This Cow and Pig Influenza Virus Could Infect Humans: What We Know So Far
Influenza D is only known to sicken cattle and pigs, but it “has everything it needs” to jump into people.....»»
Cold-resistant bacteria found in the Arctic can degrade crude oil
The Arctic region is being actively developed by humans, but it negatively affects the environment. The fact is that Arctic soils, which contain little organic matter, are susceptible to the toxic effects of hydrocarbons that get there as a result of.....»»
How long did Neanderthals and modern humans co-exist in Europe? Evidence suggests it may have been at least 10,000 years
The idea that two different human species, Homo sapiens (us) and Neanderthals, co-existed in western Eurasia 50–40,000 years ago has long captured the imagination of academics and the public alike......»»
Pollution risks worsening global water scarcity: Study
Water scarcity could affect three billion more people than previously expected by mid-century, with increased pollution rendering river sources "unsafe" for humans and wildlife, researchers warned Tuesday......»»
Microfluidic environments alter microbe behaviors, opening potential for engineering their social evolution
Microbes are social beings. Much like humans, they communicate and cooperate with each other to solve problems bigger than themselves. In a microbial community, there will even be free riders and others that police them......»»
A new virus-like entity has just been discovered—"obelisks" explained
Biological entities called obelisks have been hiding—in large numbers—inside the human mouth and gut. These microscopic entities, which were recently discovered by a team at Stanford University, are circular bits of genetic material that contain.....»»
Is your pet exposed to secondhand smoke? Here are the (serious) health risks
Our pets share our homes, lifestyles, and sometimes even our food and beds. For many pets, this close contact with humans can include exposure to secondhand smoke from cigarettes and other air pollutants. This may have serious health consequences for.....»»
How food availability could catalyze cultural transmission in wild orangutans
The proverb "necessity is the mother of invention" has been used to describe the source from which our cultural evolution springs. After all, need in times of scarcity has forced humans to continually invent new technologies that have driven the rema.....»»
Virus ancestry could help predict next pandemic
Virus family history could help scientists identify which strains have the potential to become the so-called Disease X that causes the next global pandemic......»»
An infectious gibbon ape leukemia virus found to be colonizing a rodent"s genome in New Guinea
A research team has caught a glimpse of a rare case of retrovirus integration. Retroviruses are viruses that multiply by incorporating their genes into the genome of a host cell. If the infected cell is a germ cell, the retrovirus can then be passed.....»»
Why now is the time to address humanity"s impact on the moon
Humans have always looked at the sky, using the stars as navigation guides or for spiritual storytelling. Every human civilization has looked to the stars and used celestial movements to measure time and find meaning......»»
Humans reached icy northern Europe in time of Neanderthals
Pioneering groups of humans braved icy conditions to settle in northern Europe more than 45,000 years ago, a "huge surprise" that means they could have lived there alongside Neanderthals, scientists said Wednesday......»»
Humans are living longer than ever no matter where they come from
Disease outbreaks and human conflicts help dictate regional differences in longevity. Enlarge (credit: Catherine Falls Commercial) Most of us want to stay on this planet as long as possible. While there are still differe.....»»
The surprising reason insects circle lights at night: They lose track of the sky
It's an observation as old as humans gathering around campfires: Light at night can draw an erratically circling crowd of insects. In art, music and literature, this spectacle is an enduring metaphor for dangerous but irresistible attractions. And wa.....»»
Study traces the roots of longstanding cultural interactions across the Tibetan Plateau to prehistoric times
The 1 million-square-mile Tibetan Plateau—often called the "roof of the world"—is the highest landmass in the world, averaging 14,000 feet in altitude. Despite the extreme environment, humans have been permanent inhabitants there since prehistori.....»»
Comparing carbon-trapping capacities of anoxic basins
Humans will need to both drastically reduce emissions and remove at least 10 gigatons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year to avoid the worst effects of climate change, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2023 synthes.....»»
Researchers develop method to map interactions of specific RNA regions in live cells
The interplay between ribonucleic acid (RNA) and proteins is not only important for maintaining cellular homeostasis but is also at the center of the tug-of-war between virus and host. Until now, there has been no method to globally map direct intera.....»»
The right bacteria turn farms into carbon sinks
A company works with farmers to treat fields with bacteria that sequester carbon. Some of the microbes that make carbon sequestration work. (credit: Andes Ag, Inc) In 2022, humans emitted a staggering 36 gigatons of carb.....»»
Neanderthals and humans lived side by side in Northern Europe 45,000 years ago, genetic analysis finds
A genetic analysis of bone fragments unearthed at an archaeological site in central Germany shows conclusively that modern humans—Homo sapiens—had already reached Northern Europe 45,000 years ago, overlapping with Neanderthals for several thousan.....»»
90,000-year-old human footprints found on Moroccan beach
An international team of archaeologists has found and identified a trackway made by multiple humans approximately 90,000 years ago in what is now Morocco. In their paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, the group describes how they tested.....»»
Emotions drive donation behavior in disease relief projects on a fundraising platform: Study
The digital age has profoundly changed how we communicate as humans. Today, we can regularly interact with people we are unrelated to and unacquainted with in real time across the world. Because of this, individuals can now engage in prosocial behavi.....»»