Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Chromosomes make a rapid retreat from nuclear territories
Chromosomes move faster than we first thought. New findings show the way chromosomes move around the nucleus when leaving the proliferative stage of the cell cycle and entering quiescence --...
Protein needed to develop auditory neurons identified
Loss of spiral ganglion neurons or hair cells in the inner ear is the leading cause of congenital and acquired hearing impairment. Researchers have found that Sox2, a protein that...
New test for lung cancer described
CORONADO, Calif., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- A study of a new blood test to detect lung cancer in its earliest stages says results look hopeful, researchers meeting in California...
Tilapia threatening Fiji fish species
SUVA, Fiji, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Tilapia, an African fish introduced to Fiji for sustainable farming, is threatening the larvae and juvenile fish of several native species, officials said.
Carnegie Mellon's Philip LeDuc discovers new protein function
Carnegie Mellon University's Philip R. LeDuc and his collaborators in Massachusetts and Taiwan have discovered a new function of a protein that could ultimately unlock the mystery of how these...
Scientists find amazing new pondlife on nature reserve
One year in to a project to save one of the UK's top sites for pondlife, amazing new species are being revealed for the first time...
Puffins' winter odyssey revealed
Puffins from the North Sea's largest colony make a surprise excursion to the Atlantic Ocean, tags fitted to the seabirds reveal.
Stingray's 'tool use' revealed
Freshwater stingrays use water as a 'tool' in problem-solving tests, scientists reveal for the first time.
Gladstone scientists identify role of key protein in ALS and frontotemporal dementia
Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease (GIND) have identified the reason a key protein plays a major role in two neurodegenerative diseases.
Mosquito hunters invent better, cheaper, DIY disease weapon
Researchers believe they have come up with the cheapest, most efficient way yet to monitor adult mosquitoes and the deadly diseases they carry, from malaria to West Nile Virus.
In Reversal, Jaguar Habitat Will Be Protected
Thirteen years after the jaguar was listed as endangered, the Fish and Wildlife Service will protect its habitat.
Nociception and Pain in Teleost Fish
For her doctorate, Janicke Nordgreen has studied nociception and pain in teleost fish. Her conclusion is that it is very likely the fish feel pain.
The 'Nose' Knows
(PhysOrg.com) -- Some might say it's as plain as the nose on your face. But detecting toxic or dangerous chemicals in the microgravity environment of space takes a little extra...
First known instance of a cricket as an orchid pollinator captured on film
A researcher studying how the orchid genus Angraecum has adapted to different pollinators on Reunion Island has used motion sensitive night cameras to capture the first known occurrence of a...
Team wins global race to achieve landmark synthesis of perplexing natural product
In 1993 researchers discovered a chemical compound in a sponge off Palau, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, that has shown anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal pharmaceutical promise. This compound,...
Lizards' camouflage reveals evolution in action
These desert lizards' accelerated evolution could provide researchers with new insights into how species form. Evolution - Species - Biology - Human - Education
Can a Whale Get Rabies?
“It’s not as silly a question as you might think,” says Michael Moore, a marine-mammal research specialist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. “It would take some extraordinary circumstances, but any mammal...
Disease Enzyme Scrutinized
Structural Biology: X-ray structure of a conformationally flexible drug target reveals how its inhibitors work.
Proper flower and leaf development tied to the same gene
(PhysOrg.com) -- A group of Dartmouth researchers have discovered a new role for an important plant gene. Dartmouth Biology Professor Tom Jack and his colleagues have learned that a gene...
3D View of the Brain
(PhysOrg.com) -- A completely new view of the brains of mice has been achieved by a team headed by R. Graham Cooks at Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana, USA). By...
Study: Running Shoes Could Cause Joint Strain
Running shoes may put more strain on your joints than running barefoot or even walking in high heels, a recent study suggests.
How the big freeze has brought some unusual visitors
All sorts of unusual visitors are turning up in British gardens, to the delight of wildlife-watchersAs you struggle to get to work on icy roads, spare a thought for our wildlife. Britain's...
Elusive Tree Kangaroos Fitted With Video Cameras
These hard-to-reach "plush toys" on Papua New Guinea have been outfitted with "Crittercams" for the first time. The breathtaking treetop footage is already solving tree kangaroo mysteries, researchers say.
Rare Gorillas Spied Feasting on Figs
See what could be the first professional footage of elusive Cross River gorillas, the most endangered subspecies of gorilla, filmed recently in Cameroon. Video.
Australian city's hottest night in 108 years
The Australian city of Melbourne has sweltered through its hottest night since 1902, with temperatures topping 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit), meteorologists said Tuesday.
Harmful algae stun their prey
Toxic blooms may help single-celled algae to eat their competitors.
Sitting may shorten lives
A new study suggests that activities such as TV-watching can reduce your lifespan, even if you also get plenty of exercise.
Science explains the wrinkly dog
The genetic cause of the Shar-pei dog's wrinkled skin is explained by scientists.