Latest science news in Biology & Nature
New species of mushroom discovered
SAN FRANCISCO, June 18 (UPI) -- A new species of mushroom found on the African island of Sao Tome has been named after California Academy of Sciences curator...
Weird salamander may yield hope for amputees
Scientists are genetically modifying a bizarre looking Mexican salamander in the hope its ability to regenerate body parts will one day help human amputees.
Butterfly that mimics ants gives conservation clue
OSLO (Reuters) - A blue butterfly died out in Britain 30 years ago because of disruptions to a life cycle that includes pretending to be an ant, according to a...
TRAPping Proteins That Work Together Inside Living Cells
Researchers trying to understand how and which proteins work together have developed a new crosslinking tool that is small and unobtrusive enough to use in live cells. Using the new...
Cancer cells separated from normal cells
EVANSTON, Ill., June 17 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have created a method that can direct and separate cancer cells from normal cells, suggesting a new method of treating...
New Mechanism Fundamental To The Spread Of Invasive Yeast Infections Identified
Researchers have identified a novel regulatory gene network that plays an important role in the spread of common, and sometimes deadly, fungal infections. The findings establish the role of Zap1...
Calcium: The Secret To Honeybees' Memory
Long-term memory formation in honeybees is instigated by a calcium ion cascade. Researchers have shown that calcium acts as a switch between short- and long-term storage of learned information.
"Ugly" Salamander Among New Species Found in Ecuador
A bug-eyed salamander and a colorful poison frog are among 12 species possibly new to science recently found in the mountains of Ecuador. Video.
Global warming creates problems for birds
LONDON, June 17 (UPI) -- British scientists say some African bird species could encounter relocation problems in their struggle to survive global warming.
Trees take on tissue engineering
Italian scientists have turned wood into bone mimics that could be used to repair damaged limbs
What limits the size of birds?
Why aren't birds larger? Fifteen-kilogram swans hold the current upper size record for flying birds, although the extinct Argentavis of the Miocene Epoch in Argentina is estimated to have weighed...
Test detects molecular marker of aging in humans
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- In 2004, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center announced a crucial discovery in the understanding of cellular...
Gating the tides in yeast
Water is a crucial ingredient for life, but its level inside cells must be carefully regulated to maintain proper cell shape and size. In this week's issue of the open...
Baboon mums exploit 'chaperones'
Male and female baboons form platonic friendships. But while the females clearly benefit, it is a mystery what males get from such relationships.
Instant insight: Detecting danger
Can science end the threat of terrorism? Michael Knapp and Meaghan Germain explain chemistry's key role
Brain energy use key to understanding consciousness
High levels of brain energy are required to maintain consciousness, a finding which suggests a new way to understand the properties of this still mysterious state of being, Yale University...
How A Protein Helps Nerve Cells Recycle Synaptic Vesicles
Neurons transmit electrical signals efficiently only when they recycle neurotransmitter-carrying vesicles that have been expelled into the synapse. Researchers now report that the recycling of vesicles is controlled by oligophrenin-1,...
Gene Vital To Early Embryonic Cells Forming A Normal Heart And Skull
New research highlights the critical role a certain gene and its protein play during early embryonic development on formation of a normal heart and skull.
Researchers to monitor bonobo reintroduction
American researchers who have been studying the rare and threatened bonobo ape will lead monitoring efforts after a group of orphan bonobos are returned to the wild in the Congo...
Biologist discovers new moth species
TUCSON, June 15 (UPI) -- University of Arizona Professor Bruce Walsh has identified a new species of moth in southern Arizona -- one of United States' most biologically...
Health-related loss in salmon farming
Arnfinn Aunsmo showed in his doctorate that health-related loss in modern salmon farming may be systematically monitored and quantified, both in biological and economical terms...
Q & A: Birds of a Feather
How do birds know which species they are? That is, how do they recognize one another so they can flock together?
Survey: Far More Conservatives Than Liberals
Forty percent of Americans call themselves conservative. But only 23 percent of Americans are Republican.
Genetic code cracked of organisms behind fungal disease
Scientists have unlocked the code for the building blocks of fungal organisms which are responsible for mild as well as potentially deadly infections in people.
NASA-JPL Scientist Elected to National Academy of Engineering
In one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to engineers and scientists, the National Academy of Engineering has elected Moustafa T. Chahine, a senior research scientist at JPL as a...
Q and A: A Green Comet
We hear a lot about "going green" these days. The latest to join in the trend is comet Lulin, which is making an appearance in the nighttime sky this...
A Universal Art Form: NASA's Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2
Throughout history, humanity has been moved by the work of the great artists of their age.
World's Fastest Flyer Is a Hummingbird?
If size matters, the male Anna's hummingbird is faster than a peregrine falcon, moving like a "magenta fireball" at 385 times his own body length a second, new research reveals....