Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Scientists map brain pathway for vocal learning
Scientists have identified neurons in the songbird brain that convey the auditory feedback needed to learn a song. Their research lays the foundation for improving human speech, for example, in...
Polar bear droppings advance superbug debate
Scientists investigating the spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs have gone the extra mile for their research -- all the way to the Arctic. Researchers found little sign of the microbes in...
'World's least known bird' discovered breeding in Afghanistan
Researchers have discovered for the first time the breeding area of the large-billed reed warbler -- dubbed in 2007 as "the world's least known bird species" -- in the remote...
Neural thermostat keeps brain running efficiently
Our energy-hungry brains operate reliably and efficiently while processing a flood of sensory information, thanks to a sort of neuronal thermostat that regulates activity in the visual cortex, researchers have...
Y Chromosome Evolving Rapidly
Humans and chimpanzees have remodeled their male sex chromosomes more than expected [Read more]
Genome Sequencing Shows Past Genetic Events Made Soybeans Rich in Versatile Gene Families
The sequencing of the soybean genome will be announced in a paper forthcoming in the January 14 issue of the journal Nature. Authored by Jeremy Schmutz of the Joint Genome...
Saving gorillas, elephants starts with understanding their human neighbors
Understanding local human cultures is key to preserving gorillas, elephants and other wildlife in African parks and reserves, according to new research.
Biologists wake dormant viruses and uncover mechanism for survival
It is known that viral "squatters" comprise nearly half of our genetic code. These genomic invaders inserted their DNA into our own millions of years ago when they infected our...
Unlocking the mystery of the duck-billed platypus' venom
Abandon any notion that the duck-billed platypus is a soft and cuddly creature -- maybe like Perry the Platypus in the Phineas and Ferb cartoon. The males can deliver a...
Students sequence old species
Uni students have sequenced the chloroplast genome of the Wollemi Pine, one of the rarest and oldest species of tree still living.
Sample of Nestlé Cookie Dough Has E. Coli Bacteria
The company said the tainted dough had not left the factory and no recall was necessary.
Missing 500-Years of Loggias, Porticos Described
Using texts and images, a researcher has for the first time reconstructed the time when the use of porticos -- roof-covered structures supported by columns -- gave way to loggias,...
The Plant Cell's Corset
We still have a lot to discover about the mechanism in plants that ensures cell growth in a specific direction. However it is clear that a structure of parallel protein...
Understanding why leopards can't change their spots
New research reveals something about how cats end up with spots and stripes. It demonstrates for the first time that at least three different genes are involved in the emergence...
Mutations in different cells cooperate to set the stage for cancer
Cancer biologists have long known that it takes the cooperation of multiple cancer-causing genes to cause cancer. Now researchers have shown that the cooperating mutations can occur in neighboring cells....
Key piece of puzzle sheds light on function of ribosomes
When ribosomes produce protein in all living cells, they do so through a chemical reaction that happens so fast that scientists have been puzzled. Using large quantum mechanical calculations of...
Dog genome researchers track paw prints of selective breeding
From the Dachshund's stubby legs to the Shar-Pei's wrinkly skin, breeding for certain characteristics has left its mark on the dog genome. Researchers have identified 155 regions on the canine...
Y Chromosome On Evolutionary Fast-Track
But Study's Authors Note it Doesn't Necessarily Mean That Men Themselves are More Evolved
Paradigm Changing Mechanism Is Revealed for the Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria
A new study led by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center is shedding new light on the action of Rho, a key regulatory protein in E. coli and many other...
Parasitic larva ditches doomed host
A cunning insect detects when its host is under threat from predators to make a timely escape.
Disease epidemic killing only US bats
European bats seemingly unaffected by fungal infection.
'Noisiest' neurons persist in the adult brain
MIT neuroscientists have discovered that when it comes to new neurons in the adult brain, the squeakiest wheels get the grease.
Light shed on fish gill mystery
Fish developed gills to "decontaminate" their bodies, rather than to breathe, new research suggests.
Sweet corn study provides large-scale picture of better fields
In what amounted to a kind of census of sweet corn grown for processing, three years of data from 175 fields in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota shed light on what...
Wild boars on the rise in North Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Destructive wild boar populations are increasing in North Carolina and have been documented in nearly half of the state's counties, officials said.
Click chemistry reveals sugar synthesis in live animals
Clever click chemistry allows the biosynthesis of glycans – key components in cellular processes – to be monitored in living mice
Big, social, Island-dwelling birds live longest
(PhysOrg.com) -- Research may help explain underlying evolutionary principles that shape life spans for many organisms, including humans.
Wild boar forage in Forest bins
The creatures are spotted rooting through rubbish bins to find food during the big freeze.