Biology news — genetics, evolution, ecology, and the science of life on Earth.
Game that reduces dementia risk may clear amyloid from men’s brains
Researchers have discovered that a mental speed-training game appears to reduce amyloid protein accumulation in men's brains, offering a potential non…
Hidden in plain sight: Caribbean reef fish nestle in tube worms, revealing previously undocumented partnership
Researchers have discovered an unexpected symbiotic relationship between Caribbean reef fish and tube worms that had escaped scientific notice until n…
Whether lefty or righty, practice makes the difference
Researchers examining the neural basis of left-right dominance in the brain discovered that handedness does not stem from innate differences in motor …
Scientists discover a hidden heart valve risk linked to gum disease
Bacteria associated with gum disease may accelerate calcific aortic valve stenosis, a progressive heart condition where calcium accumulates on the aor…
We remember little to nothing of early childhood — and a recent mouse study may help explain why
Researchers using mice have identified a neural mechanism that may explain childhood amnesia, the well-documented phenomenon where humans retain almos…
Scientists say Beefalo are all beef, no -alo. Breeders disagree
Researchers analyzing the complete genomes of Beefalo cattle have discovered that most animals carrying this hybrid name contain little to no bison DN…
Young gulls’ drab plumage may help them avoid adult attacks
Researchers used painted decoys to demonstrate that young gulls' drab plumage functions as a social signal that reduces aggression from territorial ad…
A new species of walking shark has been found in Papua New Guinea
Researchers have identified a new species of walking shark in Papua New Guinea, expanding the roster of these unusual fish to 10 known species. The Du…
Alzheimer's tau protein has a surprising secret role in memory
Tau protein, long understood as a villain in Alzheimer's disease, plays an unexpected role in normal memory formation, according to a new study in mic…
Orangutan mothers seem to plan playdates for their offspring
Female orangutans alter their behavior to create social opportunities for their young, according to research on wild populations. The animals travel g…
Neil the seal is more than a viral animal. He's become a global folk hero
Neil, a seal living in Hobart, Tasmania, has transcended typical animal celebrity status to become a global cultural phenomenon. The marine mammal cap…
Scientists decipher how a psychedelic substance is created, then engineer a plant to produce several at once
Weizmann Institute of Science researchers have engineered a plant to produce multiple psychedelic compounds in a single organism, a breakthrough that …
In deep oceans, evolution is supercharged. This diversity could help unlock humanity's greatest challenges
# Deep Ocean Life Shows Extreme Evolutionary Adaptations That Could Aid Human Innovation The deep ocean contains more undiscovered species than any o…
Yale scientists may have found how Parkinson's disease spreads through the brain
Yale University researchers identified two neuron surface proteins that facilitate the spread of alpha-synuclein, the toxic protein central to Parkins…
Chris Packham: 'I'd throw myself in front of a T. Rex to be consumed'
Biologist and television presenter Chris Packham is launching a new television series titled "Evolution" to explore the latest scientific understandin…
Ovary identity shift after menopause may contribute to inflammation
Researchers have discovered that post-menopausal ovaries do not remain dormant as previously thought. Instead, they may transform into organs that act…
Scientists just created the most lifelike cell ever made in a lab — here's what it could accomplish
Researchers have created SpudCell, a laboratory-engineered cell-like system that mimics fundamental biological processes including feeding, growth, an…
Artefacts hint at cultural exchange between Neanderthals and humans
Researchers studying Üçağızlı Cave on Turkey's Mediterranean coast have uncovered evidence suggesting Neanderthals and Homo sapiens shared cultural pr…
A robot that reads bacteria by touch, without staining or chemical labels
Researchers have developed a robotic system that identifies bacteria through tactile sensing, eliminating the need for chemical stains or labels. The …
Tiny worms reveal backup circuits that keep survival reflexes from failing
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong, Princeton University, and Columbia University have discovered how the nervous system maintains reliable su…
This common pesticide may be quietly wiping out future bumblebees
Sulfoxaflor, a widely used pesticide designed to control crop pests, impairs the reproductive health of bumblebees at low doses, according to new rese…
Neandertal babies were a lot like ours — but didn’t stay that way
Neandertals were born at roughly the same size as modern human infants, but their early development trajectories diverged sharply from ours, according…
Hawaii's famous “happy-face” spider has a surprising relative
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown "happy-face" spider in the Himalayas that bears a striking resemblance to Hawaii's famous species, yet…
Scientists found a longevity diet that helped mice eat more and lose fat
A modified Mediterranean-style diet low in protein but optimized for the amino acid methionine extended lifespan and improved metabolic health in mice…
'800 seconds for a sick visit': Some factors driving antibiotic resistance have nothing to do with biology, says medical sociologist Julia Szymczak
Julia Szymczak, a medical sociologist, argues that physicians' prescribing decisions for antibiotics involve far more than clinical judgment. Emotiona…
Summit living isn’t a problem for this tiny mouse
Andean leaf-eared mice possess physiological adaptations that allow them to survive and reproduce at extreme altitudes where most mammals cannot. Rese…