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Molecular & Computational biology news
When uncertainty spikes, chasing rewards backfires and a more informed strategy pulls ahead
Humans and other animals are constantly required to make decisions under uncertain conditions or while in rapidly changing environments. Past psychology and biology studies showed that some decision-making strategies can ...
How river DNA can track fish, frogs, fungi and human feces all at once
A single scoop of water from an Irish river has revealed evidence not only of Ireland's only frog species—as expected—but also signs of the dreaded B. dendrobatidis fungus, marking the first time this devastating amphibian ...
Molecular & Computational biology
May 9, 2026
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Lab-evolved cyanobacteria survive minute-by-minute light swings, offering clues to hardier crops
Plant scientist Dario Leister and his team are investigating how cyanobacteria adapt to rapidly changing light intensities. This could help optimize photosynthesis in crops. Photosynthesis is one of the most complex processes ...
Molecular & Computational biology
May 8, 2026
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11
This anti-CRISPR stops the protein assembly line in bacteria
Bacteria fend off invading viruses with molecular scissors that slice up viral DNA—a system called CRISPR that's become indispensable to gene editing. But viruses can fight back with a molecular trick that stops the scissors ...
Cell & Microbiology
May 8, 2026
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AI tool unifies fragmented cell maps into spatial atlases across tissues
A new computational method could dramatically accelerate efforts to map the body's cells in space, according to a study published in Nature Genetics. Spatial multi-omics technologies—often described as ultra-high-resolution ...
Biotechnology
May 7, 2026
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30
From pantry to pest control: Garlic kills the mood for mosquitoes as well
Garlic is not a substance that most people consider an aphrodisiac. It turns out that mosquitoes agree. In fact, a new Yale study finds that garlic also functions as a de facto birth control for mosquitoes and other winged ...
Molecular & Computational biology
May 7, 2026
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71
Scientists unlock fungi's secret chemistry, offering a greener path to crop protection
Pesky pests can wreak havoc on plants by chewing leaves, boring into stems, and sucking sap from trees. Beyond the direct damage, they also spread harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can infect and ultimately kill the ...
How cells 'back up' DNA replication to survive severe damage
Every time a cell divides, it must copy its DNA with extraordinary precision. But this process is constantly challenged by DNA damage. Among the most dangerous lesions are DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs), which chemically ...
Cell & Microbiology
May 7, 2026
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15
How evolution sculpts the facial shapes of birds and mammals
Shapes of beaks and snouts come in an extraordinary range of forms, reflecting adaptations to different lifestyles and environments. Yet beneath this diversity lies a paradox: across birds and mammals, faces are built using ...
Evolution
May 7, 2026
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9
Study seeks to stave off mitochondrial dysfunction believed to cause aging
Dysfunction resulting from mitochondrial DNA mutations has been implicated in multiple human pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic syndromes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. The stress from mtDNA ...
Cell & Microbiology
May 7, 2026
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Cold-triggered ion channel in bacteria may point to broader temperature-sensing mechanism
All lifeforms need to continuously adapt to temperature changes to survive. Now, Weill Cornell Medicine investigators studying a bacterial protein have identified a new mechanism of sensing cold temperatures. The finding ...
Cell & Microbiology
May 6, 2026
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9
Genetic 'bonus material' boosts gut bacterium's oxygen tolerance up to 1,000-fold
The bacterium Segatella copri is one of the most common inhabitants of the human gut. In their latest study, researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) have discovered that some strains of this bacterial ...
Cell & Microbiology
May 6, 2026
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Hybrid vein networks in tree leaves reveal a new model of biological design
A leaf may appear to be one of the simplest structures in nature, thin, delicate and easily overlooked. At first glance, it seems far removed from the complex systems that scientists usually describe as networks. Yet, as ...
DNA-guided CRISPR flips gene editing script, opening a new path for precise diagnosis and antivirals
A research team led by Prof. Hsing I-Ming, Professor of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with Prof. Zhai Yuanliang, ...
Biotechnology
May 6, 2026
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26
Light without electricity? Glowing algae could make it possible
Imagine a sea of glowing blue lights pulsing to the beat of the music. But instead of glow sticks filled with toxic chemicals, the luminescence comes from living algae, shimmering on demand. In a new study published in Science ...
Biotechnology
May 6, 2026
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26
Bacterial protein map could open new path against drug-resistant infections
La Trobe scientists have made a pivotal discovery in the fight against dangerous drug-resistant bacteria, as the University launches a major research initiative focused on new ways to target antimicrobial resistance (AMR). ...
Cell & Microbiology
May 6, 2026
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Dark proteome yields 1,785 new microproteins that could reshape disease research
Scientists have uncovered more than 1,700 new proteins that could have implications for human diseases, including cancer. Mostly very small, these proteins were found in what's called the "dark proteome," which covers gene ...
Biotechnology
May 6, 2026
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177
OpenBind's first data and model release marks a milestone for AI enabled drug discovery
The UK-led OpenBind initiative has reached a major milestone with the release of its first publicly available dataset and predictive AI model, a groundbreaking step toward accelerating the discovery of new medicines using ...
Biotechnology
May 6, 2026
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11
With large DNA fragment assembly, scientists can design microbes that produce countless complex products
A review in Quantitative Biology demonstrates that scientists can now reliably build and combine very large pieces of DNA, making it much easier to redesign microbes such as yeast and bacteria to act as efficient "cell factories." ...
Biotechnology
May 6, 2026
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10
PEG400 reveals parasite-only pocket that could sharpen malaria treatment
Research published in The FEBS Journal may help overcome challenges to the treatment of malaria—a tropical disease caused by infection of red blood cells with Plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted through infected mosquito ...
Cell & Microbiology
May 6, 2026
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9
More news
Almost all plant-based meat alternatives contain mycotoxins, new research finds
Dairy farms in California may transmit H5N1 virus through multiple sources
Cryo-EM imaging reveals how the body stops bleeding
Watermelon super-pangenome paves the way for precision breeding
Chromatin tracking reveals two motion modes that help control gene expression
Plant genes shape bacterial evolution in legume bond
New imaging method maps reversed DNA replication forks in single cells
UK's national soil database released as open-access repository
A new interface to study RNA biology
Early human embryonic cells may be vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection
Other news
Reading genetic activity from living cells without destroying them
CRISPR safeguard changes how engineered microbes can be controlled
Q&A: What AI actually does in diffusion models for drug design
The way a cell fails to divide after copying its DNA can determine its fate
How genetic information helps cells resist chaos and stay alive
Compound in ginger and turmeric may disarm drug-resistant bacteria
Human cell map uncovers 90,000 interactions among 4 million gene pairs
Dinosaur dental fossils reveal bird-like parental care bonds
The first direct observation of laser-created isolated hopfions
