Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Stealing a ‘superpower’
Corey Allard in his lab at Harvard Medical School.Niles Singer/Harvard Staff Photographer Science & Tech Stealing a ‘superpower’ Study finds some sea slugs consume algae, incorporate photosynthetic parts into their own bodies to...
UV-C light kills nearly everything—except this unusual organism
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Killer whales may use kelp brushes to slough off rough skin
The whales use quick body movements to tear pieces of bull kelp for use as tools, perhaps the first known toolmaking by a marine mammal.
This bug’s all-in helicopter parenting reshaped its eggs
An egg-shape trend found among birds shows up in miniature with very protective bug parents. Elongated eggs fit more compactly under mom.
A barrage of radiation couldn’t kill this hardy life-form
A type of lichen was able to survive extreme UV radiation in the lab, suggesting that ozone protection might not be required for life on exoplanets.
See how the herpesvirus reshapes our cells’ DNA in just eight hours
New imaging tools reveal how within an hour of infection, the virus begins to alter our chromosomes to kick-start its own replication.
A new ‘eye’ may radically change how robots see
The system contains a sensor, chip and tiny AI model inspired by biological eyes and brains and uses a tenth of the energy of a camera-based system.
BBC Inside Science
Inside Science heads to the One Ocean Science Congress in Nice, France.
Work begins to create artificial human DNA from scratch
Scientists start a controversial project to create the building blocks of human life, in what is thought to be a world first.
17 rehabilitated sea turtles released off Cape Cod
Amidst an excited crowd, 17 endangered and threatened sea turtles were released into the refreshing waters off Cape Cod earlier this month. Nine Kemp’s ridleys, five loggerheads, and three green sea turtles were...
Wild orcas will sometimes offer food to humans
Orcas (Orcinus orca) don’t appear to be big fans of yachts, but some of them may be curious about humans themselves. According to a study published on June 30 in the Journal...
Orcas use kelp tools to groom and bond off B.C.'s coast, study suggests
Southern resident killer whales are using kelp for what scientists suspect are both hygienic and social purposes.
N.B. Museum set to add 1st rare owl specimen found in the province in over 100 years
A great grey owl that was previously in the care of the Atlantic Wildlife Institute will be joining the New Brunswick Museum as a scientific specimen. The museum's Greg Jongsma...
Islanders are being asked to help track the rare smooth greensnake this summer
If you spot a smooth greensnake in the wild on Prince Edward Island, the province’s Forests, Fish and Wildlife division wants to hear from you. Officials are hoping to gather...
Orcas might be trying to learn 'who we are' when they share prey with humans, study suggests
The rare and awe-inspiring gestures were documented off the coasts of B.C., California, New Zealand and Norway. Researchers say their new study is the first documentation of these kinds of...
Extreme heat linked to increased pet dog deaths
A joint team led by researchers from the University of New South Wales has revealed the alarming impact of heat waves on pet dogs.
Biologists warn against new alien fish in Laguna de Bay
A striking, silver-colored fish commonly kept as an aquarium pet has been hiding in plain sight in the Philippines' largest freshwater lake, renewing concerns over the unmonitored and unmitigated release...
7000-year-old fossilized reefs reveal how human fishing reshaped Caribbean food webs
A study of 7000-year-old exposed coral reef fossils reveals how human fishing has transformed Caribbean reef food webs: as sharks declined by 75% and fish preferred by humans became smaller,...
Polymer-protected DNA sensors enable two-month storage for 50-cent disease diagnostics
Using an inexpensive electrode coated with DNA, MIT researchers have designed disposable diagnostics that could be adapted to detect a variety of diseases, including cancer or infectious diseases such as...
New 'gene gun' design boosts efficiency of plant genetic modification
Plant scientists have used a standard "gene gun" since 1988 to genetically modify crops for better yield, nutrition, pest resistance and other valuable traits.
Built-in protein sensors allow noninvasive tracking of molecular assemblies in living cells
Cornell researchers have found a new and potentially more accurate way to see what proteins are doing inside living cells—using the cells' own components as built-in sensors.
Being an adult moth is no picnic, research finds
Age is just a number, or is it? A new study by UTEP researchers shows that adult moths are more vulnerable to attack than when they are young.
Novel cross-linker streamlines protein complex analysis in living cells
Proteins have specific biological functions in cells through conformational changes and interactions. Therefore, precise, in situ analysis of protein complex changes is essential for understanding cellular functions, uncovering disease mechanisms,...
How sugar serves as a hidden thermostat in plants
For a decade, scientists have believed that plants sense temperature mainly through specialized proteins, and mainly at night when the air is cool. New research suggests that during the day,...
Structural differences in Nasonia wasps linked to evolution, behavior and disease
What can a tiny wasp with a rather gruesome parasitic life cycle teach us about evolution, behavior and human developmental diseases? In a new paper, researchers led by István Mikó...
Gray whales are dying off the Pacific Coast again, and scientists aren't sure why
Gray whales are dying in large numbers, again.
Mystery deepens as another dead whale washes ashore in Southern California
A 50-foot gray whale washed ashore in Huntington Beach on Friday. Nonprofit workers say the young adult female showed no signs of physical injury.
Mosquitoes are breeding in pools in the Eaton fire area. Officials may not be able to control them much longer
Unmaintained swimming pools where mosquito breeding has occurred will get a first treatment, but there's currently no money for additional treatments, according to vector control officials.