For many years, scientists believed that fossilization was a process that completely destroyed any original organic molecules, leaving only the hard structures of bones and shells behind. The prevailing thought…
Category: Biology
Protecting the Tjakuṟa in Central Australia
In the arid landscapes of Central Australia, the Tjakuṟa (great desert skink, Liopholis kintorei) is a symbol of both cultural significance and environmental importance. For the Aṉangu people, the Tjakuṟa…
How Akkermansia Muciniphila Helps Maintain Metabolic Health
In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Microbiology, researchers have delved deep into the behavior of a beneficial microbe found in the human gut—Akkermansia muciniphila (AM). Known for its positive…
Life as a Cascade of Machines
Living matter has long been one of the most perplexing questions in biological sciences. The sheer complexity and diversity of life forms, from the tiniest microbe to the largest organism,…
Killer Whales Feast on Shark Livers in Australia
For the first time, DNA evidence has confirmed that killer whales in Australia prey on white sharks specifically for their liver, a discovery that offers fresh insight into the behavior…
Unexpected “Bump” Discovered in Radioactive Lanthanum
Researchers at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, have made a groundbreaking discovery in the study of radioactive lanthanum isotopes. By precisely measuring their atomic masses, the…
New Discoveries Show How Microbes Help Reduce Toxic Carbon Monoxide in the Atmosphere
Researchers from Monash University have uncovered groundbreaking information about how certain microbes play a crucial role in reducing levels of carbon monoxide (CO), a toxic gas present in our atmosphere.…
Shared Genetic Mechanism Regulates Enhancer Activation and DNA Looping
DNA transcription is a fundamental biological process that kicks off the expression of genes, ultimately leading to the production of proteins, the building blocks of life. For a gene to…
Studying a Boiling River to Predict the Future of the Amazon Rainforest
Deep within the dense, vibrant heart of the Amazon rainforest, a remarkable phenomenon exists that many would find difficult to believe: a river so hot it can boil. Known as…
Study Links Rapid Temperature Fluctuations to Ecosystem Destabilization
A new study led by an ecology and evolutionary biologist at UC Santa Cruz sheds light on the profound effects of temperature fluctuations due to climate change, revealing a doubly…
New Fungus Species Discovered in Northern Ireland
In a remarkable new study published in the journal Fungal Systematics and Evolution, Dr. Harry Evans, Emeritus Fellow at CAB International, led an international team of scientists, including experts from…
Vocalizations Reflect Personality Traits in Pallas’ Long-Tongued Bats
A team of animal behaviorists from the Leibniz-Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, the Museum für Naturkunde, and Wageningen University and Research recently published an intriguing study in the Proceedings…
Plant Genomes Surprisingly Stable After Chromosome Shifts
The epigenetic state of chromatin, gene activity, and chromosomal positioning are crucial factors in understanding the regulation of genes in any organism. A recent study by a team of researchers…
Three-Nucleon Force Drives Enhanced Spin-Orbit Splitting and Stabilizes Atomic Nuclei
A new study led by researchers at Kyushu University, Japan, has uncovered the important role of the three-nucleon force in nuclear stability, providing new insights that could have broad implications…
New Research Challenges Conventional Understanding of Magma Sources at Kīlauea and Mauna Loa
A team of Earth scientists from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, along with international collaborators, has recently made an exciting discovery regarding the magma sources of Hawai’i’s two most…
BCL6 Protein Identified as Key to Maintaining Muscle Mass During Weight Loss
One in eight adults in the United States has tried or is currently using a GLP-1 medication, with about a quarter of those users seeking weight loss as their primary…
Seawater-Powered Yarn-Like Batteries
For decades, most batteries have been rigid, dry, and poorly suited to the demands of marine environments. These energy sources, while highly effective in controlled environments, are usually incompatible with…
Self-Destructing Cells May Spread Sepsis Through Gasdermin-D Vesicles
Sepsis, one of the most common and deadly conditions globally, kills approximately 11 million people annually according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It’s characterized by out-of-control inflammation, often triggered…
Potato Famine Pathogen Traced to South American Andes
Researchers at North Carolina State University (NC State) have confirmed that the Irish potato famine pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, originated in the South American Andes Mountains. This discovery, the result of…
Human-Specific Gene Mechanism Enables Rapid Response to Viral Infections
Researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have made a groundbreaking discovery about the immune system’s ability to rapidly defend against viruses. This new genetic mechanism could lead to innovative…