Mice born of two genetic mothers, thanks to stem cells and gene editing
Chinese researchers have successfully managed to breed healthy mice with genetic material from two mothers, using stem cells and gene editing.
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Biology
From the smallest microbe to the largest dinosaurs and from the tiniest spore to the biggest giant sequoia, biological research continues to uncover weird and wonderful secrets of the creatures with whom we share the planet with – and could soon extend to the study of life on bodies in the solar system beyond our home.
Fiery, high-flying Icarus moth finally confirmed as new species
In Greek myth, Icarus was the high-flying son of Daedalus who, due to his own arrogance, flew too close to the sun. Now his name has been given to a newly-discovered moth, Admetovis icarus, thanks to its fiery markings and partiality to high altitudes.
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Could a microbial "Noah's Ark" save good gut bugs from disappearing?
Maintaining the right microbial balance is crucial to your health, but antibiotics and poor diet have reduced the diversity of human microbiota. To preserve that diversity before it’s gone for good, a team of scientists is now calling for the creation of a microbial “Noah’s Ark.”
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Microbial "spacesuits" help bacteria convert CO2 to useful chemicals
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have now developed “spacesuits” that wrap around bacteria to not only protect them from the elements, but turn them into biohybrids that capture carbon dioxide and turn it into useful chemicals.
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Biology
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Your dog's brain might not be so special
Our canine friends are not as exceptionally intelligent as we think, according to a newly published study that sought to place the brain power of our canine companions in the context of other members of the animal kingdom.
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Newly-classified dinosaur was world's largest at the time
Ledumahadi mafube was the world's largest land animal when it existed almost 200 million years ago. Despite this fact, none of the dinosaur's fossilized remains were discovered until relatively recently, and it has only now been scientifically classified.
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Biology
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New species of neon fish emerges from the "twilight zone"
Researchers from the California Academy of Science (CAS) have discovered a new species of fish that looks pretty hard to miss with its neon green, pink and yellow coloring.
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Biology
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Oxford scientists lay out blueprint for universal flu vaccine
Every year, the world enters an arms race with the flu. Creating a universal flu vaccine would give us the upper hand for the foreseeable future, and a new study from Oxford has identified a way to make that possible.
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Fish-catching praying mantis surprises scientists
Praying mantises may not actually pray, but they do PREY heavily on their fellow insects, along with other small land animals. Now, however, for the first time, scientists have documented a praying mantis catching and eating fish.
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Why scientists gave ecstasy to octopuses
If you've ever wondered what would happen if you gave an octopus a strong dose of ecstasy then wonder no more. Researchers have recently revealed the results of experiments finding that social behavior can be triggered in a particularly asocial species of octopus through exposure to MDMA.
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