"Jumping Gene" May Have Erased Tails In Humans and Other Apes
sciencehabit shares a report from Science Magazine: Mammals from mice to monkeys have tails. But humans and our cousins the great apes lack them. Now, researchers may have unearthed a simple genetic change that led to our abbreviated back end: an iti.....»»
Macaques give birth more easily than women: Study finds no maternal mortality at birth
An international research team led by the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna has used long-term demographic data from Japanese macaques—a monkey species within the family of Old World monkeys—to show that unlike humans, the.....»»
The true global impact of species-loss caused by humans is far greater than expected, study reveals
The extinction of hundreds of bird species caused by humans over the last 130,000 years has led to substantial reductions in avian functional diversity—a measure of the range of different roles and functions that birds undertake within the environm.....»»
Genetic database shows some fungal crops became completely reliant on ants 27 million years ago
When humans began farming crops thousands of years ago, agriculture had already been around for millions of years. In fact, several animal lineages have been growing their own food since long before humans evolved as a species......»»
The darker side of human rights for great apes
The Spanish government has announced plans to ban harmful experiments on great apes as part of a wider initiative to give them increased rights closer to the ones humans enjoy......»»
The medicines we take to stay healthy are harming nature. Here"s what needs to change
Evidence is mounting that modern medicines present a growing threat to ecosystems around the world. The chemicals humans ingest to stay healthy are harming fish and other animals......»»
Solar Sails and Comet Tails: How Sunlight Pushes Stuff Around
It seems crazy, but light actually exerts a physical force on objects. It could power a new generation of spacecraft for deep-space missions......»»
LEGO-inspired RNA sensors enable customizable gene control
A research team has developed an RNA-based sensor platform that can regulate gene expression in bacteria. Their findings were recently featured in the journal Advanced Science......»»
New method quantifies single-cell data"s risk of private information leakage
Access to publicly available human single-cell gene expression datasets, or scRNA-seq datasets, has significantly enhanced researchers' understanding of both complex biological systems and the etymology of various diseases. However, the increase in a.....»»
Study finds Mexican free-tailed bats unlikely to spread Chagas disease in Texas
Bats are widely known around the world for their role in the spread of a number of zoonotic diseases—illnesses that can spread between humans and animals......»»
Snakes in the city: Ten years of wildlife rescues reveal insights into human-reptile interactions
A new analysis of a decade-long collection of wildlife rescue records in NSW has delivered new insights into how humans and reptiles interact in urban environments......»»
"Who"s a good boy?" Humans use dog-specific voices for better canine comprehension
The voice people use to address their dogs isn't just because of their big puppy eyes. Humans slow their own speech when talking to their dogs, and this slower tempo matches their pets' receptive abilities, allowing the dogs to better understand thei.....»»
Research provides new insights into role of mechanical forces in gene expression
The genome inside each of our cells is modeled by tension and torsion—due in part to the activity of proteins that compact, loop, wrap and untwist DNA—but scientists know little about how those forces affect the transcription of genes......»»
The evolutionary history of rats has more holes than Swiss cheese, but researchers are trying to close them
Rats and humans have lived together for thousands of years. However, written historical records of rats migrating alongside people are sparse and some are entangled with myth and folklore......»»
SpaceX shuts down launches after problem with Crew-9 mission"s 2nd stage
SpaceX celebrated the first human spaceflight from its Cape Canaveral launch site on Saturday, and while the two humans aboard the Crew Dragon Freedom are safely on their way to the International Space Station, a problem arose with the rocket's secon.....»»
Bears have learned to open doors in California town
Owning a home in Southern California isn't just a dream for humans. Apparently, the bears want in on the market too......»»
Europe en route for moon with new simulator, says astronaut Pesquet
Europe has embarked on the mission to put humans back on the moon with a new lunar simulator launched in Germany, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet told AFP......»»
How a protein keeps gene clusters quiet in the cell nucleolus
In a discovery that sheds light on the complex mechanisms of gene regulation, scientists at EPFL have uncovered a critical role for the protein ZNF274 in keeping certain gene clusters turned off by anchoring them to the cell nucleolus. The study is p.....»»
How iron and metabolic constraints can aid gene discovery for photosynthesis and biofuel production
The single-cell green alga Chromochloris zofingiensis is an emerging model organism for photosynthesis and metabolism research. Previous research has shown that with the addition of glucose, Chromochloris zofingiensis shuts off photosynthesis, rerout.....»»
Tails OS joins forces with Tor Project in merger
The organizations have worked closely together over the years. Enlarge (credit: The Tor Project) The Tor Project, the nonprofit that maintains software for the Tor anonymity network, is joining forces with Tails, the mak.....»»
Scientists uncover a critical component that helps killifish regenerate their fins
Spontaneous injuries like the loss of a limb or damage to the spinal cord are impossible for humans to repair. Yet, some animals have an extraordinary capacity to regenerate after injury, a response that requires a precise sequence of cellular events.....»»