Last update:
Biology news
Dolphin mass strandings in Patagonia linked to killer whales
In 2021 and 2023, hundreds of dolphins were stranded in shallow waters in San Antonio Bay in northern Patagonia. Some died, but many were returned safely to the sea. But what remained a mystery until now was how they ended ...
Climate extremes hinder early development in young birds, research shows
New research from the University of Oxford shows that cold snaps and heavy rain can stunt growth and reduce survival prospects in UK great tit nestlings. However, breeding earlier within a season appears to buffer against ...
Plants & Animals
31 minutes ago
0
0
Despite their contrasting reputations, bonobos and chimpanzees show similar levels of aggression in zoos
Chimpanzees have a reputation for being aggressive, while bonobos are often seen as their peaceful counterparts. This contrast has frequently been used to explain different sides of human nature. However, a new study by Utrecht ...
Plants & Animals
1 hour ago
0
0
3D-printed rattlesnake reveals how the rattle is a warning signal
A team of researchers from The University of Texas at El Paso has uncovered new evidence explaining why the rattlesnake's rattle—one of nature's most iconic warning signals—has persisted and proven so effective across ...
Plants & Animals
1 hour ago
0
0
Still standing but mostly dead: Recovery of dying coral reef in Moorea stalls
In April 2019, a marine heat wave struck a coral reef on the island of Moorea in French Polynesia, killing much of the coral and the beneficial algae that colonized it. This "bleaching" event reduced live coral populations ...
Plants & Animals
1 hour ago
0
0
Nocturnal ants use lunar compass and sophisticated calculations to travel at night
It's well known that many animals, including migratory birds, butterflies, and even fish, use the sun for navigational purposes. Nocturnal animals are dealt a more difficult hand, however, as the moon's path is far more variable. ...
North American heat wave hit wildlife hard, but a few surprising species thrived
Mussels baked by the billions. Insect larvae cooked inside scorched cherries. Baby birds plummeted to their deaths from their overheating nests. But some species did just fine during the 2021 North American heat wave, according ...
Plants & Animals
1 hour ago
0
0
Queen bees survive winter flooding by breathing underwater
Hibernation is a risky endeavor for many animals, as they can be taken away by the elements or predators. For several months of the year, queen bumblebees enter a dormant state underground called diapause. While this keeps ...
Flying 2,000 km to find a mate—meet Australia's most determined seabirds
New genetic testing from the University of the Sunshine Coast has uncovered the extraordinary lengths a group of Queensland seabirds will travel to keep love blossoming on their little island. It's a common complaint for ...
Plants & Animals
2 hours ago
0
0
'Stealth' DNA circles safely insert gene-sized payloads into the genome
Genome editing-based therapies typically aim to treat disease by correcting underlying genetic mutations in patient's cells. However, most genetic disorders are caused by dozens or even thousands of unique mutations spread ...
Biotechnology
3 hours ago
0
0
Ancient DNA reveals Ice Age mammals thrived after volcanic eruption
For the first time, scientists have used DNA preserved in ancient sediments to examine how a major natural disaster affected animal populations. A new study of a catastrophic volcanic eruption during the Ice Age has found ...
Ecology
4 hours ago
0
0
Indigenous rangers find rarely seen animals in first camera survey of Truwana
The first camera survey ever conducted on Truwana/Cape Barren Island off Tasmania has recorded two rarely seen animals—white-footed dunnarts and blonde echidnas. A vulnerable shorebird—the Latham's snipe—was also photographed.
Plants & Animals
3 hours ago
0
0
New African species confirms evolutionary origin of magic mushrooms
A long-standing debate about the evolutionary origin of the world's most widely cultivated "magic mushroom"—Psilocybe cubensis—may now have been settled by scientists from southern Africa and the United States.
Evolution
20 hours ago
0
0
Could ultrasound help save hedgehogs?
Researchers at the University of Oxford have suggested that ultrasound-repellers could help reduce hedgehog deaths caused by cars. The proposal is based on new findings, published in Biology Letters, which demonstrate for ...
Plants & Animals
19 hours ago
0
0
Mining the dark transcriptome: Synthesizing the first potential drug molecules from long noncoding RNA
A team from University of Toronto Engineering is the first to synthesize long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) outside the cell—a new approach to drug discovery that has already yielded some promising anti-inflammatory molecules. ...
Biotechnology
21 hours ago
0
0
Scientists document Europe's first Jurassic lizard trackways in Asturias
The article presenting the research results was published online at the end of February in the journal Ichnos. The study focuses on two trackways (T1 and T2) preserved as convex hyporeliefs on the underside of a Late Jurassic ...
Paleontology & Fossils
20 hours ago
0
0
Antarctic waters DNA survey discovers many microbial genes new to science
The Southern Ocean—vast, boundless waters surrounding Antarctica—plays an outsized role in global climate, largely thanks to tiny drifting organisms called plankton that soak up carbon. Reporting in Nature Communications ...
Ecology
21 hours ago
0
0
Gnaw-y by nature: Researchers discover neural circuit that rewards gnawing behavior in rodents
Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that the constant gnawing of rodents isn't just a reflex or a consequence of a tough diet. It also triggers a release of dopamine in the brain—which acts as a biochemical ...
Plants & Animals
22 hours ago
0
0
Electron microscopy maps protein landscapes that drive photosynthesis
Research led by scientists at Washington State University has revealed insights on how plants form a microscopic landscape of proteins crucial to photosynthesis, the basis of Earth's food and energy chain. The discovery provides ...
Plants & Animals
22 hours ago
0
0
Europe's buzzards are losing their color diversity, citizen science reveals
As its name suggests, the common buzzard is one of Europe's most familiar birds of prey, often spotted perched on fence posts scanning for mice and worms, or performing spectacular loop dives over fields to attract mates. ...
Plants & Animals
22 hours ago
0
0
More news
Telomere breaks provide new insights into chaotic chromosome mutations
Breeding for bigger cattle may come with hidden fertility trade-offs
Bacteria have a secret engineering trick to keep themselves in shape
Why averages fail for bacteria in the open ocean
Probiotic sugar compound blocks norovirus from attaching to cells
A new protein timeline explains plasma membrane repair
Antibiotic resistance can vary depending on where the bacteria live
Noise at sea: Research on how wind farms affect fish
Other news
Photonic 'ski jumps' efficiently beam light into free space
Childcare burden may explain US gender gap in poverty rates
Mangrove forests are short of breath, researchers warn
Typhoons: The hidden lifeline in a drying world
Climate policies: The swing voters that determine their fate
Camera captures first video of a red fox attacking a wolf pup
Raccoons solve puzzles for the fun of it, new study finds
Deep ocean microbes may already be prepared to tackle climate change
