Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Potential for using algae to produce human therapeutic proteins shown
Pharmaceutical companies could substantially reduce the expense of costly treatments for cancer and other diseases produced from mammalian or bacterial cells by growing these human therapeutic proteins in algae --...
Immune system cells use membrane nanotubes
LONDON, March 10 (UPI) -- British scientists say they've discovered immune cells can ensnare tumor and other dangerous cells by using bungee-like membrane nanotubes.
King Cobra venom may lead to a new drug
SINGAPORE, March 10 (UPI) -- Singaporean scientists say a protein discovered in the venom of the King Cobra, the world's largest venomous snake, may lead to development of a...
Why chameleon tongues work in the cold (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- In cold weather a chameleon`s metabolism slows down, but its tongue continues to work quickly to capture prey. A new study has found out why: the tongue does...
New worm species found in Great Barrier Reef
Four newly identified worm species, including one that sports an unusual green color, have been found wriggling in the sands of the Great Barrier Reef. Great...
Recipes for Health: Greens and Mushroom Panini
When you blanch the greens, these panini make for a quick and wonderful meal.
Mathematical approach to immune cell analysis seen as first step to better distinguish health and disease
Researchers have developed a new mathematical approach to analyze molecular data derived from complex mixtures of immune cells. This approach, when combined with well-established techniques, readily identifies changes in small...
Gene-Birth Midwives
A team of Georgia Institute of Technology scientists are reporting that molecules they term "unselfish" may have midwifed the birth of life's original (sometimes called "selfish") genes. The Georgia Tech...
New light shed on how retina's hardware is used in color vision
Biologists have identified, in greater detail, how the retina's cellular hardware is used in color preference. The findings enhance our understanding of how eyes and the brain process color.
Speed Reading of DNA May Help Cancer Treatment
If altered bits of genetic material could be picked up in a patient’s bloodstream, they would serve as a direct and sensitive marker of cancer.
Like little golden assassins, 'smart' nanoparticles identify, target and kill cancer cells
Another weapon in the arsenal against cancer: nanoparticles that identify, target and kill specific cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone.
Geraniums may control Japanese beetles
WOOSTER, Ohio, March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. agriculture researchers say geraniums might hold the key to controlling Japanese beetles, which feed on nearly 300 plant species.
Old Enemy Might Help to Prevent Alzheimer’s
Harvard researchers are taking a new look at beta amyloid, which was thought to be a chief villain in Alzheimer’s whose function was that of a waste product in the...
NXP introduces ESD protection device for USB 3.0 and eSATA
NXP Semiconductors today announced the availability of a new ESD protection device, the IP4284CZ10, for high speed differential interfaces such as USB 3.0 and eSATA. The IP4284CZ10 offers the industry`s...
Asexual plant reproduction may seed new approach for agriculture
A scientist has moved a step closer to turning sexually-reproducing plants into asexual reproducers, a finding that could have profound implications for agriculture.
Infectious virus hidden in chromosomes during latency can be passed from parents to children
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infects nearly 100 percent of humans in early childhood, and the infection then lasts for the rest of a person's life. Now, a team led...
European Chemicals Agency Proposes Expanded Regulations
Chemical Controls: Trichloroethylene and seven other compounds targeted.
Gene discovered for newly recognized disease in Amish children
The gene for a newly recognized disease has been identified thanks to the determination of an Amish father and physicians who specializes in disorders of the Amish. The identification of...
Breakthrough blueprint for studying differentiation and evolution with new atlas of transcription factor combinations
In a significant leap forward in the understanding of how specific types of tissue are determined to develop in mammals, an international team of scientists has succeeded in mapping the...
Bacterial product isolated in soil from Easter Island rescues learning, memory in Alzheimer's mouse model
A new study offers the first evidence that the drug rapamycin -- a bacterial product first isolated in soil from Easter Island -- is able to reverse Alzheimer's disease-like deficits...
Heterogeneous Online Communities More Likely To Survive
The more heterogeneous the community of an online chat channel, the more chances the channel has to survive over time, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University...
Soil microbes more antibiotic resistant
NEWCASTLE, England, March 8 (UPI) -- A team of British and Dutch scientists say they've found disturbing evidence that soil microbes are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
FOR KIDS: Whales may round up squid for dinner
Tracking sperm whale movements suggests groups herd to hunt
What should goldenrod do to avoid an insect attack? Duck
A field of golden-flowered stems swaying in an autumn breeze may evoke a peaceful scene. But this tranquility belies serious battles between natural enemies that took place in the spring....
Biochemist researching computer models of protein structure that help high school, college students
An award from the National Science Foundation will boost a Kansas State University professor's contribution to the study of proteins while also helping college and high school science teachers learn...
Effective Imitation: New chitinase inhibitors
(PhysOrg.com) -- The chitin-degrading enzymes known as chitinases are not just important to insects with chitin shells and to their predators, they also seem to be involved in the establishment...
El Nino may affect West Coast fisheries
LA JOLLA, Calif., March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say better satellite tracking shows the El Nino affecting the northern Pacific Ocean is reducing marine life and the number...
Strength is shore thing for sea shell scientists
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have made synthetic 'sea shells' from a mixture of chalk and polystyrene cups - and produced a tough new material that could make our homes and offices...