Biology
How to meal prep safely: A microbiologist's step‑by‑step guide
Meal prepping is a great way to save money, spend less time in the kitchen and stick to a meal plan. But while cooking meals for the week ahead may be convenient, there can be rea…
Adult acne is real, but there are ways to treat it. Here's what to know
As a teenager, Gillian Maegan Montalbo's pimples weren't too bad—just a few bumps on her forehead and nose.
Against the odds: Why some ecosystems thrive
From coral reefs in Papua New Guinea to chimpanzees in West Africa, grizzly bears in Canada and albatross colonies off Tasmania, some ecosystems are thriving despite climate chang…
Why some young ants start hunting and caring for others early
Some insects, including honeybees and ants, live in highly organized colonies where individuals take on specific roles. In many ant societies, young adult workers typically care f…
Aspens 'remember' past drought in their leaves, 3-year experiment finds
Drought is written into trees, appearing as narrow bands in their annual growth rings. But aspen may go farther, creating "functional memories" of previous dry years reflected in …
Plant-bacteria partnership reveals how roots access iron locked in soil
A new study led by Paul Schulze-Lefert from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, in collaboration with Ricardo F.H. Giehl at the Leibniz Institute of P…
Climate change drives new species combinations, prompting calls to rethink conservation goals
The fact that ecosystems change is nothing new. What is new, however, is the speed and scale at which new species communities are emerging as a result of climate change. Processes…
Fluorescent imaging tracks metabolism of cells in real time
Cornell researchers have designed a new, faster form of two-photon fluorescence imaging for observing cell metabolism in real time, a method that could enable quicker screening of…
Nightjar wings reveal a trade-off between hunting slowly and traveling far
The European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) is a nocturnal migratory bird that travels between Europe and southern Africa each year. However, its wings are not only used for lon…
Genetic analysis reveals that some specialty coffee seeds do not match their commercial identity
Genetic analysis revealed that several seeds from a batch sold as Sidra were not, in fact, Sidra; their genetic profile was closer to that of Batian, a Kenyan variety.
Researchers call for national consortium to battle agriculture cyber threats
The threat of cyberattacks against American agriculture and food systems is growing, and Washington State University researchers are helping to lead a call for a national consorti…
Ada Yonath obituary
Nobel prizewinning biochemist who succeeded against the odds in mapping the ribosomeFor years, the crystallographer and biochemist Ada Yonath had to contend with the disdain and s…
African antelopes spreading in New Mexico: How far could they go under climate change?
Majestic African antelopes known as gemsbok have been roaming the U.S. Southwest since their introduction in the 1960s and 1970s. Brought to New Mexico as a game species for hunti…
How plant enzymes learned to tell mirror-image molecules apart
Many naturally occurring molecules such as menthol or limonene exist in two mirror-image forms, known as enantiomers, that look almost identical but can differ greatly in smell, t…
Tiny marine microbe sheds new light on how little genetic machinery a cell needs to survive
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown microorganism that has the smallest genome ever found and may be able to replicate and express its own genetic information.
From bogong moths to Christmas beetles—how to slow down and spot more insects
Millions of people worldwide watched as the Sydney Olympics came to a close in 2000. Meanwhile, thousands of bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) were airborne, making their annual migra…
Why you've probably been thinking about narcolepsy all wrong
The sleep disorder has been the butt of jokes and a comedic plot point, but the reality of living with narcolepsy is anything but funny. Things could be about to change for people…
New research reveals surprising link in ocean carbon cycle: Swimming sea cucumbers
New MBARI research has revealed that the sea cucumber Pelagothuria natatrix plays an important and unexpected role in the ocean's carbon cycle. In a new article published in the j…
Walking through flames: Orangutans rescued in Indonesia fires
The orangutan clings to the top of a mostly leafless tree in Indonesia's portion of Borneo as waves of thick smoke from the forest fires burning below waft over her.
Seals and sea lions get their hearing tested at Australia Zoo
Scientists in Australia trained sea lions and seals to respond to a hearing test for research into how the marine mammals are affected by human-made noise.
Fish may look fine in urban waters but their genes tell a different story
Blue damselfish, with their striking blue hue, are easy to spot, even along Okinawa's heavily urbanized coastlines. But while abundant, their gene activity reveals a hidden cost t…
3D genome 'entanglement' may explain how cephalopods evolved complex brains
Octopuses, squid and cuttlefish, collectively known as coleoid cephalopods, have evolved exceptionally large and elaborately structured nervous systems capable of complex behavior…
British households would be £5,000 richer if we were more innovative. Let’s unleash our talents | Gordon Brown
We have a deep reservoir of assets, but struggle to turn small companies into global success stories. Innovation needs to be at the heart of government policyGordon Brown was UK p…
Study documents beef industry group's early efforts to counter climate concerns
A leading U.S. beef industry trade association knew by 1989 that cattle contributed to global warming but focused its response on protecting consumer demand through public relatio…