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.
Latest News
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In Aussie first, 'Speckles’ the dolphin shows off extremely rare skin
February 05, 2024Scientists have had a career-making moment, capturing on film a dolphin with such a rare skin condition that only five other recorded examples exist. The dramatic black-and-white look, or piebaldism, has never been seen on a dolphin in Australian waters. -
Synthetic microbes gang up to safely smash weeds and fuel wheat growth
February 05, 2024Herbicides were once touted as ‘miracle’ chemicals, but their days may be numbered as researchers work on targeted SynComs, microbial sharp-shooters that can take out weed infestations, enrich soil and, importantly, are safe for us and the environment. -
Using a cell-phone vibrator, team builds a $7 tumor-creation device
February 01, 2024In the hunt for cancer cures, researchers work with structures known as tumor spheroids. A new method of producing these structures has emerged using simple parts, which could lead to the cheap, reliable generation of these valuable research tools. -
Unique fern sucks nutrients from the soil using dead "zombie leaves"
January 29, 2024Ordinarily, once a fern's leaf fronds have died, the plant has no further use for them. Such is not the case with the Cyathea rojasiana fern, though – a scientist has discovered that its dead fronds become "zombie leaves" which suck nutrients from the soil. -
Drone pics may be first-ever images of a newborn great white shark
January 29, 2024Hard though it may be to believe, there has apparently never been a confirmed sighting of a live newborn great white shark. Such may no longer be the case, however, thanks to recently analyzed aerial drone footage shot in California. -
Camera captures the world as animals see it, with up to 99% accuracy
January 25, 2024It’s easy to forget that most animals don’t see the world the way humans do. In fact, many perceive colors that are invisible to us. But now, for the first time, scientists have found a way to capture footage as seen by animals, and it's mesmerizing. -
Megalodon may have been longer than we thought, claims new study
January 22, 2024Most of us picture megalodon as a Jason-Statham-hunting monster that looked like a giant great white shark, but that probably wasn’t the case. A new study re-examines fossil evidence and suggests the creature was longer and more slender than thought. -
Tiny 'false' scorpion catches scorpion taxi to new neighborhood
January 22, 2024Pseudoscorpions have been seen hitching a ride on a true scorpion, and it’s the first time this interspecific rideshare has been observed. While they have eight legs of their own, these tiny insects prefer to sit back and relax on their road trips. -
We finally know just how tardigrades are all but invincible under stress
January 21, 2024For the first time, scientists have uncovered the precise molecular mechanism that gives the tardigrade, one of the toughest organisms on the planet, its ability to switch on a near-invincibility cloak when faced with life-threatening conditions. -
Scientists chronicle the life journey of one remarkable woolly mammoth
January 18, 2024Genetic and isotopic analyses have pieced together a remarkable narrative of a 20-year-old female woolly mammoth, detailing her health, status, travels and ultimate ending in interior Alaska – even though her story is now more than 14,000 years old. -
Cannibalism seen for first time after marsupials' suicidal sex sessions
January 18, 2024The sex life of a tiny Australian marsupial known as an antechinus is already pretty bizarre. But now its mating season has gotten even stranger – and darker – thanks to the introduction of cannibalism, as observed by field researchers. -
Surprise plant cell discovery unlocks human anti-aging potential
January 17, 2024Scientists have discovered a new contender in the quest to hack the human aging process, and it's within each of our cells. They believe this breakthrough may have far-reaching implications for how we approach premature aging and age-related diseases. -
Easy artificial evolution makes for solar-powered yeast
January 15, 2024Scientists have given yeast a brand new ability – gaining energy from light. The technique was remarkably easy, the team says, and could not only help us understand evolution but make better beer and biofuel. -
New species of giant Tyrannosaurus predates T. rex by 6 million years
January 14, 2024If T. rex is too mainstream, discerning 10-year-olds may now have a new answer when asked their favorite dinosaur – Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis. The newly identified species appears to be more primitive than its famous cousin, but just as big and scary. -
With help of lasers, mystery of giant 'King Kong' ape's demise finally solved
January 11, 2024For two million years, a 10-feet-tall, 660-pound ape thrived in the forest, until it mysteriously vanished during the late middle Pleistocene. After 10 years of work, scientists at last reveal just what happened to our largest known distant relative.
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