Biology
Parasites that steer nocturnal hosts into water do not rely on lunar cycles, study finds
Like many parasites, nematomorphs are known to manipulate their hosts' behavior to complete their life cycles. Also known as horsehair worms, among other names, these creatures de…
This cat is new to science. What does it take to identify a species?
There's a new cat in town, but this one won't curl up on your hamper, knead your sweaters or squeeze in front of your screen during a Zoom meeting.
Studies map microclimates beneath solar panels to help native vegetation thrive in the shadow of renewable energy
Using solar energy is good for the environment, but look down, and the grass isn't always greener. Solar farms can generate massive amounts of renewable energy, but when they're b…
Study shows California's rodenticide restrictions are working, and flags new rodenticides rising in their place
New research from the Integral Ecology Research Center (IERC) offers some of the clearest evidence yet that California's efforts to restrict dangerous rodenticides are paying off …
India turns to corals and seagrass to shield against rising seas
Under a blazing sun, workers crouch on a shrinking island off India's southern coast, threading bright green seagrass shoots onto wooden frames before anchoring them to the ocean …
Why your house might be too clean - video
Our use of cleaning products has increased since the pandemic, but do we understand what they could be doing to our health? The journalist Rebecca Seal recently wrote for the Guar…
Same plant species, different chemistry: Why chemotype labels matter
Plants of the same species can differ considerably in their chemical composition, affecting their smell, taste and even toxicity. A new study shows that the term "chemotype" has n…
An endangered frog nursery in LA cares for hundreds of tadpoles until they're ready for the wild
The transition from tadpole to juvenile frog is never easy—legs sprout, tails shrink and lungs develop for a life on land, all while being hunted by fish and other predators. Talk…
Ancient bird becomes second Australian species to be named from the Cretaceous period
A pair of exceptionally rare Cretaceous bird bones found at separate sites near Richmond, Queensland, reveal a previously unknown species—the second formally named Cretaceous bird…
The molecular mechanism that regulates TMEM63B lipid scrambling
TMEM63B, a mechanosensitive lipid scramblase, has an autoinhibitory domain in its C-terminal tail that helps keep it inactive under resting conditions, researchers from the Instit…
Biologists may have discovered two of the world's loudest birds
University of Massachusetts Amherst's Jeff Podos and his former graduate student João C.T. Menezes have identified two contenders for the title of world's loudest bird: the bare-t…
Nature-strip gardens boost biodiversity, bugs and social benefits
University of Melbourne researchers have found that planting native gardens on suburban nature strips can boost urban biodiversity, with insect numbers increasing sevenfold and th…
New sound catalog reveals who's who in the world of killer whales
A new open-access catalog of whale calls will help researchers and orca enthusiasts identify distinct killer whale populations, clans and family groups by their vocalizations alon…
Backcountry recreation and roads linked to fewer wolverines in Canadian mountains
Wildlife researchers have found that both recreation and roads affect wolverine populations in Canada's Rocky Mountains and Columbia Mountains.
How bumblebees keep up with a flower that won't stay still
Landing on a moving target is a challenge for all flying animals. For bumblebees, a flower swaying in the wind creates an erratic landing pad. Reaching it means matching its sidew…
Whole genome duplication shaped the evolution of the salmon family
Evolution is driven by changes in DNA that sometimes promote adaptation, altering traits like disease resistance or reproduction. Often, these changes are minuscule, modifying a s…
AI identifies Senegal's smallholder crops 84% of the time using limited training data
Food in Senegal is mostly grown on small-scale, rain-dependent farms, leaving much of the population vulnerable to climate shocks, according to the World Food Programme. However, …
Are household cleaning products damaging our health? – podcast
Our use of cleaning products has increased since the pandemic, but do we understand what they could be doing to our health? The journalist Rebecca Seal recently wrote for the Guar…
When microbial DNA is scarce, new profiling method helps separate genuine signals from contamination
In acute, life-threatening infections, rapidly characterizing the microorganisms in a patient sample can help guide diagnosis and treatment. Computational methods known as taxonom…
Assembly pathway reveals how bacteria build protein coils that extend in acid
The assembly pathway behind refractile-body proteins may have finally been resolved, researchers from Science Tokyo report. Using genetic engineering and several techniques for an…
Avian odysseys: Tracking raptor migrations from Europe to Africa
At the southwest tip of Sweden, the Falsterbo Peninsula stretches into the Baltic Sea, creating a natural bottleneck for hundreds of millions of birds traveling south for the wint…
Mapping the 'social network' of proteins in the cell to understand how genes shape living things
One of biology's fundamental questions is how our genes shape who we are. Adrian Serohijos and Stephen Michnick, professors in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicin…
Changing climate may influence risks from deadly rodent-borne diseases
Changes in rainfall can trigger increases in rodent populations and subsequent spikes in infection, new research has found, revealing how a changing climate could have consequence…
Hibernating bacteria can invade hospitals and survive outer space—but their energy budget reveals a weakness
A spore is a bacterium's survival capsule: dried almost solid and wrapped in protein armor, with its chemical processes shut down. Bacteria enter this state of hibernation when en…