Uncovering the evolutionary origins of the hepatitis E virus
An international team of virologists, mammalian ecologists and zoologists has uncovered the evolutionary origins of the hepatitis E virus. In their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group analyzed genomic da.....»»
Enzymes evolved mix-and-match characteristics to shape nitrogen metabolism diversity across the planet
To boost crops more efficiently in the future, the evolutionary past may hold key insights. The way that plants process nutrients has a rich back story—they rely on enzymes that have been evolving for billions of years. However, these enzymes are o.....»»
Study shows diverse virus populations coexist on single strains of gut bacteria
Viruses that infect and kill bacteria, called phages, hold promise as new treatment types for dangerous infections, including strains that have become resistant to antibiotics. Yet, virologists know little about how phages persist in the populations.....»»
How influenza A moves: New simulation offers potential to stop spread
A team of bioengineers from the Biohub at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has created a simulation to mimic the way the influenza A virus moves through host tissue, presenting a possible new way to stop the.....»»
Mosquito genetics may explain why Zika virus outbreaks are rare in Africa: Climate change could shift the balance
A study reveals that Africa's low rates of Zika virus outbreaks may be due to a surprising factor: the genetic makeup of local mosquito populations......»»
Centromeres could be "hotspots" for evolutionary innovation
New research reveals that centromeres, which are responsible for proper cell division, can rapidly reorganize over short time scales. Biologists at the University of Rochester are calling a discovery they made in a mysterious region of the chromosome.....»»
The first trailer for 28 Years Later has arrived, and it’s downright terrifying
In the first trailer for 28 Years Later, the Rage Virus continues to wreak havoc as the zombie apocalypse only gets worse......»»
US to start nationwide testing for H5N1 flu virus in milk supply
Feds can compel any company that handles pre-pasteurized milk to share samples. On Friday, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would begin a nationwide testi.....»»
A microRNA solves an evolutionary mystery of butterfly and moth wing coloration
Lepidopterans (butterflies and moths) exhibit a splendid diversity of wing color patterns, and many species display black and white, or dark and bright, wing color pattern variants associated with the presence and absence of melanin. Many of these wi.....»»
Scientists identify mutation that could facilitate H5N1 bird flu virus infection and potential transmission in humans
Avian influenza viruses typically require several mutations to adapt and spread among humans, but what happens when just one change can increase the risk of becoming a pandemic virus?.....»»
Neanderthals and modern humans must be classed as separate species to best track our origins, study claims
A new study published by researchers at London's Natural History Museum and Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven has reinforced the claim that Neanderthals and modern-day humans (Homo sapiens) must be classed as separate species in order to best track.....»»
Particle research gets closer to answering why we"re here: Physicists outline next 10 years of neutrino research
Physicists soon will be closer than ever to answering fundamental questions about the origins of the universe by learning more about its tiniest particles......»»
Research introduces "ecology stereotypes," how perceptions are influenced by others" backgrounds
In new research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Oliver Sng, UC Irvine assistant professor of psychological science, presents findings that could transform how we understand the origins of stereotypes and social bias......»»
Excavations uncover evidence for the emergence and rejection of the earliest state institutions in Iraq
Excavations at a 4th millennium BCE settlement in Iraqi Kurdistan have revealed new clues about the origins of the world's earliest governing institutions, suggesting they emerged partly from their ability to provide large-scale meals, potentially as.....»»
Simulated outbreaks demonstrate how evolutionary approaches can estimate the speed of viral spread
Evaluating the speed at which viruses spread and transmit across host populations is critical to mitigating disease outbreaks. A study published December 3 in PLOS Biology by Simon Dellicour at the University of Brussels (ULB), Belgium, and colleague.....»»
Mid-Pleistocene climate change may have shaped hominin development and dispersal
A multi-institutional team of evolutionary specialists, climatologists and sociologists has found evidence that climate change during and after the Mid-Pleistocene likely shaped hominin development in parts of what is now Asia......»»
Raw milk producer optimistic after being shut down for bird flu detection
A second lot of milk was recalled after testing of retail products came back positive. Bird flu has landed on a California farm that shuns virus-killing pasteurization, leading to.....»»
Deep-sea marvels: How anglerfish defy evolutionary expectations
A Rice University study sheds light on the extraordinary evolution of anglerfish, a group of deep-sea dwellers whose bizarre adaptations have captivated scientists and the public alike. The research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, uncovers.....»»
Sony just released the first 8 minutes of Kraven the Hunter
The studio hopes to bolster its Spider-Man Universe with much-delayed film starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Sony Picture's Kraven the Hunter explores origins of tit.....»»
Biomolecules under deep Earth conditions help refine primordial soup theory for possible origins of life
A collaborative research team has made significant progress in studying the abiotic synthesis and stability of biomolecules in C-H-O-N fluids under deep Earth conditions......»»
How AI is transforming human risk management
While human error has always posed a cybersecurity risk, AI and emerging tech are playing an evolving role in Human Risk Management – uncovering new needs, challenges, and pain points. In this Help Net Security video, Bret Fund, SVP and General Man.....»»