Biology
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…
Insects are essential to vertebrate life—as food, shelter and medicine
While insects provide an essential food source for many vertebrate species, they're more than just a protein-laden snack. Chimpanzees use them to sterilize wounds, and herons use …
Can a mushroom make music? Devon exhibition explores ‘cultural world’ of fungi
Exeter museum to host DJ’s ‘collaboration’ with woodland fungi and artist’s map of her own body’s mycobiomeFor one of the installations, a musician spent hours in woodland “collab…
Dinosaur snacked on seaweed washed up on North American coasts, fossil teeth suggest
Storms routinely wash marine material ashore, providing food for land animals and other organisms. This is known as marine subsidization (MS). Today, MS is particularly common in …
Camera system sheds new light on bird collisions at sea
Research into bird collisions with offshore wind turbines has taken an important step forward. A yearlong pilot study at an offshore wind turbine has shown that thermal cameras an…
Unlocking AI as a research tool for plant microscopy
Software created by University of Queensland scientists could help AI platforms overcome a blind spot limiting their value in plant research. UQ Ph.D. student Tianqi Wei said even…
Small fields, great diversity: How a diverse patchwork of crops helps birds
Birds are not only beautiful to look at and listen to; they also play important roles in nature. They eat pests and disperse seeds. They are generally considered indicators of a h…
Engineered coating lets mitochondria retain their ability to produce energy
Researchers have coated mitochondria with innovative materials without compromising their function, according to a study by IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta (FINC…
Nine generations of virtual dating reveal how fish shape their ideal mates
Fish have "designed" their perfect partners in a new experiment—revealing simple male preferences and more complex female tastes.
Why monkeys handle conflicts better than we do
Conflicts with our colleagues, loved ones or team members can quickly stifle communication, heighten tensions and undermine relationships. However, a decision or compromise is not…
How a new textile fabric could triple production in strawberry plants
A new textile used to cover strawberry plants more than tripled fruit yields in tunnel field tests without harming plant health. The technology could also significantly reduce wat…
Wild tomatoes still hold the flavor we bred away: New map shows breeders where to look
Modern tomatoes are a breeding success story. Generations of selection have made them bigger, firmer, more productive and easier to ship. But that progress came at a cost. Domesti…
New index links changing ocean food webs to Bermuda's spiny lobster fishery
Spiny lobster larvae spend six to nine months drifting in the open ocean, feeding within the plankton community, before eventually settling into shallow-water habitats such as man…
LISA to the rescue: Using light to fix cell division
Cell division is a complex process. At the heart of this complexity is a membraneless organelle called the centrosome, which is made up of more than 200 components. It is responsi…
Genetic audit of wheat: Researchers determine the actual variability of a gene responsible for bread quality
A team at the University of Córdoba (UCO) has reviewed and updated the catalog of versions of the wheat gene GLU-B1, which is responsible for a protein that makes up gluten. The t…
Protein signaling cascade helps explain how plants respond to touch
Plants cannot run away when the wind picks up, rain lashes down or a hungry herbivore begins chewing on their leaves. Instead, they must sense their surroundings and adapt. Now, r…
New feathered, winged dinosaur from China challenges our theories on bird and dinosaur evolution
A newly described feathered dinosaur found in northeastern China adds evidence supporting the theory that flight-related features evolved differently in various bird-like dinosaur…
Scientists call for protection and restoration of Africa's seagrass meadows
A team of African researchers has published the first comprehensive review of seagrass restoration activities across Africa's coastline.
8-million-year-old rhino skull found in Crete
A rhinoceros skull at least 8 million years old has been found in the town of Sitia on Crete, the Greek news agency ANA reported Tuesday.
Wolves did not save Yellowstone—why were we so desperate to believe they did?
You might be among the 46 million people who've seen a video showing how wolves changed Yellowstone, or you may have heard another version of the story. Yellowstone, which covers …
Researchers find a fungus in Kentucky's forest grass that makes rare bug-fighting chemicals
Researchers at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) have discovered that a fungus living inside a common Kentucky woodland …
How does a bird virus infect a person?
How do we know when an animal virus might pose a risk to humans? Canada confirmed a human case of H5N1 avian influenza (often called "bird flu") in 2024, the first known to have b…