Unearthing how a carnivorous fungus traps and digests worms
A new analysis sheds light on the molecular processes involved when a carnivorous species of fungus known as Arthrobotrys oligospora senses, traps and consumes a worm. Hung-Che Lin of Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan, and colleagues present these fi.....»»
Up to 32 frog species thought to be extinct may not be, new research shows
If there's news about amphibians these days, odds are it's not going to be good. A pathogenic fungus has been decimating populations around the world for about forty years and counting, pushing many species to extinction. Once a species is classified.....»»
Scientists reveal an unexpected gene in transparent worms
In new research published in Nature Communications, Emily Spaulding, Ph.D. and Dustin Updike, Ph.D. reveal the homolog of a well-known human protein, Nucleolin, in the tiny, transparent roundworm, C. elegans......»»
Student-led dinosaur excavation culminates in airlift
The process of unearthing a dinosaur skeleton from the ground, bit by bit, is complicated yet incredibly rewarding. The ups and downs of the excavation process is something Annie McIntosh and Mark Powers know all about—the two University of Alberta.....»»
Defect in cellular respiration renders sac fungi infertile
If a fungus has to take a circuitous route to achieve cellular respiration, it lacks the energy to build fruiting bodies......»»
New technique makes gene editing at scale possible in animals, shortening work timeframes by years
Working in teeny tiny worms, scientists can now test the effects of thousands of genetic mutations in one fell swoop......»»
NASA laser project benefits animal researchers, scientists show
Scientists researching forest carnivores such as martens, foxes and coyotes spend hours clambering through rugged terrain, sometimes in deep snow, placing and baiting camera traps to learn about animals' behavior in relation to their habitat......»»
Rare tropical fungus randomly blooms in the palm of a US teen’s hand
The alarming fungal growth looks a lot like cancer, but is harmless and easy to treat. Enlarge / The palm of this patient’s left hand exhibited a brown discolored, irregularly shaped patch of skin, which had been diagnosed as a case.....»»
Why is everyone horny for Martha Stewart?
The internet has been debilitatingly parched, devastatingly eager, and overwhelmingly obsessed with the thirst traps that are coming from the one and only 81-year-old ex-con and home influencer Martha Stewart.On Saturday, Stewart was trending on Twit.....»»
Can we cure the frog pandemic?
Frogs play an important part in ecosystems, but they're also fighting to survive an ongoing pandemic. Chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) has ravaged amphibian species for decades......»»
How advanced optical tweezers revolutionized cell manipulation
Optical tweezers (OTs), also known as optical traps, are highly focused laser beams that can be used to trap and manipulate microscopic objects with a noncontact force. Employed in a wide range of nano and micro-scale operations, OTs have become part.....»»
International collaboration works to breed fungus-resistant cotton
Cotton is an important crop grown around the world, such as in countries like the United States and Uzbekistan. When a fungus began to harm cotton in both countries, it brought together their scientists for an innovative research collaboration......»»
Plastic gobbling enzymes in worm spit may help ease pollution
Enzymes found in the saliva of wax worms can degrade one of the most common forms of plastic waste, according to research published Tuesday that could open up new ways of dealing with plastic pollution......»»
New research demonstrates connection between climate and Earth"s ability to replenish itself
Some 250 million years ago—long before dinosaurs roamed the earth—global warming and acid oceans caused by the rapid volcanic emission of the Siberian Traps led to the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, which resulted in the elimination of over 95.....»»
Disease outcomes differ by new host species in virus spillover experiments
Why has the SARS-CoV-2 virus ravaged the global human population, but many other animal viruses haven't? Using nematode worms as a model, researchers at Penn State conducted a set of experiments to investigate the factors influencing the disease outc.....»»
Team reports on a fungus that simultaneously combats two of the worst threats to banana plantation yields
The banana borer Cosmopolites sordidus and the disease Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum, are among the most harmful pests that threaten the livelihoods of banana growers, who face major challenges in attempting to con.....»»
All Jacked Up and Full of Worms trailer is creepy and weird
Words can't accurately describe All Jacked Up and Full of Worms, but if the trailer is any indication, then the body horror is about to begin......»»
The Fungus That Killed Frogs—and Led to a Surge in Malaria
A global fungal pandemic wiped out amphibians, destroyed biodiversity, and ultimately increased human illness. Now a second similar pathogen is on the way......»»
Advanced imaging sheds light on immune escape of shape-shifting fungus
Fungal pathogens have a major global impact upon human health—they are often difficult to diagnose and treat, and there is an urgent need for better diagnostics and more effective antifungal treatments. Using newly developed imaging technologies, M.....»»
Study investigates longer life due to faulty RNA processing
The control of RNA metabolism is crucial to the regulation of animal longevity, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Aging in Cologne have now discovered. They found that worms live longer when certain RNAs are processed different.....»»
Researchers piece together the story of an ancient Roman city, one artifact at a time
From small coins to tiny pieces of ceramic and even clumps of soil, Seth Bernard and a group of graduate students from the University of Toronto are unearthing a story about how a Roman city founded in 241 BCE lived and breathed through time......»»