Biology news — genetics, evolution, ecology, and the science of life on Earth.
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…
Spectacular fossil preserves internal organs of ancient marine reptile
A remarkably preserved fossil of Austronaga minuta reveals the internal anatomy of a marine reptile that inhabited Earth's oceans roughly 245 million …
This week’s new questions
# How Long Would Life Survive Without the Sun, and Why We Bond With Fictional Characters New Scientist posed two distinct scientific questions this w…
Chicken kidney sponge could be 'outstanding' at cleaning up polluted ports
Researchers are exploring chicken kidney tissue as a biological filter to clean contaminated ports. The porous structure of chicken kidney sponges can…
Quantum in the palm of your hand: The evolution of superconducting qubits
Superconducting qubits have evolved from laboratory curiosities into devices approaching practical utility. These quantum processors harness electrons…
The cost of memory: How organisms balance thinking and sensing
Researchers are examining a fundamental tradeoff that shapes all life: the energetic cost of memory versus its survival benefits. Animals and cells th…
Why the same DNA damage causes cancer in some people but not others
Researchers have demonstrated that inherited genetics fundamentally determines whether DNA damage leads to cancer in some individuals but remains harm…
Ancient human relative cannibalized both adults and children in a cave in Spain 850,000 years ago, fossils reveal
Fossils excavated from Gran Dolina cave in Spain show that an ancient human relative consumed both adult and child members of its own species roughly …
Saber-toothed cats' spinal tumors suggest inbred species struggled to survive
Saber-toothed cats trapped in the La Brea Tar Pits suffered from spinal tumors at rates far higher than expected, pointing to severe inbreeding that w…
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Biology news — genetics, evolution, ecology, and the science of life on Earth.