Biology
Learning without a brain—how bacteria store memories and remember the past like artificial neural networks
Learning is often thought to require a brain. But learning is a broad concept that does not necessarily depend on neurons.
'CRISPR-Combo' system speeds regeneration of hard-to-breed perennial crops
Editing a plant's genes is only half the battle. Before a new, improved trait can ever reach a farmer's field, scientists must be able to grow a whole plant from just a few edited…
New genomic tool for clams boosts sustainable aquaculture
An international team of researchers, including CIIMAR, has developed a new tool that could help produce clams that are more resistant to disease and climate change while also str…
Global study reveals hidden nutritional value of shellfish and other aquatic invertebrates
The nutritional value of aquatic invertebrates such as oysters, mussels and crabs has been significantly overlooked, according to a new study led by researchers at King Abdullah U…
How sex with multiple mates can help save species from extinction
Allowing females to mate with multiple males, rather than just one, could help make species more resistant to extinction, University of East Anglia research shows. A new study rev…
Supercomputer simulations reveal how the molecular motor kinesin steers itself along tracks
Kinesin is a molecular motor responsible for hauling essential cargoes within cells by walking step by step along filamentous tracks known as microtubules. To move efficiently and…
An unusual bacterium that penetrates and lives inside human cells may offer a new drug target
Research underway in the lab of Rebecca Alexander, a professor in Wake Forest University's Department of Chemistry, is shedding light on an unusual human bacterium, Mycoplasma pen…
From flower to fruit: A tug-of-war between growing tissues
Unlike an animal cell, a plant cell can't crawl or migrate. It's locked inside a rigid wall, cemented to its neighbors for life. A cell born at the center of a young fruit will st…
Two previously unknown saucer bugs species discovered
An entomologist at the University of Missouri has discovered two saucer bug species previously unknown to science, adding to our understanding of Earth's biodiversity.
A cellular threshold can determine whether herpesvirus becomes active or lies dormant
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we wore masks and kept 2 meters (6.6 feet) apart in an effort to reduce the spread of the tiny droplets we release into the air with every breath, co…
Dead or alive, plankton support marine ecosystems
As tiny as they are, marine plankton play pivotal roles in biogeochemical cycles and sustaining aquatic ecosystems, producing around half of the oxygen on Earth and also acting as…
Large protected areas help northern bird species cope with climate change
A recent study coordinated by the University of Helsinki tracked the populations of 100 bird species across Finnish protected areas. Cold-dwelling species fared better in large pr…
Northern map turtles leave Lake Erie before algal blooms peak, tracking finds
Harmful algal blooms pose serious threats to people, animals and the environment. The University of Toledo's Dr. Jeanine Refsnider counts it as a positive discovery that northern …
Fossil flowers of ancient lianas preserved in amber reveal the evolution of tropical rainforests
Tiny flowers trapped in amber around 15 million years ago are offering scientists a rare glimpse into the plant life of a tropical rainforest in what is now Southeast China. Resea…
Indonesia rescues six orangutans from fires in a week
Six orangutans, including two nursing infants, have been rescued from fires raging on Borneo in the past week, Indonesian authorities and rescuers said Thursday, bringing the tota…
A fossil feather preserved inside dinosaur poop could help explain why birds survived the mass extinction
About 66 million years ago, a dinosaur—maybe a T. rex or a Nanotyrannus—ate a bird. The record of that meal, in the form of fossilized poop, has survived to today, preserving the …
Simple farming changes boost wheat yields in drought-prone areas
In drought-prone regions of Ethiopia, growing more food could start with something as simple as keeping more rainwater in the ground.
A fake spider at the tip of this snake's tail helps it lure birds: Scientists get their first look inside it
Lots of animals use mimicry to survive. Some copy the appearance of threatening predators, and others have evolved to resemble plants or rocks so they can blend into the backgroun…
Veterinarian outlines practical steps to protect pets from bird flu
As a veterinarian who studies infectious diseases in cats, I've been repeatedly asked whether Australia's outbreak of the H5 bird flu poses a risk to pets. The short answer is yes.
Hungry scent detection dogs more likely to 'cry wolf'
Dogs trained in scent detection may be better at sniffing out the right smell after breakfast, with new research finding hungry dogs working for treats are more likely to falsely …
'Peculiar' new species of Jurassic squid found in Wyoming
A "peculiar" new species of Jurassic squid-like animal has been unearthed in Wyoming, U.S., following the discovery of two exceptionally rare fossils dating to around 160 million …
Scavenging linked to virus variety in wild birds
The scavenging behavior of many wild birds plays an important role in the type, number and variety of viruses they have, a new University of Otago–Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka-led study h…
First Nations ranger knowledge reveals the threats facing NT's green turtles
First Nations ranger groups working in protected areas such as national or marine parks have identified illegal commercial fishing as a major concern for the Northern Territory's …
Have scientists finally detected dark matter? - video
For decades physicists have been puzzling over the enigma of dark matter. We think it makes up 85% of the matter in the universe, but the mysterious substance cannot be seen or de…