Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Nanopatch vaccines dispense with fridges and needles
Immunisation via a small skin patch could beat the "cold chain" problem that besets developing world vaccination programmes.
New killer whale species proposed
Killer whales may not be just one species but rather four or more, with each hunting different prey, living in their own kinds of groups, prowling their own unique ranges...
DNA barcoding reveals mislabelled cod and haddock in Dublin
Ecological scientists in Ireland recently used DNA barcoding to identify species of fish labelled as either 'cod' or 'haddock' in fish and chip shops, fresh fish counters and supermarkets in...
Student research team sequences genome of bacterium discovered in college garden
Under the supervision of a plant pathologist, a group of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students isolated and characterized a formerly unknown group of bacteria.
Borneo rainforest yields exotic new species
A lungless frog, a frog that flies and a slug that shoots love darts are among 123 new species found in Borneo since 2007 in a project to conserve one...
Effects Of Autism Reversible?
Researchers studying the differential expression of microRNA say they may have discovered a way to treat autism by reversing the effects of the disease. Taken Together with recently published research...
Animal feed and cars equal smog hotspot
DAVIS, Calif., April 22 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have determined the combination of lots of animal feed fumes mixing with automotive exhaust gases can become a major source of...
Molecular fight against viruses identified
DALLAS, April 22 (UPI) -- University of Texas scientists say they've identified the mechanism by which a protein initiates the body's immune response to viral attacks.
Nanofibers Carry Toxic Peptides Into Cancer Cells
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers have long known that certain peptides are capable of killing cells by inserting themselves into the cell membranes and disrupting normal membrane structure and function. Now, researchers...
Blocking Delicious Smells Could Lead to Longer Lifespans
Finding in fruit flies could lead to odor-blocking drugs that might prevent disease or boost lifespan Dieters know the powerful temptations of just seeing or smelling food. Certain odors might have such a...
Simplifying complexity – new insights into how genomes work
A genome is a complex system of genes and factors that regulate them. A European research team has clarified how such dynamic systems work, leading to a new way to...
On Earth Day, Ecologist Fights for Phosphorus
Ecologists James Elser is advocating for sustainable use of the element phosphorus. This element plays an important role in humans society.
Human Uniqueness and the Future
What is human uniqueness, and how did it contribute to what we could now call behavioral modernity? How did it develop? And what implications does it have for understanding our...
Biting back: Costa Rica experts harvest deadly snake venom
The dreaded Matabuey, a snake so fearsome its name means "ox killer," has a deadly bite that immobilizes its prey in minutes, making it the kind of creature generally to...
Ontogenesis is regulated by moving microRNA molecules
The genes in humans and many other species have been surveyed but their operating principles remain rather unknown. Researchers do not know precisely how genes guide development of various human...
A Desk That Allows You to Stand or Sit
A writer who likes to shift positions while he works tried out a work station that, with a push of a button, adjusted to his sitting or standing height.
For stem cells, practice makes perfect
Multipotent stem cells have the capacity to develop into different types of cells by reprogramming their DNA. In a new study, researchers have found that reprogramming is imperfect in the...
To the Antarctic or Brazil for new feathers: Thin-billed prions select their moulting grounds individually
Scientists have studied the migratory behavior of thin-billed prions and discovered that the animals spend their molting season in two areas that are at a considerable distance from each other....
Study warns of microfuge tube leaching
SAN MARCOS, Texas, April 21 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say some microfuge tubes commonly used in molecular biology laboratories might be causing measurement errors due to chemical leaching.
Cell Biologist Daniel Gottschling Elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Cell biologist Daniel Gottschling, Ph.D., a member of the Basic Sciences Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has been elected to membership in the American Academy of Arts &...
Sperm Recognize "Brothers," Team Up for Speed
In promiscuous mouse species, sperm from the same male team up like Tour de France racers to give themselves an edge in the dash for the egg, a new study...
Invasive Lionfish Attacks Reefs and Fish as Scientists Scramble
Indo-Pacific lionfish, an invasive carnivore equipped with venomous spines, are spreading—and eating their way—through...
ScienceShot: Don't Eat Me, Sis
Male orb web spiders sacrifice themselves to mate outside the family
Fever in infected wild animals is variable
PRINCETON, N.J., April 21 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they are the first to show members of the same animal species respond differently with fever when fighting infection in...
New therapies proposed for ciliopathies
SAN DIEGO, April 21 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've identified a network of genes that initiate and manage cilia formation that might lead to new therapies for ciliopathies.
Pictures: Strange Sea Species Found Off Greenland
From deep-sea "aliens" to promising seafood specimens, 38 striking fish species have been spotted off Greenland for the first time.
Poultry research leads to breakthrough in genetic studies of animal domestication
A Virginia Tech animal scientist, who in 1957 began breeding lines of White Plymouth Rock chickens based on their juvenile body weight, has provided scientists around the world with a...
Studies aim to resolve confusion over mercury risks from fish
Research identifies riskier fish and ways to limit potentially harmful exposures