Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Research Offers Clue Into How Hearts Can Regenerate in Some Species
The path injured hearts take to heal in a kind of fish may help researchers looking into human heart disease.
Attempt to Allow Sale of Elephant Ivory Fails
The illegal trade in elephant ivory is booming. African elephants are being slaughtered at rates exceeding the former peak in the late 1980s, before Convention on International Trade in Endangered...
SeaWorld trainers now tend killer whale from a distance
Since Tilikum killed a trainer, his minders have used a 2-foot extension to brush his teeth and a new procedure for blood tests. And they're finding new ways to keep him engaged....
Vitamin A: Key mechanism that guides cells to form heart tissue
Researchers have identified a key cellular mechanism that guides embryonic heart tissue formation -- a process which, if disrupted, can lead to a number of common congenital heart defects.
Radar reduces wind farm risk to birds
SAN FRANCISCO, March 18 (UPI) -- Scientists at a wind energy group in California said their unique radar technology mitigates the risk of wind farms to migratory bird species.
Video: Stem Cells and Controversy
A recent advance in stem cell research has allowed scientists to use human skin cells to create stem cells. Are human embryonic stem cells still needed? Dr. Jon LaPook talks...
Sharks from deep waters of Cantabrian Sea are opportunist hunters
A team of Spanish researchers has studied the diet of three species of sharks living in the deep waters in the area of El Cachucho, the first Protected Marine Area...
Research team led by Cedars-Sinai identifies genes linked to ulcerative colitis
A study of the human genome led by Cedars-Sinai researchers has now identified genes linked to ulcerative colitis, offering clues as to what causes the condition and potential avenues for...
Number of High Arctic animals declining
Animals in the Arctic have increased in number over the last 40 years, but populations closest to the North Pole are shrinking, a new international study says.
Wingless ants glide to safety steering with their hind legs (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- The tree-dwelling tropical ants Cephalotes atratus build their nests in tall trees, but launch themselves into the air when threatened by predators. Scientists studying these wingless ants have...
Fastest Color Vision Belongs To Bumblebees
Bees see the world almost five times faster than humans, giving them the fastest color vision of all animals, according to new research appearing in the Journal of Neuroscience. The ability...
Staying the course: fruit flies employ stabiliser reflex to recover from midflight stumbles
Observing the aerial manoeuvres of fruit flies, Cornell University researchers have uncovered how the insects - when disturbed by sharp gusts of wind - right themselves and stay on course....
Gene-based stem cell therapy specifically removes cell receptor that attracts HIV
UCLA AIDS Institute researchers successfully removed CCR5 - a cell receptor to which HIV-1 binds for infection but which the human body does not need - from human cells. Individuals...
Asexual plant reproduction may seed new approach for agriculture
Farmers throughout the world spend an estimated $36 billion a year to buy seeds for crops, especially those with sought after traits such as hardiness and pest-resistance. They can't grow...
Gladstone scientists identify key protein in energy regulation
With obesity and obesity-related diseases epidemic in the developed world, a clear understanding of how metabolism is regulated is crucial. One of the key metabolic pathways involves the oxidation of...
Bacterial balance that keeps us healthy
The thousands of bacteria, fungi and other microbes that live in our gut are essential contributors to our good health. They break down toxins, manufacture some vitamins and essential amino...
Age, gender can affect risk to radiation treatment
Doctors have a clearer picture than ever before of how much radiation reaches sensitive tissues during routine X-rays and similar imaging, thanks to sophisticated models of the human body being...
Protein shown to be natural inhibitor of ageing in fruit fly model
Scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, have identified a protein called Sestrin that serves as a natural inhibitor of ageing and age-related pathologies in fruit...
Improved near-real-time tracking of 2010 El Nino reveals marine life reductions
The ongoing El Nino of 2010 is affecting north Pacific Ocean ecosystems in ways that could affect the West Coast fishing industry, according to scientists at NOAA and Scripps Institution...
Molecule tells key brain cells to grow up, get to work, Stanford study shows
About four out of every 10 cells in the brain are so-called oligodendrocytes. These cells produce the all-important myelin that coats nerve tracts, ensuring fast, energy-efficient transmission of nerve impulses....
Antifreeze proteins can stop ice melting, Queen's professors find
The same antifreeze proteins that keep organisms from freezing in cold environments can also prevent ice from melting at warmer temperatures, according to a new Queen's University study...
Why female moths are big and beautiful
In most animal species, males and females show obvious differences in body size. But how can this be, given that both sexes share the same genes governing their growth? University...
U.S. feds snooping on Facebook
A recently released document shows how U.S. federal investigators are using Facebook - and MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter - to gather evidence and uncover suspects' private information.
The mode of action of certain toxins that accumulate in seafood
Toxins released by certain microalgae can contaminate fish and shellfish which then become toxic to humans. Researchers have, for the first time, identified the mechanisms of action of two of...
1.6 million acres of California land designated as habitat for endangered frog
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday designated 1.6 million acres in California as critical habitat for the endangered red-legged frog, made famous by Mark Twain in his story...
Letters: We depend on a diversity of species
George Monbiot (All these common English species we've driven them towards extinction, 16 March) rightly draws attention to yet more reports about loss of species. But he doesn't highlight the urgent importance of...
Recipes for Health: Portobello and Fried Egg Panino
Have the portabellos in your refrigerator seen better days? This simple sandwich is a satisfying solution.
Shark Conservation Proposal Defeated
China And Japan Help Defeat Proposal Boosting Shark Conservation Efforts At UN Meeting