Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Study: Gout gene forms blood urate
BALTIMORE, June 24 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say a gene previously identified as causing gout can lead to high concentrations of blood urate that forms crystals in joint...
Smallest acid droplet formed
Single molecules of HCl will fully dissociate in just four molecules of water
Snake Tricks Prey
The tentacled snake uses a body fake to trick fish into fleeing toward the snake's head, instead of to safety.
Generation of a severe memory-deficit mutant mouse by exclusively eliminating the kinase activity of CaMKIIalpha
Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha (CaMKII alpha) is an enzyme that adds phosphates to a variety of protein substrates to modify their functions. CaMKII alpha is enriched in the...
BRIT1 allows DNA repair teams access to damaged sites
Like a mechanic popping the hood of a car to get at a faulty engine, a tumour-suppressing protein allows cellular repair mechanisms to pounce on damaged DNA by overcoming a...
Illegal ivory trade thrives in Thailand
BANGKOK, June 19 (UPI) -- Legal loopholes and inadequate law enforcement have made Thailand the largest illegal ivory market in Asia, wildlife advocates said Friday.
Canadian turtle makes it to Colombia
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, June 19 (UPI) -- Canadian researchers in Halifax, Nova Scotia, say they're thrilled a rare leatherback sea turtle they tagged and released last summer turned...
Video: Tiny AMOLED Screens In Your Passport Make Your Head Spin
Samsung has come up with the flashiest anti-counterfeiting tech we've seen yet: forget boring old RFID chips--the AMOLED e-passport concept looks has a 2-inch, paper-thin, QVGA-resolution flexible display embedded in...
Printing artificial cells
In a step towards cell mimics, an inkjet printer is being used to make lipid-coated balls containing proteins
NOAA report finds threats to California's Cordell Bank Marine Sanctuary
A new NOAA report on the health of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary indicates that the overall condition of the sanctuary's marine life and habitats is fair to good, but...
Generics For Biologics
Federal Trade Commission favors earlier generic competition for protein drugs.
Mosquito fish count comrades to stay alive
Study finds signs of a basic number sense that may aid survival in the wild
Dad: More than Just a Guy with Sperm
Biology has underestimated the role of fathers in making babies. Society has too, especially when it comes to child-rearing. That should change.
'Unlimited Potential' Seen in Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineer Niren Murthy helps design cutting-edge chemicals for the detection and treatment of diseases.
'Weedy' Bird Species May Win As Temperatures Rise
Climate change is altering North American winter bird communities in ways that models currently favored by ecologists fail to predict. Current distributions of animals among different climate zones suggest that,...
Scientists at Harbor Branch Collaborate with Egypt to Advance Marine Research in the Red Sea
Under the U.S.- Egypt Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, scientists from Harbor Branch have signed an agreement to work with scientists from Egypt on a range of oceanographic projects including...
The plant that pretends to be ill
A plant that feigns sickness to stop it being attacked by insect pests has been found growing in the rainforests of Ecuador.
Size did matter -- evidence of giant sperm found in microfossils
In the competition for a partner, males typically have to vie with each other – be it with a colorful plumage, a large set of antlers or a seductive courtship dance. The...
'Ballooning' spiders grounded by infection
Money spiders infected with Rickettsia bacteria are less likely to 'balloon' – that is, to use their silk as sails to catch gusts of wind and travel long distances. Researchers...
Scientists capture the first image of memories being made
The ability to learn and to establish new memories is essential to our daily existence and identity; enabling us to navigate through the world. A new study by researchers at...
Partial walrus estimate alarms conservation group
(AP) -- A partial federal assessment of Pacific walruses estimates their minimum population at just 15,164 but says the count likely missed a number of animals.
Natural Computing And Synthetic Biology Techniques Advanced For Treating Diseases
Researchers have designed a biomolecular automaton and several genetic circuits with potential future applications in the field of vanguard medicine. Depending on how it is programmed, the molecular automaton detects...
Whales Tagged to Prevent Collisions
In the busy waters off Massachusetts, researchers are hand-tagging humpback whales to learn how to protect the species from potentially lethal collisions with ships. Video.
WEEK IN PHOTOS: Tomato Fight, Toxic Lake, More
See an ultralight hang glider fly in formation with cranes, a bright-green Chinese lake, and hundreds of thousands protesting in Iran in this week's selection of the best news pictures.
FATHER'S DAY PICTURES: "Best" Animal Dads
"Pregnant" seahorses, ferocious egg-carrying water bugs, and midwife monkeys—meet some of the dedicated fathers that are rarities in the animal kingdom.
Giant Sperm Is Ancient Evolutionary Tool, Study Finds
With giant sperm up to ten times its body length, the male seed shrimp is the beneficiary of an evolutionary adaptation tens of millions of years in the making, a new study...
Sonic twittering helps shrews find their way
Shrews use a primitive form of sonar to navigate their cluttered habitats of underbrush, according to a new study.
Gorilla wields knife but not for warfare
It may look like gorilla warfare, but officials say the knife-wielding primate photographed by visitors to the Calgary Zoo had no violent intent.