We Hiked Along With Cicada Biologists So You Don’t Have To
Researchers only get a chance to study Brood X every 17 years. WIRED came for the ride—and got up close to thousands of hatching cicadas......»»
Explaining the geological history of Indonesia using beetle evolution
A new study on weevils led by biologists Harald Letsch from the University of Vienna and Alexander Riedel from the State Natural History Museum in Karlsruhe brings new cross-disciplinary findings. Based on the evolution of the weevils there, conclusi.....»»
Reef-devouring predator survives coral bleaching and feasts on the survivors
Research conducted by marine biologists from the University of Sydney has found juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish can withstand tremendous heat waves well above levels that kill coral. These starfish then develop into carnivorous predators that devou.....»»
When predicting the function of microbial communities, simpler may be better
As biologists learn more about how microbial communities work together, a major goal is understanding how their composition determines function. What combination of strains and species makes the best team for breaking down pollutants, for example, or.....»»
How do caterpillars acquire chubby legs? Scientists trace the origins to a genetic program associated with crabs
Adult insects, including butterflies and moths, typically have only three pairs of legs. But the existence of extra legs in caterpillars—chubby abdominal appendages also known as "prolegs"—has long posed an evolutionary mystery to biologists. A r.....»»
Biologists find salicylic acid and RNA interference mediate antiviral immunity of plant stem cells
Viruses are a threat to all organisms, including plants. A small group of plant stem cells, however, successfully defends itself from infection......»»
Study of mud cores from Lake Victoria suggests diversification of cichlid fish led to their success
A team of biologists affiliated with multiple institutions in Switzerland and Tanzania has found that early cichlid diversification in Lake Victoria led to their success in deep parts of the lake. In their study, reported in the journal Nature, the g.....»»
Women take fewer risks because they think about losing more than men do, research suggests
One difference between men and women has been well documented by economists, psychologists and biologists—that women are tend to be more cautious and take fewer risks. Evidence has also been gathered about how this difference affects women's lives,.....»»
How proteins roll the dice to determine bee sex
To date it has been unclear exactly how the sex of a bee is determined. A research team from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) including biologists and chemists has now identified a key gene and the molecular mechanism linked with it. In th.....»»
Model of photosynthetic antenna suggests different types of plants may grow on Earth-like rocky planets
A small team of biologists, environmental scientists and chemists at Queen Mary University of London, U.K., has found via modeling, that it might be possible for different types of plants to grow on Earth-like rocky planets. In their paper published.....»»
Cell biologists identify new organelle present in mammalian cells made of rings of DNA
Researchers at ETH Zurich recently identified a previously unknown compartment in mammalian cells. They have named it the exclusome. It is made up of DNA rings known as plasmids. The researchers have published details of their discovery in the journa.....»»
Unraveling metabolic processes spanning from subcellular organelles to complex tissues
Metabolism serves as a direct reflection of biological functions and pathological conditions. Throughout the years, biologists and doctors have been delving into the intricate metabolic mechanisms underlying physiological processes and disease states.....»»
Stemming the tide of antibiotic resistance: Researchers shed light on the complexities of hospital wastewater treatment
In a paper published in the Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, a multidisciplinary team including biologists, chemists, chemical engineers, and environmental scientists have investigated the characteristics of wastewater samples from o.....»»
Red Sea corals threatened by mystery sea urchin deaths
The Red Sea's spectacular coral reefs face a new threat, marine biologists warn—the mass death of sea urchins that may be caused by a mystery disease......»»
Biologists in slow and steady race to help North America"s largest and rarest tortoise species
While the average lifespan of North America's largest and most rare tortoise species is unknown, biologists have said it could span upward of a century......»»
Researchers reveal novel AI-based camera alert system to promote coexistence between tigers and humans
For decades, wildlife biologists have dreamt of a "smart" camera alerting system capable of detecting tigers and other endangered species on the prowl. Legacy camera-trap technology, while valuable for many research applications, has historically bee.....»»
Some stick insects that normally reproduce through parthenogenesis found to mate on occasion
A team of ecologists and evolutionary biologists at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, has found that some normally asexual species of stick insects, which are known to reproduce via parthenogenesis, occasionally mate to enhance the gene pool......»»
Sometimes beneficial, sometimes damaging: The double role of the enzyme chameau
Biologists have discovered why an enzyme is important for the survival of fruit flies, even though it can shorten their lives under certain conditions......»»
Using zooarchaeology and collagen mass-peptide fingerprinting to study whales before industrialization
A team of archaeologists, biologists and historians from institutions in Norway, the Netherlands, the U.K. and France has found via use of zooarchaeology techniques and collagen mass-peptide fingerprinting that humans contributed to reductions in som.....»»
Palm cockatoos whittle twigs to make drumsticks for tapping on tree limbs
A pair of biologists at Australian National University, working with one colleague from the University of Queensland and another from James Cook University, has found that male palm cockatoos tap out unique rhythms on tree branches using custom-made.....»»
You say tomato, these scientists say evolutionary mystery
Biologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have found evidence for evolutionary "syndromes"—sets of traits that occur together—that help to explain how tomatoes first evolved their distinctive blend of color, sweetness, acidity and aro.....»»