A surprise clutch of eggs has solved a century-old leaf insect mystery.
Tag: Biology and Biochemistry
On Venus, Cloudy With a Chance of Microbial Life
Astrobiologists shift their gaze, and speculations, to Earth’s broiling sister planet.
Amid a Pandemic, ‘Batman’ Matters More Than Ever
Wang Linfa has researched bats and their diseases for decades, usually drawing little public attention. Now a world wracked by the coronavirus is relying on the work of scientists like him.
Did a Mutation Turbocharge the Coronavirus? Not Likely, Scientists Say
A preliminary report posted online claimed that a mutation had made the virus more transmissible. Geneticists say the evidence isn’t there.
‘Never Say Die’: Genetic Sleuths Rediscover Extinct Species
The rediscovery of an insect in Wales hints at environmental DNA sampling’s potential to change endangered species protection.
This Strange Microbe May Mark One of Life’s Great Leaps
A organism living in ocean muck offers clues to the origins of the complex cells of all animals and plants.
Scientists Created Fake Rhino Horn. But Should We Use It?
Experts are divided over whether flooding the Asian market with convincing artificial rhino horn would help or hurt rhinos’ survival.
How Did Plants Conquer Land? These Humble Algae Hold Clues
Two algal species share important genes with all modern land plants, a new analysis finds.
Humans Shipped an Awful Cargo Across the Seas: Cancer
A cancer afflicting mussels originated off the Pacific coast of Canada, but then crossed into other species in Europe and South America.
Ancient Egyptian Yeast Is This Bread’s Secret Ingredient
A self-professed “bread nerd” extracted yeast from 4,000-year-old artifacts to make a loaf of sourdough. “The aroma and flavor are incredible,” he said.