Biology news — genetics, evolution, ecology, and the science of life on Earth.
Cell-inspired nanoreactor turns sunlight into hydrogen peroxide
Researchers have designed a hollow nanoreactor that converts sunlight into hydrogen peroxide with greater efficiency by mimicking the architecture of …
Stanford scientists discover immune cells that explode like microscopic bombs
Stanford researchers have discovered a striking immune defense mechanism in flatworms: specialized cells that detonate like miniature explosives to de…
Scientists catch a “jumping gene” mid-leap between species
Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism for how jumping genes spread between species, potentially accelerating evolutionary change. Scientists f…
The 85-million-year timeline of human evolution
Researchers have reconstructed an extensive timeline revealing that human evolution extends back 85 million years, beginning not with early humans but…
Forget the sperm race: Fertilization may depend on teamwork
Researchers have discovered that sperm cooperation, not just competition, drives fertilization success across numerous species. A broad evolutionary a…
567-million-year-old fossils rewrite the dawn of animal life
Researchers examining a fossil site in British Columbia have discovered 567-million-year-old organisms that fundamentally reshape our understanding of…
80-million-year-old snake brain reveals a surprising evolutionary secret
A fossil snake brain from Brazil dated to 80 million years ago reshapes understanding of early snake evolution. The specimen, identified as Tametara m…
Scientists discover the brain cells that keep you motivated
Researchers have identified brain cells critical to sustaining motivation during challenging tasks. Orexin neurons, located in the hypothalamus, activ…
Cancer-fighting chewing gum cuts HPV levels by up to 93%
Researchers have developed a chewing gum formulation that reduces human papillomavirus (HPV) levels by up to 93 percent while nearly eliminating two b…
518-million-year-old creature reveals the origins of spider fangs
Paleontologists analyzing a 518-million-year-old fossil have discovered the ancestral precursor to spider fangs, offering the earliest known window in…
DNA on the Shroud of Turin reveals centuries of hidden history
Researchers analyzing DNA from the Shroud of Turin have uncovered a complex biological archive embedded in the cloth's fibers, revealing centuries of …
Two new compounds could reveal hidden drivers of Alzheimer’s disease
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed two novel compounds targeting TAOK-1, a protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease pathology. The b…
Scientists may have found aging’s hidden trigger for brain disease
Researchers have identified a protein that accumulates with age and appears to drive neurological disease in aging brains. The protein EPS8 builds up …
Without this protein, damaged muscle turns to fat and scar tissue
Researchers have discovered that TRF2, a protein long associated with protecting chromosome ends, plays a critical role in preventing muscle damage fr…
How fitness, speed and position shape competition in expanding populations
Researchers have developed mathematical models that explain how competing populations expand and which ones dominate during growth, according to work …
The protein craze may not be for everyone
# The Protein Craze May Not Be For Everyone High protein intake, heavily promoted for muscle building and weight loss, carries a hidden risk for sede…
Mammals moving between the Americas stopped over in Mexico
Researchers studying fossil records have found evidence that ancient mammals used Mexico as a critical stopover zone during migrations between North a…
A new monkey species has been found deep in Congo’s forests
Researchers have identified a previously unknown monkey species in the Congo's remote forests through an unexpected combination of methods: distinctiv…
Scientists found two mysterious ‘ghost’ ancestors hiding in our DNA
Researchers have discovered genetic evidence that modern humans interbred with at least two previously unknown extinct human lineages, expanding our u…
Fluorescent probes offer sharper view of plant tissues
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar and the Regional Centre for Biotechnology in Faridabad have created fluorescent probes th…
To detect CTE while alive, a test for another brain disease may help
Researchers have discovered that a protein marker for Alzheimer's disease could help detect chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in living patients,…
Could eating less protein slow ageing?
Researchers studying longevity have identified a counterintuitive finding: reducing protein consumption may slow ageing and extend lifespan, according…
Fish pathogens once limited to Asia and US emerge in Brazilian farms
Brazilian researchers have detected columnaris disease bacteria in the country's fish farms for the first time, marking the emergence of a pathogen pr…
Scientists found evolution repeating itself in the Galápagos Islands
Researchers studying giant daisies on the Galápagos Islands have documented evolution repeating itself through fundamentally different genetic pathway…
The genome of a long-extinct ancient human is hiding within us
Scientists have identified genetic material from an unknown ancient human ancestor embedded throughout modern human genomes. This "ghost ancestor" lef…
Smallpox DNA in ancient Inca mummies shows virus came from Europe
Researchers have identified smallpox DNA in two ancient mummies from Chile, dating back over 400 years, offering the first molecular evidence that Eur…
Scientists discover 2 new 'ghost' lineages that contributed DNA to modern humans
Researchers have identified two previously unknown ancient human lineages that interbred with our ancestors, according to a new analysis of modern hum…
500-year-old Inca mummies prove that European colonists brought devastating smallpox to the Americas
Researchers analyzing ancient DNA from 500-year-old Inca mummies in Chile have found the first molecular evidence that European colonists introduced s…