The Galápagos lava heron, a small heron that stalks the lava-strewn shores of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, may finally have secured its place as a distinct species.
The Galápagos lava heron (Butorides sundevalli). Image credit: Casey…
Category: 5. Biology
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Light switch for life: Controlling molecular droplets with UV
Biomolecular condensates are tiny, droplet-like structures made up of molecules that help organize key processes in living organisms. Because they are so small and constantly changing, it has been difficult for scientists to measure their…
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Improved carp boosts profits by 25% in Bangladesh's polyculture ponds
A selectively bred carp strain is boosting productivity and profits across polyculture ponds in Bangladesh, improving overall pond performance in smallholder systems. A completed study shows that the third generation (G3) rohu, developed by…
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Gut bacteria may influence social behavior through smell
In a new study, Northwestern University neurobiologists discovered that gut bacteria and the nose work together to shape social behavior in mice, including who fights and who backs down. Using a combination of genetic and behavioral experiments,…
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A flesh‑eating fly is advancing towards the US border—can it be stopped?
A flesh-eating parasitic fly has spread north through Mexico to within a few hundred miles of the U.S. southern border. The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) lays its eggs in open wounds and in the orifices of live, warm-blooded…
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Unexpected potential bacterial symbiosis found in fungus that causes angular leaf spot
Scientists have uncovered an unexpected microbial relationship that could help explain differences in the severity of a major disease affecting common beans. The discovery sheds light on how the pathogen evolves and may point to new strategies…
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Understanding cell structures: Novel tool enables analysis of the plant actin cytoskeleton
A research team led by Potsdam-based bioinformatician Prof. Dr. Zoran Nikoloski has developed a computational approach and an accompanying tool that enables the detailed analysis and reconstruction of actin filamentous structures in plant cells….
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Dozens of deep-sea species discovered as new crustaceans named
Lurking in the depths of the ocean are countless species that have never been seen by humans before. As part of a project to name 1,000 of these unknown animals by 2030, 24 new species of deep-sea crustaceans have been discovered.
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Portable unit can quickly detect deadly whale and dolphin diseases
Novel marine mammal health surveillance can now detect deadly diseases in whales and dolphins in oceans, beaches and remote locations, thanks to new research from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The portable unit delivers results in about…
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Protein complex protects central RNA quality control from disruption
A research team led by Professor Dr. Niels Gehring from the Institute for Genetics has shown that the coordinated interaction of three proteins plays a central role in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). NMD is a mechanism in cells that destroys…
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