that convert nutrients into energy—are often depicted as discrete kidney bean-shaped objects. But in reality, they form a dynamic, interconnected netw…
Adults with severe mental illness die 15 to 20 years earlier from diseases such as cancer
Exclusive: Stark health inequalities in terms of deaths before age of 75, NHS data revealsAdults with severe mental illness are nearly five times more likely than their peers to d…
Is culture alive?
From Mozart to Madonna, dim sum to doughnuts, Shakespeare to Sartre – not all forms of life need DNAOn Mount Athos, in northern Greece, a monk rises before dawn to sing the same o…
At an old steel site in Pittsburgh, bacteria evolved to survive—and eat—industrial pollution
Across Appalachia and the Rust Belt region, including throughout the city of Pittsburgh, former industrial sites are being transformed into new neighborhoods, research centers and…
How the malaria parasite boosts its transmission potential under stress conditions
The malaria parasite is able to detect changes in its host's environment and respond by increasing the production of sexual forms capable of being transmitted to mosquitoes. A stu…
A molecular bridge connects two signaling pathways critical for pollen development
Cells rely on complex signaling networks in which different molecular pathways communicate with one another. Small GTPases act as molecular switches in these networks, controlling…
Meet Earth's newest wild cat species, the first named in over a century
A previously unknown cat species has been identified in plain sight: at a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia, where the small, spotted feline had been living for years.
A humpback whale was spotted in a California river, 60 miles from its Pacific Ocean home
Denny Glover was hoping for a big catch when he went fishing with buddies on the Sacramento River, but he wasn't expecting a fully grown humpback whale.
Florida scrub-jays attempt to breed at unusually young age after large-scale translocation
For nearly two decades, biologist Lauren Deaner has worked with Florida scrub-jays, contributing to population recovery efforts and translocations. Now, as a doctoral researcher i…
Protein map reveals how red blood cells rapidly adjust to low oxygen
Scientists map the hidden protein network that helps red blood cells adapt to oxygen
Loss of Y chromosome in men could be an early warning sign of cancer
A study initiated by Dr. Dan Theodorescu, a physician-scientist at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, revealed that the loss of the Y chromosome in men's body tissue could p…
The US air force admitted to deploying weapons in space. Don’t expect the White House to explain why
The revelation ‘left experts scratching their heads at exactly what Donald Trump has in his cosmic arsenal’In Hollywood at least, space weapons are a relatively simple concept. Th…
Scientists hope deeper-rooted soybeans can withstand climate extremes and store more carbon
Research scientist Ashish Rajurkar kneels in the dirt, lifting a large clod of soil tangled around a soybean plant. He knocks away pieces of earth from the plant's roots, which sl…
Discovery of CRISPR's long lost ancestor may expand gene-editing toolkit
CRISPR may be a powerful technology for gene editing, but the system existed in bacteria long before scientists began using it. For billions of years, CRISPR has acted as a natura…
'Plasticorals,' coral rubble fused with plastic, represent a new form of plastic pollution
During routine beach litter surveys on the subtropical island of Okinawa, Japan, researchers came across small, brightly colored specks in the pale coral rubble. Back at the lab, …
Tech billionaires trying to live for ever? That’s a waste of time, says physicist
Exclusive: Prof Jim Al-Khalili says he will offer solution to ‘arrow of time’ problem in Royal Institution lecturesTech billionaires attempting to live for ever are, quite literal…
Why high levels of the amino acid cysteine are toxic to cells
Cysteine is one of the main building blocks that cells use to make proteins. But this amino acid is a double-edged sword—too much cysteine is toxic to the cell. Cells therefore ke…
Small gardens are a big barrier to supporting nature—but better planning could protect UK wildlife
A new study by Chester Zoo and Nottingham Trent University scientists revealed that just over a third (38%) of more than 230 householders in Cheshire and North Wales were willing …
From war to weather, Australian farmers are planting spring crops in an uncertain world
Australian farmers are heading into spring with an unusual mix of optimism and uncertainty.