Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Scientists find gene variant link to aging cells
LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have found specific genetic variants which may explain why some people age earlier than others and say their findings have important implications for understanding cancer and...
Malaria parasite genome studied
SINGAPORE, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Scientists at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University say they have completed the world's first in-depth study of the malaria parasite genome.
Newly engineered enzyme is a powerful staph antibiotic
(PhysOrg.com) -- In the past decade, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, has ushered in a new era in the fight between man and bug. By harnessing the power of nature`s...
Sugar switches involved in cell division
BALTIMORE, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists investigating how cells manage their own division say they've discovered common sugar switches are partly in control.
By tracking water molecules, physicists hope to unlock secrets of life
(PhysOrg.com) -- Compared to any other liquid on Earth, water behaves in strange and unexpected ways, yet its unusual properties enable and protect life as we know it. By tracking...
Virus-free technique enables Stanford scientists to easily make stem cells pluripotent
Tiny circles of DNA are the key to a new and easier way to transform stem cells from human fat into induced pluripotent stem cells for use in regenerative medicine,...
Conservation from space: Landscape diversity helps to conserve insects
Rugged, hilly landscapes with a range of different habitat types can help maintain more stable butterfly populations and thus aid their conservation, according to new findings published today (8 February...
Gene that improves quality of reprogrammed stem cells identified
Scientists report that Tbx3 significantly improves quality of induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem cells reprogrammed from differentiated cells are known as induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS cells.
Humboldt Squid Are Still Not Giant Squid
Oh criminy, are we still confused? Didn't we go over this like a zillion times? Wasn't Deep-Sea News' excellent primer on how Humboldt Squid are Not The Same Thing as...
International protection needed for coral used in jewellery
Countries participating in a major endangered species trade conference in March must back better protections for red and pink coral, which are disappearing because of overfishing to make jewellery...
Carnegie Mellon first to measure energy released from a virus during infection
Within a virus's tiny exterior is a store of energy waiting to be unleashed. When the virus encounters a host cell, this pent-up energy is released, propelling the viral DNA...
How the butterflies got their spots
How two butterfly species have evolved exactly the same striking wing colour and pattern has intrigued biologists since Darwin's day. Now, scientists at Cambridge have found 'hotspots' in the butterflies'...
Bees choose key smells
Researchers have found that bees smell by choosing a few scents out of hundreds, which could be used to encourage pollination.
India successfully tests nuclear-capable missile
(AP) -- India again successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable missile Sunday that can hit targets across much of Asia and the Middle East, a defense ministry statement said.
‘Straight Men, Gay Porn’ and Other Brain Map Mysteries
For most of the last century, neuroscientists were convinced that adult brains were pretty much set. Now, recent neuroscience reveals that our brains are suprisingly plastic throughout our lives. By...
Link between birth defect gastroschisis and the agricultural chemical atrazine found
New findings demonstrate a link between the birth defect gastroschisis and the agricultural chemical atrazine. Gastroschisis is a type of inherited congenital abdominal wall defect in which the intestines, and...
One Bowl = 2 Servings. F.D.A. May Fix That.
The F.D.A. may update serving sizes for foods like chips, cookies and ice cream to reflect how Americans really eat.
Sea Turtles
Sea turtles, salmon, and sharks sometimes travel the width of the ocean to return to their "breeding ground" to reproduce. Biologist Ken Lohmann studies the role magnetic fields play...
How Toads Conquered the World [Slide Show]
Cane toads are seemingly innocuous enough. First imported to Australia to control a beetle pest of sugarcane fields, they are now frog-marching their way across the island continent ,...
AMP Applauds SACGHS on Release of Final Report on DNA Patents
The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) commends the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (SACGHS) for its thoughtful, deliberative exploration into the challenges of gene patents .
Repulsive interactions
(PhysOrg.com) -- The recent state of the roads is a clear illustration of what happens when water freezes into crystals of ice. But despite its frequent occurrence, the crystallisation of...
Birds use feathers 'to touch'
Birds may use their feathers for touch - to feel their surroundings just as cats use their whiskers, scientists find.
Study Reveals Driving Force Behind Cell Evolution
In an article published this week in Science, Monash University biochemists say they have discovered the process by which bacteria developed into more complex cells and that this crucial evolutionary...
Barley protein concentrate could replace fishmeal in aquaculture feeds
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and Montana Microbial Products (MMP) of Butte, Mont., have developed a barley protein concentrate that could be fed to trout and other commercially produced fish.
Mercury detection in fish organs
Trace levels of mercury in fish organs can be detected using a two-photon fluorescent probe
Webcam Viewer Alerts Park to Rhino Birth
Wildlife Park Employees in Scotland Would Have Missed Birth of White Rhino Without Tip of Webcam Viewer
Audio slideshow: Sea drifters
Colourful close up images of plankton - which hold the key to survival in the world's oceans.
Biodiversity loss matters, and communication is crucial
Communicating why biodiversity loss matters for people is essential for reversing it.