Biology
Did you solve it? The treacherous puzzle of the round table
The solutions to today’s puzzlesEarlier today I set you these six puzzles. Here they are again with solutions.The round table Continue reading...
How nature lovers can aid ecology with an assist from AI
Millions of people worldwide, likely without realizing it, are capturing rare and valuable data that can help researchers assess trends in ecosystem health. Such data, however, ar…
'Molecular sunscreen' may explain why DNA uses thymine despite its vulnerability to UV damage
Scientists have long sought to understand the complex origins of intelligent life. It remains unclear how biological systems not only formed but survived and persisted under the e…
Some house cats carry a gut parasite that can infect humans, study finds
Giardia duodenalis is a microscopic, flagellated parasite that often calls the human and animal gut its home. In most cases, it coexists harmlessly with its host, and most infecte…
Atypical B cells shift immune roles as they develop, malaria study finds
B cells are an important part of the immune system and help the body recognize and fight infections. A group of B cells known as atypical B cells has attracted considerable intere…
AI platform and database map protein phase separation across species
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed an AI-powered database and a platform that could enable researchers to more accurately pre…
DNA reveals genetic divide in Australian brolgas, with southern birds facing greater diversity risks
New research on the brolga, an iconic Australian crane species, has shown important genetic differences between northern and southeastern populations, with evidence that those in …
Why some anglers always follow the rules
New research sheds light on why a surprising number of fishers always follow fishing rules, even when enforcement is unlikely and breaking the rules offers a financial reward.
AI system could transform rabies testing around the world
Rabies virus detection in cell cultures could soon become faster and more accessible, thanks to the world's first AI system for this purpose, developed by researchers at the Unive…
AI platforms offer promise in limiting the illegal wildlife trade
New University of Kent research has found promising signs that AI platforms have the potential to limit the illegal wildlife trade. The research paper titled "Assessing safeguards…
Italian rice farmer beats heat with biodiversity haven
Four hundred years after monks transformed a patch of marshlands in northwest Italy into rice fields, farmer Alice Cerutti has restored a third to their natural state, prioritizin…
Roman fort found in Wales could prove myth of emperor’s camp is real
Exclusive: Finds suggest account in medieval folklore of a camp near Frenni Fawr hill was rooted in realityMagnus Maximus, the Roman emperor who ruled Britain in the fourth centur…
Can you solve it? The treacherous riddle of the round table
A puzzle for the agesIt’s made of wood, it’s in the shape of a circle, and it is the forum for many an important gathering.It is also the setting for today’s puzzle. Continue read…
Starwatch: Mars signposts the beautiful Beehive cluster
From a dark location, the Beehive – or Praesepe – will appear as a faint, misty patch very close to the red planetThe red planet, Mars, sails through the beautiful cluster of star…
Country diary: Fungi season is here, so I head – yes – to the beach | Nigel Brown
Aberffraw, Ynys Môn (Anglesey): Plenty of fungi can be found among the sand here; in fact it is vital to keeping the dunes at bayDapperlings and toughshanks, bonnets and brittlegi…
Wildlife populations have declined 73% since 1970—but many of the world's animals still aren't being counted
Wildlife populations around the world have declined by an average of 73% since 1970. That's according to the WWF's new 2026 Living Planet Index—a major estimate, updated every two…
'DNA Typewriter' records cells' history in developing mouse embryo
Scientists have succeeded in reconstructing the family tree of cells in a developing mouse embryo. They recorded cells' relationships, starting when the fertilized egg first split…
New study shows effects of hypoxia in Florida's Banana River
A new study by Florida Tech assistant professor of marine sciences Austin Fox, Ph.D. '15, found that low oxygen levels are contributing to the rerelease of nutrients buried on the…
Conservation groups alarmed at marine mammals' deaths in Spain
Conservation groups on Sunday condemned the death of a dolphin transferred from France to a Spanish marine park, saying it added to the deaths of other sea mammals recently moved …
Indonesia releases eight orangutans rescued from fires to protected forest
Eight orangutans rescued in recent weeks from blazes that tore through Borneo island have been released into a protected forest, Indonesian authorities and rescuers said on Sunday.
Jurassic fossil reveals ancient origins of how mammals drink milk
An international team of researchers has uncovered new evidence illuminating the evolutionary origins of one of the defining features of mammals: the ability to suckle and consume…
‘A living hell’: how Los Angeles got taken over by mosquitoes
Heat and humidity have led to one of the worst mosquito years in recent history, with West Nile virus at a decade highLos Angeles might be best known for blue skies, beaches and f…
Zimbabwe's dinosaurs were different from South Africa's: New species offers clues
Africa boasts up to 25% of Earth's animal and plant species. This diversity is driven by varied habitats: harsh deserts, vast grasslands, dense forests, towering mountains, lush c…
Skies across the UK illuminated by the northern lights
Though mostly visible near the Arctic Circle, the natural phenomenon dazzled sky-gazers as far south Devon, Hampshire and KentThe northern lights illuminated the skies across the …