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......»»
Deriving mammalian DNA methylation predictors for maximum life span, gestation time and age at sexual maturity
A research team has found that there are epigenetic predictors of species life span and other traits in mammals. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes how they analyzed data held in a database created by the Ma.....»»
Wild horse species returns to the Kazakh steppes
After a few hesitant steps following a long flight from Prague, three Przewalski horses galloped off for the first time into the Kazakh steppe—the native habitat of this endangered species......»»
Palworld’s first big update is the perfect excuse to jump back in
Palworld's Sakurajima update launches later this summer. Here's what to expect from Pokemon with guns' first update......»»
First ever report of two ancient ape species cohabiting in Miocene Europe 11 million years ago
Ancient apes in Germany co-existed by partitioning resources in their environment, according to a study published June 7, 2024 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Madelaine Böhme of Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Germany and David R. Beg.....»»
Tree hidey-holes key to helping slow declines of small mammals
A decline of natural tree hollows is forcing arboreal mammal numbers to fall, according to a new study exploring why these species are disappearing in Northern Australia......»»
Scientists "read" the messages in chemical clues left by coral reef inhabitants
What species live in this coral reef, and are they healthy? Chemical clues emitted by marine organisms might hold that information. But in underwater environments, invisible compounds create a complex "soup" that is hard for scientists to decipher......»»
Shadowy exotic pet trade thrives in Pacific island nation
The Pacific's Solomon Islands has become a key player in the global live animal trade, with foreign collectors sourcing exotic species including some subject to trade bans, an AFP investigation has found......»»
Desert hero unveiled: Cissus quadrangularis genome decodes drought survival tactics
As water scarcity looms as a major threat to global ecosystems and food production, the quest to understand how plants like Cissus quadrangularis conquer arid landscapes is more critical than ever. The genetic blueprint of such species could hold the.....»»
Unlocking banana disease resistance: Key enzymes identified for phytoalexin synthesis
Bananas are a vital crop globally, but their yields are threatened by various diseases, particularly banana fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum. Traditional control methods, including chemical pesticides, pose environmental risks and are not a.....»»
Fish out of water: How killifish embryos adapt their development
The annual killifish lives in regions with extreme drought. A research group at the University of Basel now reports in Science that the early embryogenesis of killifish diverges from that of other species. Unlike other fish, their body structure is n.....»»
Researchers discover high coral diversity in extreme seawater temperatures
A team of Dutch and Indonesian researchers has discovered a great diversity of coral species in extreme seawater temperatures. Through extensive research, published in the journals Diversity and PeerJ, on marine biodiversity in Raja Ampat, Indonesia,.....»»
The importance of the paradise fish in evolutionary and behavioral genetics research
In Hungary, ethological research is most often identified with tests on dogs, but novel methodological advances could bring another species, the paradise fish, into the spotlight. Fish are easy to handle and produce numerous offspring, which could op.....»»
Chasing down a cellular "short circuit" sheds light on how certain diseases begin
A group of researchers at University of California San Diego has identified the cause of a "short-circuit" in cellular pathways, a discovery that sheds new light on the genesis of a number of human diseases......»»
Widely used climate theory doesn"t "ring" true, according to new tree data
New data on over 1,500 trees across nearly 1,000 sites shows that an existing theory of how individuals within a species will respond to a changing climate might not be true......»»
This retro platformer is like Super Meat Boy or Celeste if you couldn’t jump
Do you enjoy retro platformers? Then check out Splodey, a game where players use explosive potions to launch themselves forward rather than jump......»»
Remarkable new plant species steals nutrients from underground fungi
A distinctive plant that steals nutrients from underground fungi has been discovered as a new species by botanists from the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) in collaboration with local naturalists and stakeholders. The research is published.....»»
New Jersey plans to drop the bald eagle from its endangered species list
New Jersey proposed Monday removing the bald eagle from its endangered species list, citing a rebound since more than four decades ago, when a single nesting pair in a remote county was the only of its kind in the state......»»
"Life in the ocean touches everyone": US rolls out first national ocean biodiversity strategy
Roughly 2 million species live in the world's oceans. But scientists have only described a mere 10% of them. With extinctions on the rise and biodiversity threatened worldwide, many species are in danger of vanishing before researchers can identify t.....»»
Team of international experts call for urgent action against increasing threat from invasive species
While invasive alien species have long been recognized as a major threat to nature and people, urgent action now is needed to tackle this global issue. This is the critical evaluation by the 88 authors, representing 101 organizations from 47 countrie.....»»
How worms shaped Earth"s biodiversity explosion
One of Earth's most consequential bursts of biodiversity—a 30-million-year period of explosive evolutionary changes spawning innumerable new species—may have the most modest of creatures to thank for the vital stage in life's history: worms......»»