Biologists discover human-infecting parasite produces sterile soldiers like ants and termites
New research from scientists at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography finds a tiny freshwater parasite known to cause health problems in humans defends its colonies with a class of soldiers that cannot reproduce......»»
A history of bacteria domestication: Researchers investigate genetic and phenotypic characteristics of Swiss cheeses
The domestication of livestock and plants marked an important stage in the settlement of human populations in the Neolithic period, as they moved from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a subsistence model based on animal husbandry and agriculture. Becau.....»»
Model captures energy return on global agriculture investment
A primary output of agriculture is food, an energy source for the human body. But agriculture also requires energy inputs......»»
Black hole genealogy: A new way to discover "ancestors" of cosmic phenomena
A research team has proposed a new method to reconstruct the "family tree" of black holes. Published in The Astrophysical Journal, this research offers a way to infer the properties of the black hole progenitors of these mergers, one of the most brut.....»»
NASA finalizes strategy for sustaining human presence in low Earth orbit
As part of the agency's efforts to enable broader use of space, NASA has released its final goals and objectives for low Earth orbit, defining the long-term approach toward advancing microgravity science, technology, and exploration for the benefit o.....»»
Patients whose allergies cause the sniffles have different fungi living in their noses, scientists discover
Nearly a quarter of Portuguese adults have allergies that cause a runny nose. This respiratory disease, formally called allergic rhinitis and frequently associated with asthma, is a common problem around the world, and the upper airway is a key targe.....»»
How institutions transform weak reputation incentives into strong cooperation drivers
Institutions form the backbone of human societies. They foster cooperation by rewarding prosocial behavior and punishing selfish actions. However, they face a fundamental paradox: While they are designed to incentivize cooperation, institutions thems.....»»
Detailed bedbug genome analysis may improve pesticides
Bedbugs. Just mentioning the tiny, biting insects that live on human blood and infest mattresses, couches, and bedding strikes fear into most people. In addition to the anxiety, itching, and rashes an outbreak can cause, bedbugs can be difficult to i.....»»
Q&A with archaeologist: Are climate-related calamities erasing Illinois" cultural history?
In a new report, scientists with the Illinois State Archaeological Survey describe how increased flooding, erosion and other effects of human-induced climate change are degrading many of the state's cultural sites. ISAS research archaeologist Andrew.....»»
Twins were the norm for our ancient primate ancestors—one baby at a time had evolutionary advantages
Twins have been rare in human history and for that reason can seem special. Many cultures associate twins with health and vitality, while others see them as a philosophical reminder of the duality of life and death, good and evil. Some famous twins a.....»»
Anthropologists call for tracking and preservation of human artifacts on Mars
Are human spacecraft, landers, rovers and other space-exploration debris little more than trash littering the surface of Mars, or the modern equivalent of Clovis points—treasured artifacts marking Homo sapiens' lust for new frontiers?.....»»
Closest relative of "magic mushroom" discovered in Africa
A team of biologists, mycologists and microbiologists in the U.S., South Africa and Zimbabwe reports that a species of mushroom growing in parts of Africa is the closest relative of Psilocybe cubensis, the most widespread hallucinogenic mushroom know.....»»
New method speeds up protein study, aiding disease treatment research
Protein complexes are important for the majority of vital processes in the cell and human body, such as producing energy, copying DNA and regulating the immune system......»»
Newly discovered degradation process for mRNA could lead to clinical treatments
Researchers at the University of Würzburg have discovered a process that breaks down mRNA molecules in the human body particularly efficiently. This could be useful, for example, in the treatment of cancer. The study is published in Molecular Cell......»»
Butchered bones suggest violent "othering" of enemies in Bronze Age Britain
Archaeologists have analyzed more than 3,000 human bones and bone fragments from the Early Bronze Age site of Charterhouse Warren, England, concluding that the people were massacred, butchered, and likely partly consumed by enemies as a means to dehu.....»»
Completing the "timetree" of primates: A new way to map the evolutionary history of life on Earth
In a new article published in Frontiers in Bioinformatics, biologists Dr. Jack M Craig, Dr. Blair Hedges, and Dr. Sudhir Kumar, all at Temple University, have built an evolutionary tree that encompasses 455 primates, every species for which genetic d.....»»
Paleoenvironmental study at Waterfall Bluff reveals leopard seal far from Antarctic waters
Waterfall Bluff Rock Shelter (WB) (Eastern Cape Province (ECP), South Africa) contains archaeological deposits demonstrating persistent and continuous human occupation spanning from Late Marine Isotope Stage 3 (~39ka–29ka) to the mid-Holocene (~8ka.....»»
Like Netflix’s thriller Carry-On? Then watch these 3 movies right now
Netflix has an odd way of celebrating the holiday season. No, I’m not talking about Hot Frosty, a popular movie offering that sees Frosty the Snowman transformed into a hot human man with abs. I’m talking about , a thriller set during the.....»»
Bird flu jumps from birds to human in Louisiana; patient hospitalized
This is the first human case of bird flu in Louisiana. A person in Louisiana is hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu after having contact with sick and dying birds suspected of carryin.....»»
Climate resilience over the past 5,000 years: How human communities have adapted throughout history
According to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the global average temperature in 2024 will almost certainly exceed the limit of 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average temperature as set in the Paris Climate Agreement for the first eve.....»»
Ancient Roman harbor wooden structures analyzed with MRI technology
In a recent study, rare wooden structures from the Roman Empire were investigated in a wide range of ways using NMR methods. These methods, widely known for their use in hospital MRI scans to produce detailed images of the human body, have proven equ.....»»