How do diseases jump from one species to another?
From COVID to monkeypox, zoonotic viruses are a constant threat. But how do diseases jump between animals, and into humans? We asked our expert María José Ruiz-López......»»
A hybrid arrowhead against immune disorders: Bacterially derived natural product inhibits cellular immune response
The so-called immunoproteasome is essential for the cellular immune response. In autoimmune diseases, however, it is overactive. Until now, it has not been possible to selectively inhibit the immunoproteasome without disrupting other cellular mechani.....»»
Satellites reveal ecosystems most vulnerable to drought
More severe droughts that will also last longer: this will primarily be a problem for irrigated croplands, as discovered by environmental scientist Qi Chen. Mixed forests with a variety of plant species will be the least vulnerable. Chen compared the.....»»
Volunteers record bee biodiversity and discover new species in Pennsylvania
Community scientists in Pennsylvania have reported multiple new species of bees never before found in the commonwealth through a monitoring program led by Penn State......»»
Mapping the sex life of malaria parasites at single cell resolution reveals genetics underlying transmission
Malaria is caused by a eukaryotic microbe of the Plasmodium genus, and is responsible for more deaths than all other parasitic diseases combined. In order to transmit from the human host to the mosquito vector, the parasite has to differentiate into.....»»
This bird species was extinct in Europe. Now it"s back, and humans must help it migrate for winter
How do you teach a bird how, and where, to fly? The distinctive Northern Bald Ibis, hunted essentially to extinction by the 17th century, was revived by breeding and rewilding efforts over the last two decades. But the birds—known for their distinc.....»»
Bird species are disappearing at an alarming rate in Kenya, study finds
Sub-Saharan Africa has a vast amount of uncultivated, arable land—about 2 million km2, accounting for about 50% of the global total. This land is a critical habitat for many animal species, including birds......»»
Bonobo evidence suggests ancient origin of the "common enemy effect"
In the face of threats from other groups, humans, chimpanzees, and a selection of other species get closer to their own. Now an international team led by Kyoto University has shown that even our more peaceful cousins, bonobos—who have never been ob.....»»
Stranded student helps design synthetic polymers to combat fungal infections
Every year, more than 2 million people are affected by invasive fungal infections, which are often caused by Candida species and are associated with high mortality rates. The development of new therapies is progressing very slowly. Demand is increasi.....»»
Mosquitoes sense infrared from body heat to help track humans down, study shows
While a mosquito bite is often no more than a temporary bother, in many parts of the world it can be scary. One mosquito species, Aedes aegypti, spreads the viruses that cause over 100,000,000 cases of dengue, yellow fever, Zika and other diseases ev.....»»
Engineers design lookalike drug nanocarrier to evade lung"s lines of defense
A drug-carrying molecule designed to cure disease by slipping past the lung's natural defenses offers new hope for people with chronic or deadly respiratory diseases, say its creators, researchers in assistant professor Liheng Cai's Soft Biomatter La.....»»
Town urges curfew over mosquito-spread disease that kills up to 50% of people
Eastern Equine Encephalitis is very rare in the US, but when it strikes, it's bad. Enlarge / A mosquito collected to test for mosquito-borne diseases. (credit: Getty | Jon Cherry) A small town in Massachusetts is urging.....»»
Novel carbon nanohorn-based treatment enables efficient delivery of drugs in cancer therapy
Cancer remains one of the most challenging diseases to treat due to its complexity and tendency to metastasize (spread into, or invade, nearby tissues or distant places in the body to form new tumors). Traditional therapies, such as chemotherapy and.....»»
Antarctica vulnerable to invasive species hitching rides on plastic and organic debris, oceanographic model shows
Antarctica's unique ecosystems could be threatened by the arrival of non-native marine species and marine pollution from Southern Hemisphere landmasses, new oceanographic modeling shows......»»
Canada lynx confirmed in Vermont for 1st time since 2018
A Canada lynx, an endangered species in Vermont, has been confirmed in the state for the first time since 2018, and farther south than the last confirmed sighting......»»
Birds have accents, too: Researchers find cultural change in the dialects of parrots over 22-year period
While distinct languages and dialects are common to human societies, most people are unaware that other species may similarly have culturally significant dialects. New research conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Pittsburgh at J.....»»
What the unique shape of the human heart tells us about our evolution
Mammals, from the mighty blue whale to the tiny shrew, inhabit nearly every corner of our planet. Their remarkable adaptability to different environments has long fascinated scientists, with each species developing unique traits to survive and thrive.....»»
Roundworm study paves way for better RNA-based drugs to treat human disease
RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics have garnered significant attention in clinical research due to their potential for treating various diseases, including genetic disorders, viral infections and cancer. These therapeutics can target and silence di.....»»
Advances in bermudagrass research highlight genetic insights, potential for environmental resilience
A research team has reviewed recent studies to highlight the significant progress in understanding the growth and stress response mechanisms in bermudagrass, a widely distributed and valuable grass species. A recent review reveals the genetic diversi.....»»
How to bend the curve of biodiversity loss? New analytical framework provides answers
Biodiversity loss is considered a global crisis, as species extinction is worldwide, impairing ecosystem functions that are also essential for human survival. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, IPBES.....»»
"Masters of shape-shifting": How darkling beetles conquered the world
Large-scale genomic analysis of darkling beetles, a hyper-diverse insect group of more than 30,000 species worldwide, rolls back the curtain on a 150-million-year evolutionary tale of one of Earth's most ecologically important yet inconspicuous creat.....»»