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Biology news
Ghosts of species past: Shedding new light on the demise of NZ's moa can help other flightless birds
New Zealand was once home to giant flightless birds called moa. They had grown accustomed to life without predators. So the arrival of humans in the mid-13th century presented a massive—and ultimately insurmountable—challenge ...
Ecology
1 hour ago
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Two shark species documented in Puget Sound for first time
Oregon State University researchers have made the first scientific confirmation in Puget Sound of two distinct shark species, one of them critically endangered.
Plants & Animals
7 hours ago
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Outsourcing conservation in Africa: NGO management reduces poaching and boosts tourism, but raises risks for civilians
There's an experiment going on in conservation in Africa. With biodiversity imperiled, and nations facing financial and political crises, some governments are transferring the management of protected areas to private, non-governmental ...
Ecology
7 hours ago
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Komodo dragons have iron-coated teeth to rip apart their prey, researchers find
Scientists have discovered that the serrated edges of Komodo dragons' teeth are tipped with iron. Led by researchers from King's College London, the study gives new insight into how Komodo dragons keep their teeth razor-sharp ...
Plants & Animals
2 hours ago
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Climate is most important factor in where mammals choose to live, study finds
While human activity has had a massive effect on the natural world, a new study from North Carolina State University finds that climate is still the most influential factor in determining where mammals can thrive. The work ...
Plants & Animals
22 hours ago
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New clam species discovered in South Africa's kelp forest
A new study sheds light on the unexplored diversity of galeommatoidean bivalves, a little-known group of marine mollusks, from the western coast of South Africa.
Plants & Animals
23 hours ago
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3D models show dolphins already used narrow-band sound waves for orientation 5 million years ago
Senckenberg researcher Dr. Rachel Racicot and her former student Joyce Sanks from Vanderbilt University have examined the inner ear of the extinct dolphin genus Parapontoporia. In their study, published in the journal The ...
Evolution
23 hours ago
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118
Developing a nano-treatment to help save mangroves from deadly disease
Mangroves and palm trees are hallmarks of the Sunshine State not just for their beauty but for their immense importance to Florida's coastlines.
Ecology
13 hours ago
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Exploring the effects of initial microbiota on microbial succession during eggplant fermentation
Shibazuke is a traditional Japanese eggplant pickle produced by the process of fermentation using lactic acid bacteria (LAB). LAB which are commonly present in vegetables cause the spontaneous fermentation of vegetables, ...
Cell & Microbiology
22 hours ago
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Surveys reveal vast mangrove damage along Great Barrier Reef and restoration hotspots
A James Cook University report has revealed severe damage in about 80% of mangroves along the Great Barrier Reef, from Cairns to Gladstone—and pinpointed 52 potential restoration hotspots over 17,255 hectares.
Ecology
22 hours ago
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Using fire management to see how ticks... tick
The morning alarm goes off, and it's time to get ready for work. Ph.D. student Samuel Gilvarg has already pretreated his clothes with permethrin insecticide. All that's left is to pull his socks up and over his pant legs.
Plants & Animals
23 hours ago
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Clearance of deer cull carcasses is a loss to ecosystem, finds Scotland study
The removal of deer bodies following annual culls in Scotland may be depriving the environment of essential nutrients, according to a new study published in Ecological Solutions and Evidence.
Ecology
Jul 26, 2024
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Exploring cadmium-induced alterations in the expression profile of microRNAs
Cadmium (Cd), a toxic heavy metal, has been identified as a significant environmental pollutant due to its widespread industrial use and persistence in the environment. Chronic exposure to Cd poses a considerable threat to ...
Molecular & Computational biology
22 hours ago
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Invasive, blood-sucking fish 'may hold the key to understanding where we came from,' say biologists
One of just two vertebrates without a jaw, sea lampreys that are wreaking havoc in Midwestern fisheries are simultaneously helping scientists understand the origins of two important stem cells that drove the evolution of ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 26, 2024
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New interaction network in endocytosis process discovered
AP180 is a protein involved in endocytosis and in signal transmission between nerve cells. This protein, which largely lacks a three-dimensional structure, has never been fully studied.
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 26, 2024
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New understanding of fly behavior has potential application in robotics, public safety
Why do flies buzz around in circles when the air is still? And why does it matter? In a paper published in Current Biology, University of Nevada, Reno Assistant Professor Floris van Breugel and Postdoctoral Researcher S. ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 26, 2024
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Increased demand for metals and minerals needed for clean energy transition puts 4,000+ species at risk, finds study
New research has found that 4,642 species of vertebrates are threatened by mineral extraction around the world through mining and quarrying, and drilling for oil and gas.
Plants & Animals
Jul 26, 2024
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Ancient DNA analyses imply brucellosis pathogen evolved with development of farming
Scientists analyzed ancient DNA extracted from an 8,000-year-old sheep bone and detected the Brucella melitensis pathogen. Brucellosis affects millions of people every year and causes significant harm to the welfare of livestock.
Evolution
Jul 26, 2024
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How Staphylococcus slips around between biological environments
It's an unpleasant fact that most of us are happy to ignore: Our mouths and noses are the natural homes to infectious and antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 26, 2024
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Folded peptides are more electrically conductive than unfolded peptides, study reveals
What puts the electronic pep in peptides? A folded structure, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Molecular & Computational biology
Jul 26, 2024
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