Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Bacterium aids in formation of gold
ADELAIDE, Australia, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- An Australian-led team of international scientists says it's found the bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans catalyses toxic gold compounds into metallic form.
Butterfly migration linked to El Nino
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. ecologists studying the effects of climate change on insects say they've determined El Nino affects the long-distance migration of some butterflies.
Genetic Mutation A Strong Indicator Of Age-related Hearing Loss Risk
Patients who exhibited a certain genetic mutation of anti-oxidant enzymes are three times more likely to develop age-related hearing loss, according to new research.
Homebound termites answer 150-year-old evolution question
Staying at home may have given the very first termite youngsters the best opportunity to rule the colony when their parents were killed by their neighbors. This is according to...
Models begin to unravel how single DNA strands combine
Using computer simulations, a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers has identified some of the pathways through which single complementary strands of DNA interact and combine to form the double...
Prion study reveals first direct information about the protein's molecular structure
A collaboration between scientists at Vanderbilt University and the University of California, San Francisco has led to the first direct information about the molecular structure of prions. In addition, the...
Enhanced stem cells promote tissue regeneration
MIT engineers have boosted stem cells' ability to regenerate vascular tissue (such as blood vessels) by equipping them with genes that produce extra growth factors (naturally occurring compounds that stimulate...
Body's circadian rhythm tightly entwined with blood sugar control
Scientists have long struggled to understand the body's biological clock. Its tick-tock wakes us up, reminds us to eat and tells us when to go to bed. But what sets...
Mediterranean diet associated with reduced risk of depression
Individuals who follow the Mediterranean dietary pattern - rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and fish - appear less likely to develop depression, according to a report in the...
Clear fish help brain research
Researchers have recently found a way to activate or deactivate areas of the brain, using light-sensitive brain cells and transparent fish.
Reservoir of deforming tropical disease sought
Knowing what causes a disease may not make it easier to control and contain infection, but understanding how humans become infected and where the pathogens live may improve control. A...
7 new luminescent mushroom species discovered
Seven new glow-in-the-dark mushroom species have been discovered, increasing the number of known luminescent fungi species from 64 to 71. Reported today in the journal Mycologia, the new finds...
Secrets of the Cell: Self-Destructive Behavior in Cells May Hold Key to a Longer Life
To the surprise of scientists, links are emerging between our inner recycling and protection from disease.
I.B.M. Joins Pursuit of $1,000 Personal Genome
One of the oldest names in computing is vying for a high-tech piece of the personalized medicine puzzle.
Mediterranean diet associated with reduced risk of depression
Individuals who follow the Mediterranean dietary pattern -- rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and fish -- appear less likely to develop depression, according to a report in the...
'Anti-Atkins' Low Protein Diet Extends Lifespan in Flies
(PhysOrg.com) -- Flies fed an "anti-Atkins" low protein diet live longer because their mitochondria function better. The research, done at the Buck Institute for Age Research, shows that the...
Study finds how bacteria combat mercury
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've found how bacteria convert methylmercury into a less-toxic form, allowing the bacteria to survive in mercury-rich environments.
Inventive combination of research approaches identifies new target for treating leukemia
New research integrates sophisticated interdisciplinary approaches to solve a molecular mystery that may lead to alternative therapeutic strategies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Scientists discover what makes muscles age
BERKELEY, Calif., Oct. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. and Danish scientists say they've identified critical biochemical pathways that are linked to the aging of human muscle.
Method distinguishes wild, farmed salmon
SOUTHAMPTON, England, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- British scientists have developed a new technology that can distinguish between farmed and wild salmon by examining the chemistry of their scales.
UQ researcher on the hunt for viruses
(PhysOrg.com) -- UQ scientist Ian Mackay is always on the lookout for that lucky find - well, if you consider unknown strains of the common cold virus lucky.
Rare condors endangered by lead in carrion
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Rare California condors living in Arizona and Utah are at risk due to lead bullets found inside the carrion the birds feed...
Why motorway bridges could replace bat caves
Concrete bridges could make better roosts for some species of bat than natural caves, according to research.
African Cattle To Be Protected From Killer Disease
Millions of African families could be saved from destitution, thanks to a much-needed vaccine that is being mass-produced in a drive to protect cattle against a deadly parasite.
Scientists say nanoparticles may help kill tumors
LONDON (Reuters) - British scientists are developing ways to use nanoparticles as tiny magnets that can heat up and kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells around them.
Bird guardians turn an eye to computer monitoring
Seabirds on an island off the Welsh coast are at the forefront of a project to use computers to monitor vulnerable habitats.
Animals survived apocalypse by burrowing
When the going gets tough, putting your head in the sand isn't always a bad idea. According to a new study, that's exactly how a group of animals living 250...
Scientists Study Holstein Milk Production, Fertility
(PhysOrg.com) -- Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have discovered why Holsteins -bred to produce more milk -are less fertile than before breeding efforts were stepped up to increase dairy production:...