Depending on others for something you need may feel like a risky proposition—and perhaps a human one. It is actually a survival strategy found in the microbial world, and far more frequently than one might expect. Discovering why is key to…
Category: 5. Biology
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Why do microbes team up? A new model explains nutrient sharing in fluctuating environments
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The hidden stress facing coral reef fish in the Arabian Gulf
A new study from NYU Abu Dhabi has found that small coral reef fish in the Arabian Gulf are facing a hidden but growing source of stress. When oxygen levels drop at night, a common occurrence on some of the world’s hottest reefs, these fish must…
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Nutrient-driven 'death fronts' may explain why some antibiotics fail outside the lab
Antibiotics are medical marvels that have transformed once deadly bacterial infections into manageable conditions. But with a rise in antibiotic resistance that renders existing treatments ineffective, new agents are urgently needed. Scientists…
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Mate choice: How social trends influence mate diversity
Whether people follow a general trend when choosing a partner or consciously decide against it has a noticeable impact on the diversity of phenotypes to choose from. This is shown by a new study by the University of Würzburg.
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Animals' perception of time is linked to the pace of their life
As you read this, the screen is probably flashing over 240 times per second, yet, as a human, you won’t notice this flickering light. However, to a fruit fly hovering above your head, the screen would represent a strobe light fit for an Ibiza…
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Shorter early-life telomere length could predict survival in Arctic seabirds
A study published in Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology reveals a surprising link between cellular aging markers and survival in black-legged kittiwakes (members of the gull family). In the work titled “Who’s coming home? Shorter early-life…
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Engineered bacteria can consume tumors from the inside out
A research team led by the University of Waterloo is developing a novel tool to treat cancer by engineering hungry bacteria to literally eat tumors from the inside out. “Bacteria spores enter the tumor, finding an environment where there are lots…
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A new 'forever' marine pollutant? Fiberglass found in a major shellfish estuary
Simon Fraser University researchers have uncovered fiberglass contamination in a key estuary on Vancouver Island, raising concerns about how an as-yet-overlooked contaminant could affect aquatic birds, marine life and coastal communities that…
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Tokyo Bay's night lights reveal hidden boundaries between species
A key characteristic of modern human society is rapid urbanization, a process that can reshape natural environments and disrupt the habitats of many organisms. One widespread byproduct of urbanization is artificial light at night (ALAN), which…
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An African monkey ate a rope squirrel and came down with mpox
A monkey making a meal of a squirrel may have sparked an outbreak.
In early 2023, mpox broke out among a group of a few dozen sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) living in Côte d’Ivoire’s Taï National Park. Roughly one-third…
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