Biology
Chilean rodent population collapse reveals how extreme drought can overwhelm wildlife's resilience
Research published in the journal Ecology analyzed 12 years of records from a population of degus in central Chile, revealing that these endemic rodents managed to withstand nearl…
Hooved mammals that migrate may be at greater risk of extinction than those that stay put
Over the past 100,000 years, hooved mammals that migrate have experienced a higher rate of extinction compared to nonmigratory species, according to a study being published Nov. 5…
Blocking specific molecular signal on immune cells may restore ability to fight mutated cells
A previously unrecognized weakness in the immune defenses against certain blood neoplasms could offer a promising target for future treatments. Researchers have discovered that na…
A well-timed blink helps us to look around
When did you last blink? Every few seconds, we briefly close our eyes, interrupting our view of the world. Most of the time, we do not notice. What is more, these brief interrupti…
Tiny animal populations can recover, challenging assumptions about extinction risk
Species reduced to fewer than 50 individuals in the wild are not automatically doomed to extinction, according to a major study co-authored by researchers at the Zoological Societ…
Research supports communitywide efforts to fight bedbug infestations, expert explains
Rather than being a poverty problem, bedbugs are actually everyone's problem.
How do octopuses remember? Scientists uncover a surprising secret
How does an octopus remember what it has learned? A new study led by Dr. Ana Luiza Turchetti-Maia, Dr. Tal Shomrat and professor Binyamin (Benny) Hochner—researchers from the Hebr…
A 70-million-year-old genetic rescue allowed codfishes to escape extinction and shape the North Atlantic
A new study has revealed how the repurposing of an ancestral gene saved the embryos of cod's ancestors from extinction, enabling them to form the large populations that, millions …
Origin of Stonehenge’s altar remains enigma as north-east Scotland theory ruled out
Geologists say they are getting closer to solving mystery as tests suggest stone may have come from elsewhere in Scotland, northern England or even IrelandThey spent countless hou…
Swiss Army knife of the Hawaiian Islands—how an endangered bird drills into trees to find food
There are no woodpeckers on the Hawaiian Islands, but a little yellow bird called the 'akiapōlāʻau (Ah-key-ah-pole-ah-ow) has evolved an unusual beak to drill into branches to fin…
Researchers highlight ferroptosis's dual roles in plant immunity
When plants encounter pathogens, they can defend themselves by rapidly killing infected cells to restrict pathogen spread. This immune response, known as the hypersensitive respon…
Historic duck DNA traces wild mallard genetic changes to more than a century of releases
Researchers have long known that releasing domesticated ducks can alter wild populations. Now, a study led by a doctoral student at The University of Texas at El Paso has document…
New research fills critical gaps in Central America's freshwater biodiversity knowledge
Three new peer-reviewed publications help to fill critical gaps in knowledge about Central America's freshwater ecosystems, which support extraordinary biodiversity but remain amo…
Prehistoric 'giant rat' found in Thailand from fossil teeth
A giant rodent weighing around 30 kilograms (66 pounds) roamed what is now southern Thailand 33 to 35 million years ago, scientists said, after identifying a previously unknown sp…
Historians say King Verica persuaded Rome to invade Britain. But could Verica actually have been a queen?
Controversial theory that Verica, who incited Emperor Claudius’s AD43 landing, was a woman could put a new spin on British history if trueIt was a moment that changed the course o…
Scientists reveal how cosignaling receptors dually regulate T cell activation via phase separation
Previous studies have shown that upon antigen stimulation, the T cell receptor (TCR) undergoes phase separation with the kinase Lck to mediate rapid T cell activation. However, th…
Genetic interaction map could lead to better antibiotic pairings for tuberculosis
Rockefeller scientists have created the most comprehensive map to date of how essential genes interact in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacterium responsible for tuberculo…
Flat feet may have helped Neanderthals stay stable while carrying heavy loads
In all likelihood, the Neanderthals had flat feet. But it was not a defect at all. Instead, it was the consequence of a precise functional strategy to reduce impact stress under h…
Feejee Mermaid on display in Colorado may shock and intrigue—but no longer considered a 'missing link'
Mermaids have inhabited world folklore and mythology for centuries. Ancient Babylonians worshiped Oannes, a human-fish hybrid; sirens populated Greek mythology; and fairy tales su…
Molecular choreography: How the p97 protein regulates cellular quality control
The p97 protein plays a central role in cellular quality control by preparing defective or no-longer-needed proteins for degradation and recycling. Researchers at the University o…
US prosecutors drop criminal charges against scientist detained over frog embryos
Kseniia Petrova was detained for four months after arrest with research samples, and feared deportation to RussiaFederal prosecutors have dropped all criminal charges against a Ru…
Mitigating the ecological consequences of light pollution
Light pollution is one of the fastest-growing and least-regulated environmental changes worldwide. It disrupts biological processes at all levels—from genes to entire ecosystems—a…
Evolution has repeatedly turned hawkmoth genitals into defensive tools
The genital structures of male hawkmoths are lifesavers. By rubbing specialized scales on their genitals against parts of their abdomen, the nocturnal insects emit ultrasonic soun…
Gold mining introduces an overlooked threat to wild caimans
Mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining in tropical regions is finding its way into wildlife. A team from the University of Vienna and the Veterinary University of Vienna sho…