Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Insect colonies operate as 'superorganisms', new research finds
New research finds that insect colonies follow some of the same biological "rules" as individuals, a finding that suggests insect societies operate like a single "superorganism" in terms of their...
In journey from maggot to fruit fly, a clue about cancer metastasis
Scientists trying to understand how cancer cells invade healthy tissue have used the fruit fly's metamorphosis from maggot to flying insect as a guide to identify a key molecular signal...
New UT Knoxville research finds new ways to understand bacteria's 'thinking'
It's not thinking in the way humans, dogs or even birds think, but new findings from researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of...
Gorillas carry malarial parasite
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 20 (UPI) -- The quest to eradicate malaria in humans could be complicated by new findings that show gorillas carry the parasites, scientists in California said.
Gardeners must unite to save Britain's wildlife
Householders in the UK should be looking beyond their own garden fence to protect vulnerable British wildlife, according to scientists at the University of Leeds...
Scientists identify Ecuador's Yasuni National Park as one of the most biodiverse places on earth
Yasuni National Park, located in the core of the Ecuadorian Amazon, shatters a range of world biodiversity records - from trees to amphibians to insects to mammals and an array...
Minimal changes alter an enzyme dramatically
A new study by a research team at Uppsala University shows how new functions can develop in an enzyme. This can explain, for example, how resistance to toxins can occur...
New visible light photocatalyst kills bacteria, even after light turned off
In the battle against bacteria, researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a powerful new weapon - an enhanced photocatalytic disinfection process that uses visible light to destroy harmful...
Copper-free click chemistry used in mice
Researchers have developed a unique, copper-free version of the molecular synthesis technique known as click chemistry to create biomolecular probes for in vivo studies of live mice.
New Theory Shakes Up Primate Evolution
A new paper published in Zoologica Scripta argues that the distributions of the major primate groups are correlated with Mesozoic tectonic features and that their respective ranges are congruent with...
Researchers take early step towards devising new antibiotics
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers have made the first step towards creating a new class of antibiotics in a study published last night in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of...
Cancer Genome Atlas identifies distinct subtypes of deadly brain cancer
The most common form of malignant brain cancer in adults, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is not a single disease but appears to be four distinct molecular subtypes, according to a study...
Bald Eagle Numbers Are Soaring! NWF Shares Places To Spot Wintering Eagles--All Across The Country
Bald eagles are one of the most recognizable birds in the United States, and they are seen in nearly every state. National Wildlife Federation presents a list--divided alphabetically by every...
New ‘click’ reaction to modify proteins
A cyclic diazo compound can attach to the phenol ring of tyrosine under mild conditions providing a new route to modify proteins
Biophysicists manipulate 'zipper,' reveal protein folding dynamics
Biophysicists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM), Germany, have published the results of single-molecule experiments that bring a higher-resolution tool to the study of protein folding. How proteins arrive at...
Overseas Collections Play Important Role In Controlling Invasive Species
When melaleuca began invading the Florida Everglades and surrounding areas, scientists knew of one place to look for a solution: the Australian Biological Control Laboratory.
Fish oil not snake oil
A randomised controlled trial of fish oil given intravenously to patients in intensive care has found that it improves gas exchange, reduces inflammatory chemicals and results in a shorter length...
Vaccine could cripple malaria
Recent research has found that a malaria vaccine could be possible – it would kill proteins the parasites use to burrow into red blood cells.
WWF says China's wild tigers face extinction
The World Wildlife Fund warned on Tuesday that the wild tiger faced extinction in China after having been decimated by poaching and the destruction of its natural habitat.
The changing facebook of genetic
(PhysOrg.com) -- Social factors such as what we eat and where we live influence how natural selection acts on human genes, according to a research that is bringing the worlds...
Corpses rot in bacterial stages
New research could help forensic investigators find the time of death, by linking bacteria species to stages of decomposition.
Dog genome researchers track paw prints of selective breeding
Researchers gave identified 155 regions on the dog genome that appear to have been influenced by selective breeding. Although dogs have been domesticated for 14,000 years, their spectacular diversity originated...
Deadly scorpion provides safe pesticide
Scientists have isolated the genetic sequences for important neurotoxins in the scorpion venom and developed methods to produce and manipulate these toxins to restrict their toxicity to certain insects or...
Nocturnal vision of insects inspires automakers to develop improved night cameras
The ability of animals to see in the dark has led to a collaborative project aimed at developing a new type of color camera that could help people drive cars...
Mice and humans with same anxiety-related gene abnormality behave similarly
Studying animals in behavioral experiments has been a cornerstone of psychological research, but whether the observations are relevant for human behavior has been unclear. Researchers have now identified an alteration...
Atomic structure of a major cancer drug target cracked
Researchers have determined the crystal structure of the ligand binding domain of a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor in complex with one of its ligands (VEGF-C). VEGFs and their...
Open access drug discovery database launches with half a million compounds
ChEMBLdb, a vast online database of information on the properties and activities of drugs and drug-like small molecules and their targets, has just launched with information on over half a...
Molecular Genealogy in the Arctic Sediment
(PhysOrg.com) -- Heat-loving bacteria found in the Arctic seabed have their origins in oil springs and the depths of the Earth's crust. This is the finding of a project supported...