Biology
Salicornia genomes reveal genetic secrets to farming on salty land
A University of Newcastle-led global study has produced the most complete genetic picture yet of a salt-loving plant with the potential to help grow food in some of the world's ha…
Mosquito 'toilet' detects West Nile and first Hedwig-like virus found in the Americas
When public health researchers want to know whether diseases such as COVID-19 or polio are circulating in a community, they can look for genetic evidence in wastewater.
Did you solve it? Do you have the brain of an engineer?
The answers to today’s puzzlesEarlier today I set four engineering puzzles. Here they are again with solutions. (Do check out the hundreds of great comments posted below the line …
The surprising history of woolly rhinos: They weren't always creatures of the frozen north
Woolly rhinoceroses (Coelodonta antiquitatis) were fascinating creatures: giant, lumbering Ice Age beasts with thick fur and massive horns that died out about 11,000 years ago. Pr…
Cryopreserved sperm could help safeguard the future of endangered pupfish
Using cryopreserved sperm alongside larger breeding populations in zoos and aquaria could dramatically improve the long-term survival prospects of endangered pupfish, according to…
Why do spruce take decades to reproduce? A genetic study offers some clues
New techniques have enabled researchers in Sweden to begin decoding how one of Northern Europe's most important coniferous tree species switches from growing branches to producing…
Evolutionary home advantage: Field experiment reveals adaptation to be surprisingly local
A research team from the University of Bern has shown in a large-scale field experiment that populations of the same fish species can be much more fine-tuned to their local enviro…
Diagnosing parasites that pose health risks for dogs, humans
Parasites in wildlife don't just pose a risk to their wild hosts—they can also spread to domestic animals and humans, making safe and reliable ways to screen for these pests criti…
Pollinators keep a later calendar in human-modified landscapes, study finds
Human development may be changing more than where pollinators live—it may also be changing when they are active. University of Florida researchers at the Institute of Food and Agr…
RNA 'delivery tags' guide key messages to distant neuron branches
Much like a courier reading an address on a package, neurons must deliver RNA to the precise locations where it is needed. A KAIST research team has discovered how a small chemica…
Improved climate forecasts alone won't protect Africa's poorest farmers
As Africa prepares for the arrival of a powerful El Niño weather event, an international team of researchers led by the University of Sydney and Imperial College London has found …
Can you solve it? Do you have the brain of an engineer?
Hacks from the hidden world of test engineeringToday’s puzzles test your engineering smarts.The cranberries Continue reading...
Starwatch: A Venus-spotting challenge with a beautiful reward
The bright planet and the young crescent moon will make an attractive pairing on Monday eveningThis week’s Starwatch is a challenge but a beautiful reward awaits for anyone who su…
Researchers hope powerful new microscope will reveal ‘root cause’ of incurable bowel disease
No run-of-the-mill tech, ‘Curie’ operates at 10 times the resolution of conventional microscopy and could spur discoveries leading to new treatmentThe number of young people livin…