Thermotolerance is a biological process by which cells, tissues, or organisms acquire the capacity to survive and maintain function under elevated temperatures that would otherwise be lethal or damaging. It involves coordinated molecular responses including induction of heat shock proteins and molecular chaperones, stabilization of protein structure, remodeling of membranes, modulation of reactive oxygen species detoxification systems, and activation of protective signaling pathways such as heat shock factor (HSF)-mediated transcription. Thermotolerance can be constitutive or inducible, often developing after a mild heat pretreatment, and contributes to cellular homeostasis, proteostasis, and integrity of critical processes such as DNA replication, transcription, translation, and photosynthesis under thermal stress.
The threat that rising temperatures fueled by climate change pose to the health of older people has been dramatically underestimated, according to a U.S. modeling study published Tuesday.
Environment
Aug 18, 2026
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24
Climate change presents animals and plants with a fundamental challenge: What can they do when their established habitats become increasingly warm? They can adapt to the changing conditions—or move to areas where the climate ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 17, 2026
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9
The 2019 heat wave that struck Mo'orea—a volcanic island in French Polynesia—swept through its coral reefs like an invisible wildfire. Colorful, lively corals bleached into ghostly, chalk-white skeletons as soaring ocean ...
Evolution
Aug 5, 2026
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18
As global temperatures continue to rise, scientists are racing to understand why heat so profoundly threatens fertility across the animal kingdom. A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and collaborators has ...
Cell & Microbiology
Aug 3, 2026
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16
New research, led by the University of Glasgow reveals that adaptation to warmer waters causes fish to display a range of behavioral and biological differences, including obesity, overeating and lower metabolism.
Plants & Animals
Jul 29, 2026
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13
New research from Costa Rica's Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) suggests that tropical insects may be vulnerable to rising temperatures. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, examined ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 28, 2026
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10
With global warming and extreme weather intensifying, can animals raise their thermal tolerance to cope with a continuously warming environment? A joint research project by the Division of Science at Lingnan University and ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 27, 2026
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16
The planet is getting hotter, and life will need to adapt to rising temperatures to survive. One way cells adapt to changing conditions is by synthesizing new proteins. That works well when the environment changes slowly, ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 20, 2026
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7
If you want to beat the heat of the summer sun, slowing down and doing less is a good strategy. However, researchers have long asked whether the same occurs at the cellular level. While cellular stress responses have been ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Jul 18, 2026
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15
Ticks that survive less-than-lethal doses of pesticide are able to withstand dangerous cold, which could help them spread tick-borne diseases farther north, a UC study has found. Biologists with the University of Cincinnati ...
Ecology
Jul 17, 2026
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