Last update:

Examining embryo model ethics beyond box-checking

In science, ethical guidelines ensure that research takes place in a way that respects public trust and is conducted responsibly. Traditional ethics approval procedures work well for projects following established practices, ...

A 'stemness checkpoint' helps control stem cell identity

A study published in Cell Research advances a central idea in stem cell biology by identifying a checkpoint that controls the identity of many different types of stem cells across developmental stages. For nearly two decades, ...

Cell 'snowball' may be answer to large-scale tissue engineering

Cell cultures—single layers of cells grown in a small dish—have enabled researchers to study biological growth, develop or test drugs and even discover what causes some diseases. Cell spheroids, 3D versions of cell cultures ...

Stopping algae blooms with bacteria-busting buoys

Algae blooms make a pond's surface shine in mesmerizing green hues. But if the microorganisms responsible are cyanobacteria, they can also release toxins that harm humans and wildlife alike. A team reporting in ACS ES&T Water ...

Seed banks may complicate gene drives aimed at controlling weeds

Gene drives—a genetic engineering approach that quickly spreads specific genetic changes throughout a population, whether to kill it off or add a new trait—may have potential for controlling weeds. But so far, gene drives ...

More news

Plants & Animals
Engineered tobacco plant can produce five psychedelics, including psilocybin and DMT
Cell & Microbiology
Engineered E. coli dependency may help contain microbes to defined areas
Biotechnology
Watering smarter, not more: A modern-day robotic divining rod
Biotechnology
Software package makes gene regulation easier to study—and tweak
Biotechnology
Omics consortium established to supercharge climate-adapted wheat breeding
Biotechnology
Nature's photocopiers caught 'doodling'—scientists say it could revolutionize how DNA is written
Cell & Microbiology
SimCells successfully target and kill drug-resistant bacteria
Biotechnology
Introducing a new citizen science nature app that's geared towards the scientific community
Biotechnology
Unlocking designer roots for future cereal crops
Ecology
A new way to eavesdrop on ocean temperature in the Arctic
Biotechnology
Teaching robots to harvest asparagus
Biotechnology
Light switch for life: Controlling molecular droplets with UV
Cell & Microbiology
Soil bacteria break down toxic chemicals in the environment
Plants & Animals
Seals use whisker movement to follow underwater trails—an approach that could improve robotic sensing
Biotechnology
Who do you think you are? What DNA tests reveal—and what they don't
Cell & Microbiology
Implantable 'living pharmacy' produces multiple drugs inside the body
Biotechnology
Designing proteins by their motion, not just their shape
Biotechnology
Understanding protein motion could greatly aid new drug design
Biotechnology
Why use living cells? Researchers are making chemicals with enzymes alone
Cell & Microbiology
New synthetic origin of replication lets multiple plasmids coexist in one bacterial cell

Other news

Social Sciences
Hat wars of early modern England reveal how manners make the rebel
Environment
Street green space can help cool cities, but it will not be enough on its own
Environment
Non-producing oil and gas wells may emit microbial methane at rates 1,000 times higher than previously estimated
Plants & Animals
Chimpanzee empire falls apart in rare instance of division and deadly violence
Optics & Photonics
Megawatt structured light arrives with 3,070 optical vortices in one array
Evolution
Mammal ancestors laid eggs—and this 250-million-year-old fossil proves it
Analytical Chemistry
Plant-inspired water membrane filters CO₂ with constant selectivity and adjustable permeance
Archaeology
No more giants, no more heavy handaxes: Why early humans downsized their stone tools
Nanomaterials
Carbon nanotube fiber sensors achieve record measurement error below 0.1%
Social Sciences
Integrative experiment design reveals hidden patterns in decades-old social science research
Cell & Microbiology
Liquid-like histone H1 'glues' nucleosomes, reshaping how DNA compacts
Analytical Chemistry
Hydroxyl radicals in UV-exposed water reveal surprising reaction pathway
Biochemistry
Nickel catalyst enables precision mirror-image assembly for key drug scaffolds
Ecology
Simple vineyard growing practice impacts soil microbiome deep below surface
Molecular & Computational biology
A smarter way to build vaccines: Scientists harness AI to target emerging alphaviruses
Plants & Animals
African swine fever: A novel model assesses transmission between domestic pigs and wild boar
Earth Sciences
Hidden ocean feedback loop could accelerate climate change
Plants & Animals
Oxygen sensing helps explain why amphibians regenerate limbs but mammals cannot
Earth Sciences
Deadly heat thresholds have already being crossed in six recent heat waves, study shows
Ecology
Wildlife trade increases pathogen transmission: What 40 years of data say about spillover

Lab-grown algae remove microplastics from water

A University of Missouri researcher is pioneering an innovative solution to remove tiny bits of plastic pollution from our water. Mizzou's Susie Dai recently applied a revolutionary strain of algae toward capturing and removing ...

Intelligent sensors created for quality-assured cell production

Whether for drug screening or toxicity testing, stem cell-based 3D tissue models are key to biomedical research. However, producing cell aggregates in bioreactors is highly complex and cost-intensive. Until now, quality has ...

A world-first mouse that makes gene activity visible

DNA can be thought of as a vast library that stores all genetic information. Cells do not use this information all at once. Instead, they copy only the necessary parts into RNA, which is then used to produce proteins—the ...