Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Japan set deadline to end whaling
Australia tells Japan to stop whaling in the Southern Ocean by November this year or face international legal action.
Scientists image brain at point when vocal learning begins
Scientists have imaged living juvenile songbird brains at the moment the brains heard a tutor's mating song. Instead of staying plastic and dynamic after hearing the song, the bird's neurons...
Crickets warn unborn babies about spiders
SPARTANBURG, S.C., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've discovered crickets are able to warn their unborn babies about predator threats.
Genomic map spanning over two dozen cancers charted
Researchers have created a genome-scale map of 26 different cancers, revealing more than 100 genomic sites where DNA from tumors is either missing or abnormally duplicated compared to normal tissues....
Hairy secret of foraging plants discovered
(PhysOrg.com) -- The genes that control the hairy 'mining machine' that makes some plants better at finding nutrients in poor soils than others have been discovered by scientists from Oxford...
Southern African genomes sequenced: Benefits for human health expected
Human genomes from Southern African Bushmen and a Bantu individual, Archbishop Tutu, have been sequenced by scientists seeking a greater understanding of human genetic variation and its effect on human...
New type of genetic variation could strengthen natural selection
The unexpected discovery of a new type of genetic variation suggests that natural selection -- the force that drives evolution -- is both more powerful and more complex than scientists...
Genome sequencing of 3 parasitoid wasp species
An international consortium of scientists, including Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) researcher Deodoro Oliveira, have sequenced the genome of three species of parasitoid wasps of the genus Nasonia. The research...
Study: Coral loss slowed, reversed by marine protected areas (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new worldwide study shows marine protected areas (MPAs), underwater parks where fishing and other potentially harmful activities are regulated, provide an added bonus - helping coral reef...
Pudgy Birds May Migrate Faster
Fat birds migration faster than thin ones because they spend less time re-fueling their fat reserves, a new study suggests.
Gene Expression Variability Gives Rise To Incomplete Penetrance
Biologists have struggled for many years to explain how it is possible that some people who carry a mutated gene don't express the trait or condition associated with the mutation....
Sorting the drivers from the passengers in the cancer genome
A new study of mutations in cancer genomes shows how researchers can begin to distinguish the 'driver' mutations that push cells towards cancer from the 'passenger' mutations that are a...
Insecticide beats DDT in early trials
An insecticide modified to boost its effectiveness and longevity works better than DDT, say malaria researchers.
Officials search for Asian carp in Chicago area
(AP) -- Wildlife officials have begun their hunt for the destructive Asian carp in Chicago-area waterways.
Anti-inflammatory signal protein discovered
Researchers have discovered a protein that is crucial in mediating the anti-inflammatory actions of nuclear lipid receptors. The findings link lipid metabolism and inflammation and open up new possibilities for...
New assay helps track termites and other insects
A newly developed method to safely and reliably mark termites and other insects over vast acreage so their movements can be tracked is just as effective as the previous method...
Computer simulation of protein malfunction related to Alzheimer's disease
Researchers at Universitat Autňnoma de Barcelona (UAB, Spain) and University of Stockholm (Sweden) have created a computer modelling of the structural malfunctioning of the ApoE4 protein when it enters into...
Haiti Earthquake Science Organized
The United Nations has formed a joint taskforce of both Haitian and international experts... [Read more]
Fluorescent probes light up cancerous tumours
Building on his Nobel Prize-winning work creating fluorescent proteins that light up the inner workings of cells, a team of researchers led by Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Roger Tsien,...
New Muscles and Pounds Boost an American Ice Dancer’s Outlook
Tanith Belbin, who with Ben Agosto finished second in ice dancing at the 2006 Games, said that educating herself about nutrition has made all the difference in her skating this...
Barley protein concentrate could replace fishmeal in aquaculture feeds
Scientists have developed a barley protein concentrate that could be fed to trout and other commercially produced fish.
New spiny pocket mouse species discovered
Biologists have reported the existence of a new species of spiny pocket mouse, from Venezuela, Heteromys catopterius.
Ancient giant cattle genome first
Scientists are publishing details of their research of the DNA of large wild cattle that died out almost 400 years ago.
New snake identification guide can help Florida residents enjoy the outdoors
(PhysOrg.com) -- As spring arrives, Floridians become more active outdoors -- and so do snakes.
Major Australian "Bush Blitz" Initiative To Search Continent For Undiscovered Species
Australia has hosted a wide range of weird creatures, from rabid wombats to Yahoo Serious. And now, the Australian government wants to see what other interesting critters are hiding out on that island....
Green Teas: Not All Are Created Equal or Equally Preferred
Green tea is quickly becoming the tea of choice for health conscious consumers with U.S. tea drinkers preferring green tea with lower flavor and bitterness intensity, according to a new...
Colored Chickpeas: The Next Functional Food
Colored chickpeas have significantly higher antioxidant qualities than the regular cream and beige color varieties, according to a new study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute...
Varied landscapes help insect conservation
YORK, England, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- British researchers say they've demonstrated rugged, hilly landscapes with diverse habitat types lead to more stable butterfly populations.