Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Petunias and potatoes may be carnivorous
Carnivorous behavior may be far more widespread in plants than commonly thought — if we take a closer look, botanists said. Potato - Plant - Home...
Gene module identified in atherosclerosis
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Medical scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden say they have discovered a gene module underlying the development of atherosclerosis.
Enzyme advances heart-related research
IOWA CITY, Iowa, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've used a new mathematical model of heart cells to show how activation of an enzyme disrupts the electrical...
Light shed on mechanism of action of 'date rape drug'
Scientists have discovered two new metabolic pathways by which products of lipid peroxidation and some drugs of abuse, known as 4-hydroxyacids, are metabolized. The pathways were identified by a combination...
Muscle cell infusion shown to strengthen sphincters in animals in Stanford study
A new study shows that muscle cells grown in the lab can restore an intestine's ability to squeeze shut properly. The work, performed in dogs and rats, might ultimately help...
How nutrition affects healthy ageing
A new study of the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing could help to understand the positive effect of dietary restriction on healthy ageing. Previous evidence from different organisms...
Stem cells battle for space
The body is a battle zone. Cells constantly compete with one another for space and dominance. Though the manner in which some cells win this competition is well known to...
Key seed size gene identified
Scientists have identified a plant gene that determines overall seed size, and are now investigating how it could be used to for the improvement of crops.
Diabetic flies: Fruit fly model helps unravel genetics of human diabetes
Researchers are using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model system to unravel what genes and gene pathways are involved in the metabolic changes that lead to insulin resistance...
Cell biology and computer science: a logical marriage
Anyone that has ever tried to write a rate equation for an enzymatic reaction in a biological process knows that it often disperses into a series of overwhelming, unintelligible numbers....
New clues into how invasive parasite spreads
Researchers have discovered a possible strategy against Toxoplasma gondii, an invasive parasite that infects more than a quarter of the world's population, including 50 million Americans.
Cholera Epidemic Infects Thousands in Kenya
The most stricken areas are the arid swaths of northern Kenya, which were hit this year by a devastating drought, and where many are surviving off dirty water.
Science Briefing
Herbicide atrazine hinders frog development / NASA analyzing Ares I-X rocket parachute failure ...
An Introduction to Monkey Grammar?
Primates produce new alarm calls in a way that might resemble human language [Read more]
EPA Set to Regulate Wastewater from Coal-Fired Power Plants
Next to a national wildlife refuge, Indiana’s Gibson Lake provides a prime fishery for bass and an attractive rest spot for hundreds of species of birds, including endangered ...
The hunt for a perfect fishy father
Female scissortail sergeants assess potential partners with 'test' eggs.
Hepatitis C drug tested in chimps
Scientists in the U.S. and Denmark have found that an experimental drug to treat hepatitis C works in chimpanzees.
Bird Courtship
Gail Patricelli studies the courtship behavior of the endangered sage-grouse. She has a robotic female sage-grouse (fembot!) rigged with cameras to get right up close to courting males.
Elusive protein points to mechanism behind hearing loss
A serendipitous discovery in zebra fish larvae born deaf has helped narrow down the function of an elusive protein necessary for hearing and balance. In addition to unveiling a potential...
How to read brain activity?
(PhysOrg.com) -- For the very first time, scientists show what EEG can really tell us about how the brain functions.
Researcher quits over science agency interference
Australian research funding body under fire for ordering major changes to a peer-reviewed paper.
TOP TEN PHOTO GALLERIES: Most Viewed of 2009
See National Geographic News's most popular photo galleries of 2009, starring a fish with a see-through head, seven major missing links since Darwin, glowing animals, ten failed apocalypses, and more.
New Peas Unfazed by Viral Bully
(PhysOrg.com) -- Four advanced dry pea breeding lines that tolerate the pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) -- a `scourge` of Pacific West pea crops -- have been identified by Agricultural...
Where are the female scientists in research articles?
A recent study has shown something that was already obvious to its scientific community -- the extreme imbalance between the visibility of its male and female scientists.
ACC Bulks Up
Trade group seeks smaller members as chemical industry's fortunes improve.
Fish swishing mixes the oceans
Mathematicians enter the debate on whether marine swimmers stir the seas
C-H bond activation takes the relaxing route
US researchers discover that C-H bond reactivity is linked to whether the bond’s activation will reduce strain in the molecule
Crew plans to cut rope to free Hawaii whale
(AP) -- Marine sanctuary officials planned to return to Hawaii waters with modified equipment Friday to try to cut loose a young humpback whale entangled in several hundred yards...