Biology
Fertilizers and extreme heat are damaging coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, isotope analyses reveal
Who isn't familiar with the colorful coral reefs from movies like "Finding Nemo" or "The Little Mermaid"? Unfortunately, the reality is often quite different, as these vital ecosy…
Project RattleCam reveals baby snakes during birthing season in three US states for the first time
It's the season for babies in the snake world, and Project RattleCam is capturing magical moments.
Brain's ability to hear a musical beat remains distinctly human, study suggests
The seemingly trivial ability to hear a regular pulse in music is a remarkable—and perhaps distinctively human—feature of the brain. In a wide-ranging critical review, Gábor Háden…
AI-generated images may support conservation, but real-world data remain essential
New research finds there is no substitute for real-world observations, but that—under the right circumstances—AI-generated images can be used to improve the performance of compute…
Chihuahua dogs are part coyote—this might help explain their 'small but mighty' reputation
It turns out that one of the smallest dog breeds, the Chihuahua, is part wild coyote, according to recently published genetic research. The Chihuahua breed originated in Mexico bu…
Faster wood formation matters more than longer growing seasons in a warming climate
In non-tropical forests, cold winters hinder tree growth. There, climate warming prolongs the period during which trees absorb carbon through photosynthesis and store it in wood, …
Turkey-monitoring AI forecasts body weight three weeks ahead with 93% accuracy
Body weight monitoring is one of the most important tools for poultry farmers. It provides valuable information about growth, uniformity, feed conversion efficiency—how well birds…
Scientists discover a new way a disease-linked protein comes apart
Transthyretin amyloid disease (ATTR) is a progressive, life-threatening condition caused when the protein transthyretin (TTR) breaks apart and aggregates in the heart and other or…
One giant step: first known T rex footprints found in North Dakota
The 23ft-long trackway, consisting of four three-toed footprints, two left and two right, date from 66.5m years ago The first known series of footprints from an adult Tyrannosauru…
More than kinship, social isolation has a greater effect on toad tadpole behavior
Amphibian larvae—often known as tadpoles—exhibit a behavior known as "social aggregation," in which they gather together to avoid predators. These interactions are evidence of the…
Uniting sequence and structure to map the protein universe across billions of years of evolution
An international team of researchers, including those at the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at the Institute of Science Tokyo, has developed a protein language model that bri…
Research shows agricultural fungicides drive evolution of multidrug resistance in soil microbes
Two newly published studies from Trinity College Dublin scientists raise significant concerns about the use of agricultural fungicides.That is because they show fungicides can rap…
Planes on a snake? Scientists discover various crab species hitching rides on sea snakes
Like all other snakes, sea snakes shed their skin as they grow. But because they live near the surface of the open ocean, they don't have the benefit of removing their old skin by…
Dogs and cats carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria also found in people, study finds
Dogs and cats may carry strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, a potentially serious bacterium that can cause infections and is also found in humans, according to new research from Bou…
'Ex-Utero' project uses art, science to explore regenerative medicine
On a sunny spring day at Penn State, Cristin Millett, professor of art in the College of Arts and Architecture's School of Visual Arts, inserted a catheter needle into the umbilic…
New analysis reconstructs the dawn of dinosaurs and other reptiles
About 252 million years ago, at the end of the Permian Period, a large proportion of species on Earth rapidly became extinct. After this mass extinction, many groups of organisms …
Maine's sugar kelp reveals four distinct populations vital for restoration
Saccharina latissima, or sugar kelp, is one of the dominant species in Maine's kelp forests, providing food, habitat and clean water to support a rich marine ecosystem. It is also…
Indonesia seeks to bring back baby orangutans allegedly trafficked to India
Indonesian authorities are working to repatriate five baby orangutans allegedly trafficked to India, where they were found motherless in a forest, Jakarta's forestry ministry told…
Weatherwatch: soil moisture deficit – how dry are the UK’s thirsty soils?
SMD is the moisture the soil must make up until it is at capacity, with very dry conditions over most of England and WalesWhen the ground is thoroughly wet, after excess rainwater…
The hunt for unknown life in New York City
The globe is full of unknown species. But is it really possible to find a completely new animal species in the middle of the largest city in the United States?
Scientists visualize proteins' hidden water architecture that may help define biological function
For decades, scientists have understood proteins primarily through two defining features: their amino acid sequence and their three-dimensional structure. This framework has drive…
Rare bird fossils from Bavaria reveal new species, including an eagle
The Hammerschmiede clay pit near Pforzen in the eastern Allgäu is famous for its wealth of finds: Besides fossils of two early anthropoid apes, the remains of numerous vertebrate …
How to help your garden recover from a heat wave
UK gardens took a battering this summer as a heat dome settled over western Europe, and much of the green and pleasant land turned a dusty beige.
Cell wall transport disruption exposes weakness in antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Even highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria become more vulnerable when their cell wall transport system is disrupted, according to a new study from Umeå University. The discovery r…