Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Prion protein in cell culture
The fatal brain disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob in humans, BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in cattle and scrapie in sheep are so-called prion diseases, whereby one of the body's normal proteins, the prion...
Scientists say evolution shapes ecology
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say an experiment with two populations of guppies shows evolution's influence on ecology can be as great as the converse.
Scientists ID a protein that splices and dices genes
A novel finding, described 4 February on the Science Express Web site by teams from the National Cancer Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Centre at San Antonio and...
Nuclear pore complexes harbour new class of gene regulators
Nuclear pore complexes are best known as the communication channels that regulate the passage of all molecules to and from a cell's nucleus. Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological...
York study maps the effects of acupuncture on the brain
Important new research about the effects of acupuncture on the brain may provide an understanding of the complex mechanisms of acupuncture and could lead to a wider acceptability of the...
Research finds water movements can shape fish evolution
Researchers from the University of Minnesota have found that the hydrodynamic environment of fish can shape their physical form and swimming style. The research, available on the Journal of Experimental...
UCSF researchers identify regulator of human sperm cells
UCSF researchers have identified an elusive molecular regulator that controls the ability of human sperm to reach and fertilise the egg, a finding that has implications on both treating male...
Tiny Bubbles Destroy Cancer Cells
Scientists have discovered a new technique for destroying cancer cells with tiny bubbles, or "nanobubbles."
Insects migrate in wind highways
Migrating insects use highways in the sky to speed their journey, according to a study published in Science magazine.
Video of virus in action shows viruses can spread faster than thought possible
New video footage of a virus infecting cells is challenging what researchers have long believed about how viruses spread, suggesting that scientists may be able to create new drugs to...
Melatonin precursor stimulates growth factor circuits in brain
N-acetylserotonin, the immediate precursor to melatonin, activates the same growth circuits in the brain as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). The results have implications for how some antidepressants function and suggest...
Commercial fishing endangers dolphin populations, new study finds
Extensive commercial fishing endangers dolphin populations in the Mediterranean, according to a new study by researchers in Israel.
'Zen' bats hit their target by not aiming at it
New research shows Egyptian fruit bats find a target by NOT aiming their guiding sonar directly at it. Instead, they alternately point the sound beam to either side of the...
Maths explains biodiversity
A mathematical model has been used to better understand the natural diversity of species in native habitats.
Palm losing pace with Pre Plus
When Palm launched the Pre smartphone last June, I considered it a close second to the iPhone in the race for best smartphone on the market.
Declined: Pika won't be protected species
Federal officials decide not to provide endangered species protections to the American pika, a tiny, mountain-dwelling animal thought to be struggling because of climate change. Climate...
Can Thin Mountain Air Make You Slim?
High living--in the topographical sense--causes weight loss, a study suggests [Read more]
Invasive snail may damage diet of rare Everglades bird
(PhysOrg.com) -- Invasive animals often wreak havoc with their feeding habits; however, University of Florida researchers say a huge South American snail is causing problems when it`s the prey rather...
Bees see your face as a strange flower
Bees can learn to recognize human faces, or at least face-like patterns, a new study suggests. Rather than specifically recognizing people, these nectar-feeding creatures view us as "strange flowers," the...
Moss helps chart the conquest of land by plants
Clues to how the first land plants managed to avoid drying out might be provided by bryophytes, a group that includes the mosses, many of which retain remarkable drought tolerance....
How sperm get a move on; discovery suggests new target for male contraception
Most of us probably think of sperm as rather active little cells, swimming with quick movements of their "tail" or flagella. But actually sperm's motility is in fact short lived....
Potential evolutionary role for same-sex attraction
Male homosexuality doesn't make complete sense from an evolutionary point of view. One possible explanation is what evolutionary psychologists call the "kin selection hypothesis." What that means is that homosexuality...
Scientists Complete Color Palette Of Anchiornis Huxleyi
Writing in the latest issue of Science, researchers say they have identified the vibrant colors that adorned Anchiornis huxleyi, a feathered dinosaur extinct for 150 million years. The discovery may...
Migrating moths find friendly airflows
British scientists using radar to track high-flying moths have found that migrating insects can seek out favourable winds and travel at speeds up to 100 km/h.
Open-source science takes on neglected disease
Chemist launches collaborative project to make more potent form of much-needed drug.
Hawaiian bird deaths may trigger lawsuit
LIHUE, Hawaii, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Four Hawaiian organizations and the American Bird Conservancy say they might file a lawsuit over the continuing deaths of rare native seabirds.
In Pictures: a new side to sloths
Pictures released by biologist Bryson Voirin reveal the many sides to the world's slowest mammal, the sloth.
Exploring the characteristics of viscoelastic fluids
(PhysOrg.com) -- There are many microorganisms out there, navigating through complex biological fluids. `One of the most common migrations takes place with spermatozoa as it navigates the female reproductive tract,`...