Biology News

When it comes to survival of the fittest, stress is a good thing Friday, April 19, 2013 - 10:38

When the woods get crowded, female squirrels improve their offspring’s odds of survival by ramping up how fast their offspring grow.

 

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How some leaves got fat: It’s the veins Tuesday, April 16, 2013 - 13:09

Some plants, such as succulents, have managed to grow very plump leaves. For that to happen, according to a new study in Current Biology, plants had to evolve 3-D arrangements of their leaf veins in order to maintain adequately efficient hydraulics for photosynthesis.

 

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Research Finds Invasive Kudzu Bugs May Pose Greater Threat Than Previously Thought Monday, April 15, 2013 - 10:25

The invasive kudzu bug has the potential to be a major agricultural pest, causing significant damage to economically important soybean crops. Conventional wisdom has held that the insect pests will be limited to areas in the southern United States, but new research from North Carolina State University shows that they may be able to expand into other parts of the country.

 

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New bird flu strain seen adapting to mammals, humans Saturday, April 13, 2013 - 11:43

A genetic analysis of the avian flu virus responsible for at least nine human deaths in China portrays a virus evolving to adapt to human cells, raising concern about its potential to spark a new global flu pandemic.

 

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Early warning signs of population collapse Wednesday, April 10, 2013 - 12:43

Many factors — including climate change, overfishing or loss of food supply — can push a wild animal population to the brink of collapse. Ecologists have long sought ways to measure the risk of such a collapse, which could help wildlife and fishery managers take steps to protect endangered populations.

 

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Feelings of power can diffuse effects of negative stereotypes Wednesday, April 10, 2013 - 10:52

New research from social psychologists at Indiana University Bloomington suggests that feeling powerful might protect against the debilitating effects of negative stereotypes.

 

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Researchers Uncover New Pathways in Bacterial Intercellular Competition Monday, April 8, 2013 - 16:48

There's an epic battle taking place that's not on the national radar: intercellular competition. While it's not an Olympic event, new research from UC Santa Barbara demonstrates that this microscopic rivalry can be just as fierce as humans going for the gold.

 

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Bird flu mutation study offers vaccine clue Monday, April 8, 2013 - 10:30

Scientists have described small genetic changes that enable the H5N1 bird flu virus to replicate more easily in the noses of mammals. So far there have only been isolated cases of bird flu in humans, and no widespread transmission as the H5N1 virus can’t replicate efficiently in the nose. The new study, using weakened viruses in the lab, supports the conclusions of controversial research published in 2012 which demonstrated that just a few genetic mutations could enable bird flu to spread between ferrets, which are used to model flu infection in humans.

 

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