Latest science news in Biology & Nature
For a rare few, driving and cell phones go well together
A small portion of the population excels at doing two or more things at once
Microbial answer to plastic pollution?
Fragments of plastic in the ocean are not just unsightly but potentially lethal to marine life. Coastal microbes may offer a smart solution to clean up plastic contamination, according new...
Plant hormone regulates nectar production
Rapeseed is one of the ten most important agricultural crops worldwide. In spring, the rapeseed fields with their bright yellow flowers are widely visible: this year winter rapeseed is being...
Truffle's savoury secret revealed
The Périgord black truffle's flavour depends on its own enzymes rather than on where it grows.
Single gene powers hybrid tomato plants
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A mutation in a single gene can turn hybrid tomato plants into super producers capable of generating more and much sweeter fruit without genetic engineering, scientists said...
Why metastasic cells migrate
One of the most intriguing questions in cancer research is what causes metastatic tumour migration, why some tumour cells manage to migrate to other parts of the body but others...
Recipes for Health: Getting More Fish in Your Diet
Research suggests American could benefit from eating more fish, but that’s not always easy. Here are some wonderful fish dishes that can help.
Mysterious whale die-off is largest on record
Mass death among baby right whales has experts scrambling tofigure out the puzzle behind the largest great whale die-off on record. Mammalia - Flora and Fauna...
The Bearable Density of Bird Bones
For earthbound creatures like us, flight just seems so fantastical. How do birds and bats and other flying beasties manage to get off and stay off the ground? Well, having...
Cancer Therapy Using Unique Imaging, Delivery System Focus of NSF CAREER Award
The researcher has developed first system capable of minimally invasive and non-destructive light sensitive, molecular sensing and control of biological and transport processes within living organisms.
Folk medicine threat to primates
Traditional folk medicine poses a significant threat to the future of over 100 primate species around the world, scientists say.
Scientists stumped as bee population declines further
The decline in the US bee population, first observed in 2006, is continuing, a phenomenon that still baffles researchers and beekeepers.
Grasshopper Invasion Looms for Farmers
Federal Survey Shows Great Plains States Could be Facing Record Levels of Fodder and Crop-Munching Insects
Small garden birds 'hit by cold'
The number of small birds like coal tits and goldcrests spotted in gardens has fallen because of the cold winter, says the RSPB.
Tiny gold probes give scientists a sense of how disease develops
Tiny chemical sensors implanted into patients could help diagnose disease and track its progress, following a development by scientists...
Biomass Feedstock Harvest from Conservation Reserve Program Land
Can native or introduced grasses offer sustainable harvest for biofuels?
Key enzyme discovered to be master regulator in protein-protein reactions
New research explains how a key enzyme, PP1, functions in protein-protein interactions. Researchers have described how PP1 "chooses" proteins. The finding is important, because erroneous PP1 regulation can cause numerous...
Vast microbial diversity of carnivorous pitcher plant uncovered
The microbial ecosystem inside the carnivorous pitcher plant is vastly more diverse than previously thought, according to new research.
Study shows compulsive eating shares addictive biochemical mechanism with cocaine, heroin abuse
JUPITER, FL, March 23, 2010 ?In a newly published study, scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have shown for the first time that the same molecular mechanisms that drive people...
Makeup Makeover: The Truth About Cosmetics
Cosmetics can play a significant role in your life, from helping you attract mates to boosting your earning potential.
Highway is a barrier against dengue in Trinidad & Tobago
The main highway through Trinidad is a hostile environment for the dengue mosquito vector, which prevents its dispersal, says a study.
Novelties: Replacement Bones, Grown to Order in the Lab
Now being tested, tissue-engineered bones may one day be common in operating rooms — and have various commercial applications.
New to nature No 4: Brachycephalus pitanga
The size of a fingernail, this is one of six new species in its genus discovered in the last two years in southern BrazilThis cute orange toadlet, Brachycephalus pitanga, is only about...
Bee-Sniffing Technology More Advanced, Much Cheaper Than Dog-Sniffing
(PhysOrg.com) -- While bees are extremely important to our ecology, they are becoming important to our defense against biological and other weapons, as the bee`s discreet sense of smell, equivalent...
Plant hormone increases cotton yields in drought conditions
A naturally occurring class of plant hormones called cytokinins has been found to help increase cotton yields during drought conditions.
Hidden habits and movements of insect pests revealed by DNA barcoding
Researchers have found a faster way to study the spread and diet of insect pests. Using a technique called DNA barcoding, which involves the identification of species from a short...
Exploring Echinacea's enigmatic origins
Agricultural cientists are helping to sort through the jumbled genetics of Echinacea, the coneflower known for its blossoms -- and its potential for treating infections, inflammation, and other human ailments.
Immune cells use 'bungee of death' to kill dangerous cells, new research shows
Immune cells ensnare dangerous cells that are on the run with a bungee-like nanotube, according to new research. The study shows that natural killer cells use this bungee to destroy...