Biology
How sea squirts perceive underwater noise
Shipping, construction work and other human activities are altering the acoustic conditions in our planet's seas. Sound pressure is often examined to determine the effects that th…
Chlamydia packs DNA with lipids, revealing possible target for blocking infection
The bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Biologically, it is regarded as a highly specialized "nutrient t…
Adult fossil strengthens evidence for Homo erectus in southern Africa 2 million years ago
La Trobe archaeologists have described 18 new hominin fossils, including a second Homo erectus skull fragment that confirms the species first appeared in southern Africa 2.0 milli…
Honeybee silk could power smarter wound dressings
Biodegradable films made from engineered honeybee silk could form the basis of a new generation of "smart" wound dressings, according to researchers at CSIRO and Adelaide Universi…
Alpine bacteria show unexpected ability to fight viruses
A silent, long-running competition has been taking place in Swiss alpine lakes for millions of years, killing trillions of organisms every day without anyone noticing. This compet…
Drones, satellites and AI help scientists watch over Antarctica's smallest lifeforms
Monitoring Antarctica's tiny, scattered ecosystems is a challenge that has long plagued researchers. But a new study led by the University of Wollongong (UOW) offers a new approac…
Q&A: The safety and sterilization of pharmaceuticals manufacturing
Manufacturing modern medicines is a multistage process, and each step introduces the opportunity for contamination, which can be both deadly and expensive. Recently, epinephrine i…
Light-activated crystals break down DNA-like molecules in water, potentially curbing antibiotic resistance
Engineers have developed a new approach for turning ordinary water into a weapon against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a study published in the journal Chem Catalysi…
All of a flutter: how butterflies avoid being a predator’s lunch
Their whirring wings and bright patterns help keep them safe from birds, British study findsNaturalists have long wondered how brightly coloured butterflies manage to evade the at…
Butterflies use optical illusions to dodge predators
A bird attacking a butterfly will often find its beak snapping at thin air. According to new research, that split-second miss isn't just bad luck. It's caused by a visual illusion…
Asgard archaea suggest crawling motility may be far older than previously thought
Asgard archaea, our closest known microbial relatives, play a key role in current models of the origin of more complex organisms, known as eukaryotes (all animals, plants, protist…
Lost shark becomes viral star in South Korea
A wayward shark has become an unlikely celebrity in South Korea, drawing massive crowds, earning plaudits from the local mayor and even moving the stock market.
As El Niño strengthens across the Pacific, Australian farmers could face fierce frosts
In the highlands of Papua New Guinea, crops have been killed by drought and frost. Severe frosts have destroyed food crops such as taro, sweet potatoes, bananas and sugarcane, lea…
Pigeon fathers take on more responsibility when times get tough
A study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science by researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) shows that when food becomes scarce, male pigeons spend more…
Climate refuges may be key to restoring imperiled amphibians
As a deadly fungal disease ravages wild frog populations around the globe, scientists have identified potential locations in Panama where amphibians might persist despite the dise…
Study reveals how tilapia adapt to extreme salt stress
In the world of aquatic life, the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) is remarkably tolerant of saltwater, surviving in habitats ranging from fresh water to hypersaline p…
Unlocking the cell's supply chain: How cholesterol keeps cellular recycling centers running
Mention cholesterol, and most people will think of clogged arteries or health warnings. But inside the microscopic universe of the human cell, cholesterol has a drastically differ…
More cats: The key to happy countries?
National happiness is influenced by complex relationships beyond basic economic factors, according to a study by Javier I. Borráz-León of the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, T…
E. coli survives longer in poultry-amended Georgia onion soils, two-year study finds
New research suggests that poultry litter-based soil amendments and weather conditions, particularly extreme weather events, may influence how long bacteria survive in agricultura…
Gene-silencing technology to protect forests from invasive pests
A University of Kentucky forest entomologist is advancing a pest-control approach designed to target destructive forest beetles while minimizing effects on surrounding wildlife.
Do you want help from humans or AI bots? Because the UK civil service is changing – and not for the better | The civil servant
Rapidly expanding AI use within the government is numbing departments to its profound threats. And try arguing with a faceless digital bureaucratAnother day, another apocalyptic w…
Wild crabapples have genetic potential to improve domestic varieties
A bad apple doesn't always ruin the bunch. In fact, it might make the bunch a little stronger. A new study published in Horticulture Research by Ben Mansfeld, an assistant profess…
Snakes' appearances linked to how scary or appealing people find them
Snakes can elicit a wide range of human responses, including fear, disgust, awe and admiration. Past studies suggest that both humans and nonhuman primates, such as monkeys and ap…
Paw-fect candidate: Australia finds new koala rescue dog
The hunt is over: After trawling through dozens of applications, an Australian animal welfare group has found a successor to a hero hound credited with saving more than 100 koalas…