Pink pigeons in Mauritius made a remarkable comeback from near-extinction, but are still losing genetic diversity
In the 1980s there were just ten or so pink pigeons left in the wild. Known to scientists as Nesoenas mayeri, the species is found only on Mauritius, the Indian Ocean island that was once home to the dodo. Like the dodo, the pink pigeon made an easy.....»»
Ethics of biobanking for conservation: Researchers adjust ethical assessment tool for the use of genome research banks
In the face of the global biodiversity crisis, more and more biobanks are being set up to safeguard and potentially restore genetic diversity. Preserved tissue or cells allow scientists and conservationists to overcome spatial and even temporal fragm.....»»
Study shows urbanization has impacted the population genetic structure of the Eurasian red squirrel in Japan
Since many kinds of wildlife have started living in urban environments, urban environments have been recognized as places of biodiversity conservation. What kind of factors facilitate or prohibit wildlife from living in urban environments?.....»»
Study shows microbial diversity differences in volcanic cones and craters
Volcanic activity alters the Earth's surface and promotes the development of new ecosystems, providing valuable models for studying soil formation processes such as microbial composition and vegetation succession. Increasing evidence suggests that so.....»»
Researchers identify novel approach to minimize nitrogen loss in crops
While agriculture producers apply nitrogen fertilizer to supply nutrients to their crops, they can't always keep those nutrients in the soil for maximum efficiency, often losing them into the atmosphere or water supply as nitrates and nitrous oxide......»»
Boeing risks losing billions as 33,000 workers vote to strike
Workers refused to waste leverage as Boeing deals with $45 billion debt. Enlarge / Union members cheer during a news conference following a vote count on the union contract at the IAM District 751 Main Union Hall in Seattle, Wash.....»»
Experimental evidence links plant diversity to ecosystem multifunctionality through multitrophic diversity
A study led by Prof. Liu Xiaojuan from the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IBCAS) has demonstrated that the association between multitrophic diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality is stronger than the relationship between.....»»
Ford will tap closed India factory to export
Ford will likely use the Indian plant, a source of low-cost production, to export to key markets, and possibly China, where it and other global automakers are losing ground to domestic rivals......»»
Studies on pigeon-guided missiles, swimming abilities of dead fish among Ig Nobles winners
A study that explores the feasibility of using pigeons to guide missiles and one that looks at the swimming abilities of dead fish were among the winners Thursday of this year's Ig Nobels, the prize for comical scientific achievement......»»
Hit Mobile Game Flappy Bird is Making a Comeback
The game was previously delisted for a decade. The post Hit Mobile Game Flappy Bird is Making a Comeback appeared first on Phandroid. Remember Flappy Bird, the super-popular game which first made its appearance on smartphones a decade ago?.....»»
Scientists discover crude oil decimates sea otter buoyancy
Sea otters are famed for their luscious pelts, but the fur almost led to their extinction. By 1938, only a tiny population of ~50 remained clinging to the central California coast. Since then, the mammals have battled back. However, the charismatic c.....»»
New research reveals how El Niño caused the greatest ever mass extinction
Mega ocean warming El Niño events were key in driving the largest extinction of life on planet Earth some 252 million years ago, according to new research......»»
New fossil fish species scales up evidence of Earth"s evolutionary march
Climate change and asteroids are linked with animal origin and extinction—and plate tectonics also seems to play a key evolutionary role, "groundbreaking" new fossil research reveals......»»
Decoding Atractylodes lancea: A genomic journey through adaptation and metabolism
The cultivation of high-quality medicinal plants like Atractylodes lancea involves intricate genetic processes influenced by environmental factors. Despite its extensive use in traditional medicine, the genetic basis and metabolomic diversity of A. l.....»»
The olive tree"s blueprint: Key insights into high-quality oil production
A pivotal study has decoded the genetic basis of olive oil production, revealing a key regulatory mechanism that shapes oil biosynthesis. By mapping the olive tree's genome and metabolic pathways, researchers have identified how MYC2, a critical tran.....»»
Researchers uncover new infection-fighting molecules through "molecular de-extinction"
A new study led by Cesar de la Fuente, Ph.D., Presidential Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Microbiology, Chemistry, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, has uncovered sequences for infection-.....»»
Modeling study explains why amazon is such a biodiverse paradise
The Amazon rainforest is home to a remarkable variety of plants and animals not found anywhere else on Earth, with some species only located in certain areas, but the reason for this has perplexed and divided scientists for decades......»»
Genomic analysis confirms the uniqueness of Iberian red deer in Europe
A genome study of more than 700 European red deer has identified four distribution areas on the continent (Norway, Scotland, Spain and Central Europe), each with their own genetic characteristics that need to be preserved.....»»
Century-old experiment secures beer and whiskey"s future
Thanks to an experiment started before the Great Depression, researchers have pinpointed the genes behind the remarkable adaptability of barley, a key ingredient in beer and whiskey. These insights could ensure the crop's continued survival amidst ra.....»»
Endangered species rebounds in California a century after being wiped out
All on its own, an endangered species is making a fierce comeback in California, newly published state wildlife data show......»»
Whales are recovering from near extinction, but industrial fishing around Antarctica competes for their sole food source
The Southern Ocean encircling Antarctica is the world's largest feeding ground for baleen whales—species like humpbacks that filter tiny organisms from seawater for food. In the 20th century, whalers killed roughly 2 million large whales in the Sou.....»»