Biology
A double defense protects photosynthesis from extreme heat
Photosynthesis is fundamental to life on Earth, allowing plants and microalgae to convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into organic compounds. However, this essential process is hi…
3D protein complex model sheds light on barley grain dormancy
Researchers from Adelaide University and Plant Synthetic Biology Australia have uncovered new insights into the molecular machinery controlling the dormancy-to-germination transit…
Why some dinosaurs get all the attention and others don't
If you ask anyone to name a dinosaur, there's a good chance they'll say Tyrannosaurus rex, that fearsome prehistoric predator with its enormous jaws and razor-sharp teeth. But wha…
Plants feel the heat: How a protein 'thermometer' helps plants adapt to climate
Plants continuously adapt to environmental changes, and temperature is a key signal for growth and flowering. How plant thermometers, or "thermosensors," work at the molecular lev…
BMI alternative for identifying obesity ‘could prevent misdiagnosis in millions’
Combining body mass index with other measurements and tests would lead to better care and outcomes, experts sayAn alternative to BMI for diagnosing obesity could prevent misdiagno…
Nuclear softening at an embryo's two-cell stage may be vital for further embryonic development
A research team led by Kyushu University and the National Institute of Genetics has discovered that during the two-cell stage of mouse embryonic development, the embryo's nucleus …
Even cacti are severely threatened in a warmer, drier world
Findings from a study spanning the Americas show that climate change forecasts are underestimating threats to biodiversity—even to exceptionally resilient species—by not factoring…
New review explores how faint 'glow' from plants could transform global monitoring of photosynthesis
A faint glow emitted by plants as they absorb sunlight could offer scientists a powerful new way to monitor photosynthesis across the planet. Fully realizing that potential, howev…
The space rocket I could have been aboard explodes: Rhiannon Adam’s best photograph
‘I was chosen to go around the Moon on a SpaceX starship. Preparations took over my life. Then, four minutes into watching a rocket on a test flight, it broke apart. And that was …
Molecular signal in blood helps detect early risk for ovarian cancer, study finds
Researchers discover a potential diagnostic breakthrough for a disease often discovered after it has already spreadA molecular signal in the blood helps identify microscopic chan…
Overlooked bushland remnants serve as 'stepping stones' for endangered Carnaby's cockatoos
New research from Murdoch University has revealed that Carnaby's cockatoos depend on small, fragmented patches of native vegetation to survive in heavily cleared landscapes—a find…
Deeper dives are linked to longer surface recovery in sea lions
Sea lions, marine mammals belonging to the eared seal family, have to dive to search for food and other resources. Between dives, however, they return to the surface to breathe an…
Deep-sea mining could destroy unique habitats hidden inside metal-rich nodules
In the extreme depths of the Pacific Ocean, there are small, metal-bearing formations that are far more than just valuable sources of raw materials. A new study published in the j…
Coyotes are likely a permanent fixture on the Outer Banks of North Carolina
A new study reveals that coyote populations on the Outer Banks persist despite ongoing removal programs, posing a continued threat to shore-nesting birds and protected sea turtles…
A new tool makes biodiversity conservation planning more efficient and reproducible
ZonationR is a new tool that simplifies the use of Zonation to identify priority areas for biodiversity conservation. It brings all stages of the conservation planning analysis to…
Genetic ancestry plays a key role in the migration of Cory's shearwaters
To what extent do genes influence the migratory routes of birds? The factors that determine the long-distance migrations of seabirds are not yet fully understood. Now, a study pub…
European eels transmit a herpesvirus through bites, revealing another route for fish infections
Contrary to what was previously believed, viruses infecting fish are not transmitted exclusively through water acting as an abiotic vector. A team of researchers from the Universi…
Repurposing the internet's backbone to advance whale monitoring
Bioacoustics researcher Léa Bouffaut, at the Cornell K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, has spent the past several years eavesdropping on the conversations of whal…
Anemone bleaching spurs stronger home defense and more aggression among clownfish
Marine heat waves and anemone bleaching are altering clownfish behavior, making clownfish more defensive of their host and more aggressive toward one another, new research reveals.
Rerouting ships to avoid killing whale sharks has little cost, study finds
Redirecting shipping traffic to avoid collisions with whale sharks has very little impact on fuel use, according to new research led by the University of Southampton published in …
Scientists anchor first scientific animal name to a modern-day spider
Scientists led by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History have restored the physical reference of one of the most historically significant names in biology. In a pape…
The pet and skin trades pose little threat to reptile species, analyses suggest
Reptiles are captivating creatures—so captivating that people keep them as pets, or wear clothes and carry handbags fashioned from their patterned skins.
Microscopy upgrade sharpens images fivefold without sacrificing tissue imaging depth
Researchers at Texas A&M University have cracked a problem that has limited biological imaging for years: seeing fine cellular detail while looking deep inside living tissue. The …
Swordfish may be using deep dives to navigate the open ocean
Swordfish spend much of their time hunting prey about 600 meters (1,970 feet) below the surface in the ocean twilight zone, but occasionally, they reach depths of more than 1,000 …