Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Cleopatra's Eye Makeup Warded Off Infections?
Thick coats of black and green eye makeup partially made from lead may have boosted the immune systems of ancient Egyptians, a new study suggests.
Scientists use next-gen sequencing to discover genetic cause of devastating disorder
Two scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) are part of an international team that has discovered a genetic mutation that causes Joubert Syndrome. JBTS, as it is commonly called,...
For this microbe, cousins not particularly welcome
A bacterial species that depends on cooperation to survive is discriminating when it comes to the company it keeps. Scientists have learned Myxococcus xanthus cells are able to recognize genetic...
How one form of natural vitamin E protects brain after stroke
Blocking the function of an enzyme in the brain with a specific kind of vitamin E can prevent nerve cells from dying after a stroke, new research suggests. In a...
Dog genetic studies reveal why Shar-Peis are wrinkled
(PhysOrg.com) -- There are over 400 genetically different dog breeds, with massive variations in size, colors, fur type, temperament, and so on, and scientists have wondered exactly what changes in...
Software reveals the inner workings of the human genome
(PhysOrg.com) -- A biologist and computer scientist seek sites of RNA editing, a phenomenon that plays a key role in human genetic complexity.
New Spider Species Discovered
A new and previously unknown species of spider has been discovered in the dune of the Sands of Samar in the southern Arava region by a team of scientists from...
New ways to pressure HIV
Two new studies showing that protein bits produced by unusual 'reading' of the HIV genome can induce immune responses will appear online in the Journal of Experimental Medicine on Jan....
Ongoing human evolution could explain recent rise in certain disorders
The subtle but ongoing pressures of human evolution could explain the seeming rise of disorders such as autism, autoimmune diseases, and reproductive cancers, researchers write in the Proceedings of the...
Segregating out UbcH10's role in tumour formation
A ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that regulates the cell cycle promotes chromosome missegregation and tumour formation, according to van Ree et al. in the January 11 issue of the Journal of Cell...
Making Pesticides Out Of Scorpions
Scorpion venom is composed of a complex cocktail of poisonous peptides that immobilize animal prey on the spot. Some of the toxins in this cocktail, however, are only harmful to...
UPI NewsTrack Health and Science News
Russia explores atomic space engine ... Neanderthals wore make-up ... Ancient eyeliner guard against bacteria ... Australia's freshwater crocodiles at risk ... Health/Science news from UPI.
Pandas attempt to mate at National Zoo
Two pandas at the National Zoo attempted to mate before zoo officials determined they had not been successful and artificially inseminated the female, Mei Xiang. Smithsonian...
Cuphea Does Wonders for Wheat and Corn in Rotations
(PhysOrg.com) -- Growing the oilseed plant called cuphea the year before growing wheat results in better wheat seedling survival and grain that is 8 percent higher in protein, according to...
'Wet computer' project kicks off
An EU project to engineer "chemical computers" that mimic the actions of neurons in the brain has begun.
Fisheries: Catch shares improve consistency, not health, of fisheries
Catch share programs result in more consistent and predictable fisheries but do not necessarily improve ecological conditions, according to a new study.
Charles Darwin: More than the origin
Charles Darwin greatly contributed to many specific fields within biology. As the bicentennial anniversary of Darwin's birth comes to a close, the December issue of the American Journal of Botany...
Can a drop of water cause sunburn or fire? Leaves of certain plants are susceptible to leaf burn from too much sun
Why do gardeners say you shouldn't water your plants in the midday sun? Does it really lead to burnt plants or worse? A team of scientists found that water droplets...
Study finds H1N1 virus spreads easily by plane
Viruses love plane travel. They get to fly around the world inside a closed container while their infected carrier breathes and coughs, spreading pathogens to other passengers, either by direct...
Baffin Island caribou sightings few: Inuit
Inuit living on Baffin Island say they're worried about the caribou this winter, as the animals have not been seen at the usual hunting spots.
Locking molecular motors
Dutch scientists have designed a molecular motor that can be locked using an acid and unlocked using a base
Biologists develop efficient genetic modification of human embryonic stem cells
Biologists have developed an efficient way to genetically modify human embryonic stem cells. Their approach, which uses bacterial artificial chromosomes to swap in defective copies of genes, will make possible...
Big freeze 'good for pond life'
Contrary to received wisdom, frozen ponds will not harm most wildlife within, conservationists say.
Well-traveled Wasps Provide Hope For Vanishing Species
They may only be 1.5mm in size, but the tiny wasps that pollinate fig trees can travel over 160km in less than 48 hours, according to new research. The fig...
Sex Life May Hold Key To Honeybee Survival
The number and diversity of male partners a queen honeybee has could help to protect her children from disease, say scientists, who are investigating possible causes of the widespread increase...
UN 'wake-up call' on nature loss
The UN launches a Year of Biodiversity, warning that the on-going loss of species affects human well-being worldwide.
In praise of… Michael Pollan
Few Britons know how to cook with high-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener made by adding enzymes to corn starch. In the US, however, it is ubiquitous in processed food. Just as American farmers...
Mint robot puts shine on hardwood floors
Evolution Robotics is betting that folks with hardwood or tile floors are craving mechanical maids to keep them beautiful.