Biology news — genetics, evolution, ecology, and the science of life on Earth.
A surprising vitamin A discovery is changing what scientists know about vision
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University discovered that vitamin A and thyroid hormones work together to reshape cone cells in the developing human reti…
Spatial mapping reveals how human urogenital organs codevelop during organogenesis
Guo Jingtao and Wang Xiaoyan at the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences led a study that mapped how human urogenital organs develo…
Do spiders dream? Scientists just found a surprising clue
Scientists at the University of Bonn's Institute of Organismic Biology discovered that the Australian jumping spider Portia fimbriata experiences dist…
Neuroscientists reveal method to train people to have lucid dreams — and it involves virtual reality and mediation
Neuroscientists at the University of Trento in Italy trained university students to have lucid dreams using a combination of meditation and virtual re…
The asteroid killed the dinosaurs. Why did crocodiles survive?
Scientists led by the University College London found that crocodiles and their ancient relatives survived the asteroid impact 66 million years ago pa…
Different transcription systems shape chromatin behavior in distinct nuclear regions
Researchers led by Kazuhiro Maeshima at the National Institute of Genetics and SOKENDAI tracked how different transcription systems affect chromatin m…
Inhaling CO2 may rescue nerves’ ability to regrow
Zhigang He and colleagues at Harvard Medical School discovered that carbon dioxide exhaled at birth triggers a shutdown in cells' ability to regenerat…
Neanderthal DNA still survives in our human family tree. What were our ancient relatives' relationships like?
Researchers studying ancient DNA have discovered that when Neanderthals and modern humans mated over tens of thousands of years, a consistent pattern …
The secret to slower aging may be hiding in your gut
Researchers have identified a direct link between gut bacteria composition and the rate at which human bodies age biologically, potentially explaining…
The understanding that even bees have feelings is changing our view of consciousness
# Bees Show Emotional Complexity, Reshaping Scientific Views on Consciousness Scientists studying bee behavior have accumulated evidence suggesting t…
Chinese scientists discover “D-rex,” a giant fungus with roots stretching back 65 million years
# Chinese Scientists Discover Ancient Giant Fungus with Lineage Tracing to Dinosaur Extinction Chinese researchers have identified a previously unkno…
‘Oddball’ test lets us glimpse how monkeys see the world
# Macaques Show Different Visual Processing Than Humans, Study Finds Researchers at the University of Cambridge have identified fundamental differenc…
Your brain’s unexpected ability to regenerate and how to harness it
# Brain's Late-Life Neuron Growth Reshapes Understanding of Adult Neuroplasticity For decades, neuroscientists accepted that the adult brain could no…
This mysterious mushroom makes people see hundreds of tiny humans
# Mushroom That Makes People Hallucinate Tiny Humans Identified by Scientists Researchers have finally identified the mushroom species causing a stra…
Guatemala gains its first endemic bird in American Ornithological Society's 67th supplement
The American Ornithological Society released its 67th supplement to the Check-list of North American Birds in the journal Ornithology. The supplement …
“Crawzilla” was huge. Then scientists found an even bigger crayfish
A nationwide survey of giant crayfish uncovered a record-breaking specimen in Tennessee and revealed a potential biological ceiling on how large these…
Wild bobwhite quail spotted after habitat restoration project
Wild bobwhite quail have returned to the University of Tennessee's Ames AgResearch and Education Center following habitat restoration work at the site…
'DNA Typewriter' records cells' history in developing mouse embryo
Scientists reconstructed the complete cellular family tree of a developing mouse embryo by recording which cells divided from which ancestors over 13.…
Tattoos could be turned on and off with light
Researchers have developed a new type of ink that can be made visible or invisible using light, potentially solving one of tattooing's biggest limitat…
Big dogs age faster at an epigenetic level, new study finds
Researchers discovered that large dog breeds age faster than smaller dogs when measured at the molecular level, according to a study examining epigene…
Scientists discover the genetic secrets that may have helped Jonathan the tortoise live to 194 years old
Scientists analyzing DNA from Jonathan, a 194-year-old tortoise, have identified gene variants and epigenetic changes that may explain his exceptional…
Humans may not be as hardwired for violence as we thought
Humans and other primates may not possess a unified evolutionary drive toward violence, according to new research examining aggression patterns across…
Fossil mammal with reptile-like teeth changes picture of our evolution
Scientists discovered a Cretaceous mammal from China with an unusual dental trait that challenges conventional understanding of mammalian evolution. T…
Rare two-headed turtle hatchling discovered on Cape Cod
A two-headed turtle hatchling has been discovered on Cape Cod, marking the third bicephalic terrapin found in the region over the past five years, acc…
Bats may have first evolved in Europe 65 million years ago
# Ancient Bats Origins Trace Back to Europe, New Research Reveals A comprehensive genetic and paleontological analysis indicates that bats originated…
Sharks can hear nearly 250 feet away and pinpoint the source
