Biology
DNA and underwater footage reveal two new species of deep-sea siphonophores
New research is shedding light on the diversity of deep-sea siphonophores. A team of scientists from MBARI, the University of Gdańsk, New York University and Yale University condu…
Canine cancer patients contribute to next-generation minimally invasive cancer therapies for dogs and humans
Natural disasters. Hikes. Long, dark nights alone. For many people, dogs offer a sense of safety and comfort in challenging or uncertain times. Cancer researchers at a new lab at …
Natural forest regeneration helps curb spread of invasive species
The presence of non-native trees is often seen as an obstacle to the recovery of tropical forests regrowing in previously deforested areas. To better understand the behavior of th…
The assumption about farm automation that may be wrong
You've likely heard this assumption: When AI-enabled and autonomous machines arrive on the farm, jobs will disappear. But researchers at the University of California, Davis, who s…
Stream restoration improves biodiversity but not necessarily ecosystem functioning
The EU Nature Restoration Regulation adopted in 2024 establishes the restoration of ecosystem functions as an objective of stream restoration. But can conventional measures that f…
Ants break a basic rule of biology to help them adapt to new environments
A new study led by researchers in the Eco-Evo-Devo lab at the University of Ottawa finds that ants can decouple antenna size from both head and body size as they develop into diff…
A parasite carried by one-third of humanity can't reproduce if one key protein is disabled
A protein discovered in a Virginia Tech–led study may open a gateway to treatments for a parasite responsible for a deadly disease in immunocompromised people. The team led by Raj…
Autumn wreaths and 'doorscaping': Why we need more life in our front gardens
There was a time when decorative wreaths appeared on front doors in December, stayed on front doors for a few weeks and then disappeared.
Mosquito bites are more complicated than they appear—getting a closer look might lead to better disease prevention
Female mosquitoes need blood to produce eggs. While much research has focused on how these hungry mosquitoes find their targets, less is known about what happens after they land o…
Drought shifts more plant root cells into newly discovered environmental response mode
Scientists have discovered a hidden layer of identity in plant root cells: an "environmental mode" that switches on in some cells and becomes more common when water is scarce. The…
How does fake tan work, and why does it sometimes smell 'cookie-like'?
Real tans come from UV-triggered pigment production in living skin; that same UV exposure increases the risk of skin cancer.
Tire-derived pollutant found at elevated levels in critical fish habitats
Endangered coho salmon and steelhead trout live and spawn in habitats surrounded by human activity, such as the San Francisco Bay Area. During a recent storm, researchers found hi…
Research tackling immature fruit drop in avocado trees
Only a percentage of avocados ever make it to harvest, but CSIRO research is working on ways to combat what is called immature fruit abscission or early fruit drop, a major challe…
Word choice matters: 'Extinction of plants and animals' raises more concern than 'biodiversity loss'
The loss of Earth's animal and plant species is a crisis. Just don't call it an "extinction crisis" if you aim to mobilize public concern.
Gut bacteria use food cues to help time nutrient absorption, study finds
Biological clocks are often associated with light. Historically, most people started their days when the sun was up and ended their days when the sun set. But new research from Ca…
Drone measurements reveal rapid early growth in eastern Australian humpback whales
Eastern Australian humpback whales reach nearly their full adult size quickly, a new Griffith University–led study has found, as shown by the first contemporary growth curves for …
Schrödinger's penguin: One species, two contrasting outcomes
A new University of Otago—Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka study reveals two vastly different life courses for one of Aotearoa New Zealand's least-studied penguin species.
Have scientists finally found a way to save the banana from disaster?
With the climate crisis and diseases threatening one of the world’s most popular fruits, researchers are hoping a breakthrough in breeding techniques could give the Cavendish bana…
Some fish might thrive in a warming climate
Adelaide University researchers have found that some estuarine fishes that live in habitats with highly variable temperatures can withstand the warmer ocean conditions expected to…
Q&A: What's innovative about canned food?
To most consumers, canned food is an everyday convenience, but to John Coupland, professor of food science at Penn State, each can represents more than two centuries of invention,…
Algae-powered soft robot arm uses light to grasp and lift small objects
Tiny underwater algae sway gently in the current. All of a sudden, a light shines on them and they form robotlike arms that start to pick up small rocks and put them in floating b…
Elizabeth Holmes is back in the spotlight: why can’t we look away? – podcast
You Can See Everything, a documentary about the disgraced biotech company founder Elizabeth Holmes, has enjoyed a record-breaking opening in the US. It is a testament to how fasci…
Baby manta rays hunker down close to coasts before facing the open ocean's dangers
Giant manta rays can grow up to nine meters (30 feet) long with a disk size of seven meters (23 feet) across and weigh up to 2,000 kg (4,400 pounds). This size leaves them with ve…
Illegal fishing is thriving in African waters—a satellite system could help change that
A patrol boat off the coast of Gabon intercepted three trawlers in July 2026, inside the Grand Sud Reserve. This is one of West and Central Africa's largest marine reserves, where…