Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Antiepileptic drug phenytoin as a mood stabilizer?
Phenytoin is a well known antiepileptic agent widely used throughout the world. In a new study, researchers utilized DNA microarrays to investigate the molecular underpinnings of the potential mood-stabilizing action...
U.K. Establishes Record-Breaking Marine Reserve
The United Kingdom announced today that it will create the world's largest marine reserve in its territorial waters in the Indian Ocean.
One gene mutation can cause many cancers
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 31 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists say they've found a gene that normally protects the body against cancer can itself cause a variety of cancers if...
New study questions earlier conclusions about the kinetics of T cell receptors
T cell receptors are among the most important molecules in the immune system because of their role in recognizing the antigens that signal such threats as viruses and cancer. ...
Forget Switchgrass – Microbes Could Be New Biofuel Source
Arizona State University researchers have reengineered the genetics of cyanobacteria, producing mutant strains that continuously secrete fatty acids through their cell walls. The reprogramming has essentially turned the microbes into...
Researchers identify potential new target for treating hepatitis C
A team of scientists including University of Utah researchers has discovered that binding of a potent inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) to the genetic material of the virus...
Microorganisms in toxic groundwater fine-tuned to survive
Microorganisms can indeed live in extreme environments, but the ones that do are highly adapted to survive and little else, according to a collaboration that includes Department of Energy's Oak...
Scorpion venom provides clues to cause, treatment of pancreatitis
A Brazilian scorpion has provided researchers at North Carolina State University and East Carolina University insight into venom's effects on the ability of certain cells to release critical components. The...
Alzheimer's rat created for human research
Prof. Claudio Cuello at McGill University and his collaborators have genetically manipulated rats that can emulate Alzheimer's disease in humans, enabling research that will include the development of new treatments....
Exotic plant takes over dunes of Southern Spain
Introduced more than 40 years ago, Galenia pubescens, an exotic plant from South Africa is found in great numbers in altered coastal environments in the south of Spain. Since its...
CSHL scientists reverse Alzheimer's-like memory loss in fruit flies
By blocking the cellular signalling activity of a protein, a team of neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has prevented memory loss in fruit flies caused by brain plaques...
Hyenas' laughter signals deciphered
Acoustic analysis of the 'giggle' sound made by spotted hyenas has revealed that the animals' laughter encodes information about age, dominance and identity. Researchers writing in the open access journal...
Protein linked to problems with executive thinking skills
New research shows that a high level of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation in the blood, is associated with brain changes that are linked to problems with executive...
Extreme Weather Impacts Migratory Birds
(PhysOrg.com) -- Every year, hurricanes and droughts wreak havoc on human lives and property around the world. And according to a pair of new NASA-funded studies, migratory birds also experience...
Biofilm production aids Campylobacter survival
Scientists have found a way that the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter can survive in the environment. Researchers have found that Campylobacter will readily form a biofilm under laboratory conditions, and that,...
Judge Invalidates Human Gene Patent
In a ruling with potentially far-reaching implications for the patenting of human genes, a judge struck down a company’s patents on two genes linked to an increased risk of breast...
Urine Signals Sex, Violence to Crayfish
Female crayfish release urine to attract mates. But the aphrodisiac confuses males, that use it as a sign of violence.
ScienceSHOT: How Bats Deal With Clutter
How do bats make sense of the noisy world they live in?
Bats retune echolocation and use sun's glow to navigate near and far
Whisking quietly through the night, around buildings, trees and even branches, bats have a keen sense of their surroundings despite darkness. Researchers have known for decades that bats use their...
Database gives access to the latest findings about the tree of life
If scientists have identified some two million species, where can you find the latest information about the tree of life that unites them all? A vastly improved database gives scientists...
Identical twins may not be so identical when it comes to gut bacteria
Study suggests intestinal microbe populations vary widely
Goliath Tiger Fish: "Evolution on Steroids" in Congo
On an unprecedented Congo River run, scientists and kayakers have found potential new species, the spike-toothed goliath tiger fish, and evidence that the African river may be the world's deepest.
The death of euthanasia?
It is time to discard the word euthanasia because it mixes ideas and values that confuse the debate about dying, states an editorial.
Deep vein thrombosis is more likely to occur on the left side of pregnant women
Deep vein thrombosis in pregnant patients is more likely to occur on the left side, and in particular in the left leg, according to new research.
New cocoa varieties needed to secure world’s chocolate supply
At this time of year Easter eggs fill supermarket shelves but pests, disease and now climate change mean that future generations could miss out on enjoying this chocolate treat. Pests...
Robot sub equipped with sensory system inspired by blind fish
Researchers have equipped an underwater robot with a sensory system they expect will eventually prove effective, reliable, and energy-efficient in environments ranging from the sea floor to turbid rivers to...
Cap or cork, it’s the wine that matters most
Screw tops can nurture wine’s flavor just as well
A Dose of Embryonic Cells Could Induce Infant-Like 'Plasticity' in Brain, Allowing it to Rewire Itself Like New
The brain is the body's most complicated biological machine, and as such it can be very difficult to service when something goes wrong; after our neural wiring is put in place, at...