# Sharks Demonstrate Sophisticated Long-Range Hearing, Study Finds Blacktip sharks possess hearing capabilities far more acute than previously docume…
Twisteddoodles on the discovery of a new cat species
# Cartoon Commentary on Cat Species Discovery Misses the Mark on Actual Science A cartoon published this week by Twisteddoodles in New Scientist take…
Insects are essential to vertebrate life—as food, shelter and medicine
Insects occupy far more roles in vertebrate ecosystems than simply serving as meals. A growing body of research demonstrates that insects function as …
Dinosaur snacked on seaweed washed up on North American coasts, fossil teeth suggest
# Ancient Dinosaurs Foraged on Seaweed Washed Ashore, Study Finds Dinosaurs living along North American coasts 75 million years ago supplemented thei…
Scientists expected these Galápagos sea turtles to wander. They stayed put
# Galápagos Sea Turtles Defy Migration Patterns, Revealing Critical Habitat Dependencies Scientists tracking yellow-morph green sea turtles in the Ga…
Spectacular feathered dinosaur fossil shows bird-like adaptations
# Fossil Reveals Independent Evolution of Bird-Like Features in Non-Avian Dinosaurs A pristinely preserved fossil discovered in China demonstrates th…
160-million-year-old proteins show surprising power against superbugs
Researchers have resurrected antimicrobial peptides from extinct mammals that lived 160 million years ago and discovered that some ancient versions ou…
Scientists just discovered what coffee really does to your gut and brain
Researchers have identified a previously unknown mechanism linking coffee consumption to mental health and cognitive function, with the pathway runnin…
A broken rib from the world’s largest T. rex hid a 66-million-year-old secret
# Dinosaur's Healing Rib Reveals 66-Million-Year-Old Biology Through Advanced Imaging Scotty, the world's largest known Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, c…
What the smell of a soil can tell us about soil health
# Lab Analysis of Soil Odor Offers New Window Into Microbial Health Farmers have long trusted their noses to evaluate soil quality. That traditional …
Japan's 2011 tsunami sparked fish hybridization, but species boundaries largely held
Japan's devastating 2011 tsunami disrupted coastal ecosystems so severely that it forced normally isolated fish species into unprecedented contact wit…
1.7-billion-year-old fossils reveal a crucial clue to the rise of complex life
Researchers analyzing 1.7-billion-year-old rocks from Western Australia have discovered over 12,000 fossils that reshape our understanding of how comp…
These medieval graves looked like family burials. DNA told a different story
Researchers analyzing ancient DNA from medieval Swedish graves have upended assumptions about burial practices, revealing that people interred togethe…
New soil test could reveal how soil microbes help feed plants
# New Soil Test Offers Cheaper Way to Measure How Microbes Help Plants Get Nutrients A faster, more affordable method for measuring DNA-bound phospho…
Scientists discovered two bizarre new sea spiders that are “nightmare fuel”
Researchers exploring the Salish Sea, the body of water between Washington and British Columbia, have identified two previously unknown sea spider spe…
Don’t toss cannabis leaves: They may contain rare compounds with medical potential
Researchers have identified rare flavoalkaloids in cannabis leaves for the first time, discovering a trove of previously unknown compounds that could …
REM sleep paradox: Dreaming may drain the brain’s energy even as fuel supply rises
# Brain's Energy Paradox During Dreams Challenges Sleep Science A team of neuroscientists has uncovered a counterintuitive energy puzzle in the brain…
Crop protection: A new method for understanding insect sexual communication
Researchers at INRAE have developed an artificial intelligence method to identify the sex pheromone of the lily moth, a destructive agricultural pest …
Aging muscles may be losing strength for a reason scientists missed
# Age-Related Muscle Weakness Tied to Nerve-Muscle Communication Breakdown Scientists have identified a previously overlooked mechanism driving age-r…
These tropical trees breathe at night to survive drought
Tropical trees facing prolonged droughts have evolved an unexpected survival strategy: they photosynthesize at night instead of during the day. This d…
Scientists gave worms magnetic bacteria. They lived 43% longer
# Magnetic Bacteria Extend Worm Lifespan by 43 Percent Through Iron Regulation Researchers have identified a surprising longevity mechanism by introd…
Scientists discover an “impossible” cellular survival pathway that could help fight cancer
# Scientists Find Hidden Cellular Survival System That Cancer Cells May Exploit Researchers have discovered an unexpected backup mechanism that allow…
When what you see doesn’t make sense, your brain does something remarkable
# The Brain's Built-In Referee: How Conflicting Visual Signals Get Resolved Your brain processes visual information across dozens of specialized regi…
Dogs pay more attention to consonants than vowels when we speak
# Dogs Process Consonants More Deeply Than Vowels, Brain Study Reveals Researchers have discovered that dogs process consonants with greater neural i…
Scientists find two tiny new snails with shells that close like doors
# Scientists Discover Two Rare Door-Closing Snail Species in Montenegro Researchers have identified two previously unknown snail species in Montenegr…
Twisteddoodles on how to make a cell look its very best
# How Artists Are Reimagining Scientific Communication Through Cell Biology Cartoons Twisteddoodles, the popular science illustration account, has tu…
Why do we feel emotional about fictional characters? part 2
# Why Fictional Characters Trigger Real Emotional Responses in Our Brains Humans invest genuine emotional energy in characters who exist only on page…