Biology
Marine heat waves suppress nutrient use, reproductive flexibility in humpback whales
A new study led by University of Hawai'i (UH) at Mānoa researchers reveals how extreme ocean warming disrupts whale metabolism, nutrition and reproductive success and what the dev…
Open-source workflow makes spatial proteomics easier to use
Fabian Coscia and his team have published in Nature Methods an open-source workflow that makes Deep Visual Proteomics easier to use, adapt and scale. OpenDVP enables scientists to…
How autumn changes animal sexual behavior—including that of humans
In the Northern Hemisphere, days are getting shorter and temperatures are dropping—autumn has arrived. A common sign that winter is coming is trees losing their leaves. But did yo…
DNA programs a cell-free material to build its own motors and move
Researchers have created a material that manufactures the proteins responsible for cell movement, without needing intact living cells. By embedding cell-free gene expression into …
Mapping the cell: International research team investigates the endoplasmic reticulum
Human cells contain billions of molecules. To prevent complete chaos, these molecules and the reactions between them are organized within structures known as organelles. One of th…
How to speak whale: AI uses eight to ten click sequences to predict sperm whales' feeding dives
Arriving on the Caribbean island of Dominica for the first time "feels a little bit like stepping into Jurassic Park," said Giovanni Petri, a professor in the Network Science Inst…
From 'gentle' and 'graceful' to the 'cane toad of the sky': How Australia turned on the common myna
The common myna is sometimes referred to as "Australia's most hated bird." Originally from South and Central Asia, the introduced species from the starling family is abundant, rau…
A quick squeeze helps CRISPR turn skin cells into neurons more efficiently
Human cells hold about two meters (6.6 feet) of DNA, folded and compacted to fit inside a nucleus. That packing is essential for life, but it creates a problem for scientists. Som…
Time to tap into agriculture's hidden genetic potential
Modern agriculture's selective breeding of crops for particular requirements may now be a roadblock to further gains, prompting a trio of senior University of Queensland plant sci…
Study finds lower rates of overweight among vegan-fed cats
A large-scale survey has found cats fed vegan diets had lower rates of obesity and related health problems than those fed conventional meat-based diets.
The world's most expensive spice could provide a lifeline to Colorado farmers
Alexander the Great, king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon, reportedly bathed in saffron to heal his battle wounds. Doctors once prescribed this rare plant as a treatment f…
Hide-and-seek for treats offers a new window into cognitive decline in dogs
It is tough to watch a dog deal with issues associated with aging. A senior dog that gets lost at home or starts showing more anxiety may be exhibiting signs of dementia. But by t…
What is red crown rot? Expert explains emerging soybean pathogen
Red crown rot, a fungal disease of soybean, is not new to the Midwest. First reported in Illinois in 2018, the disease is now surging across the state and the region. Boris Camile…
Costly dead-tissue disorder in apples caused by faster growth rates
New research reveals that faster growth rates in Honeycrisp apples increase both the incidence and severity of the "bitter pit" disorder, which is responsible for large-scale frui…
Iris patterns offer a noninvasive way to recognize individual Amazonian treefrogs
Identifying individual animals in the wild has long meant tagging, branding or clipping. For amphibians, the standard approach has often been toe-clipping, a procedure that can af…
Can AI really predict cancer survival better than a doctor? I have my doubts | Devi Sridhar
Take a selfie to see how healthy you are: the idea is enticing and this new research is promising. But so many factors have been ignoredThe idea that a single selfie could predict…
India slashes cost of cancer drugs after court rules mark-ups are ‘extortion’
Case filed in 2022 by patient unable to afford medicine leads to cap on drug prices for millions who face ruin if diagnosedThe Indian government has moved to reduce the price of c…
How citizen science is tracking changes in shorelines around the world
An app and a camera phone are all that’s needed at more than 200 spots to help researchers monitor coastal areasThe shoreline changes with the weather. Tracking these changes over…
‘Bespoke’ mRNA vaccine significantly reduces risk of melanoma recurrence or death, clinical trial shows
Trial results represent ‘foundational shift’ in approach to cancer, allowing scientists to harness immune system in more personalised wayGet our new political email, free app or d…
Mother bats' hearts beat faster at the sound of their own babies' cries
A mother bat has one crucial challenge: find her own babies among hundreds of other bats in the colony. Making sure she cares for and nurses only her own offspring is important to…
Researchers develop AI tool to map microRNA binding sites on circular RNAs
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are loop-shaped molecules that can influence gene regulation through interactions with microRNAs (miRNAs). This matters because circRNAs can exist as diff…
Australia offers astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg for space mission to International Space Station
Australian of the Year would become the first astronaut in space to qualify under the Australian flag if she embarks on the 2028 missionThe federal government has sent an offer to…
With climate-resilient crops in mind, study tackles flaw in photosynthesis
Rising temperatures and increasing drought are shortening crop-growing seasons in many parts of the world. Now scientists in Sweden report new advances toward engineering more eff…
Helping microgreens pack even more of a nutritional punch
Microgreens are nutritional powerhouses. A team of plant scientists at Penn State conducting research on multiple aspects of microgreens recently published three studies reporting…