Cold temperature, as a biological process, refers to the exposure of organisms, tissues, or cells to low environmental or experimental temperatures that elicit specific physiological and molecular responses. These responses include activation of thermosensory pathways, alterations in membrane fluidity, modulation of ion channel activity (e.g., TRP channels), and changes in metabolic rate and mitochondrial function. Cold exposure triggers stress-response signaling, such as upregulation of cold-shock proteins, reprogramming of gene expression, and adjustments in lipid composition to preserve membrane integrity. In endotherms, it also induces thermogenic mechanisms, including brown adipose tissue activation and non-shivering thermogenesis, to maintain core body temperature.
Cold air and frigid waters have caused more than 600 young green sea turtles to wash ashore on Florida's beaches this month—and more are turning up every day.
Plants & Animals
Feb 13, 2026
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23
Iguanas stunned by cold temperatures dropped from trees in usually balmy Florida on Sunday as icy conditions blasted southern U.S. states, dumping nearly a half-meter of snow in some areas and whipping up high winds that ...
Environment
Feb 2, 2026
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31
Skeletal muscle stem cells in hibernating Syrian hamsters preserve their ability to function by suppressing their activation during the hibernation period, a research team led by Hiroshima University has shown. This insight ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jan 26, 2026
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74
A monster storm barreling across swaths of the United States has killed at least 10 people and prompted warnings to stay off the roads, mass flight cancellations and power outages, as freezing conditions persisted into Monday.
Environment
Jan 26, 2026
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20
On a frigid April day, Brock University Professor of Biological Sciences Glenn Tattersall, then-Ph.D. student Danilo Giacometti and wildlife researcher Patrick Moldowan ventured out into Ontario's Algonquin Provincial Park ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 19, 2026
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858
You've just cleaned your teeth, you're feeling minty fresh and ready to climb into bed. You take a sip of water, but the water is icy cold, and your next breath feels cool and crisp.
Other
Jan 7, 2026
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38
The onset of sudden cold spells can threaten plant survival, especially during early growth phases. But how do plants detect low temperatures fast enough to initiate life-saving changes? Researchers at Chonnam National University ...
Plants & Animals
Dec 17, 2025
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21
Spiders of the Clubiona genus, which are among the most important natural enemies of pests found in orchards, are active during the winter. New research in The FEBS Journal reveals the characteristics of antifreeze proteins ...
Plants & Animals
Nov 19, 2025
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20
A new study published in Plant Physiology opens the door to developing more robust and cold-resistant tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) varieties. The findings reveal that increasing glycosylated sterol levels in tomato enhances ...
Biotechnology
Nov 3, 2025
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343
New research from Queen Mary University of London reveals how fruit fly larvae have repeatedly evolved their temperature preferences, shedding light on the intricate ways animals adapt to their environments. The study, published ...
Evolution
Jul 21, 2025
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