Environment

It's a dogma taught in every introductory biology class: Proteins are composed of combinations of 20 different amino acids, arranged into diverse sequences like words. But researchers trying to engineer biologic molecules with new functions have long felt limited by those 20 basic building blocks and strived to develop ways of putting new building blocks

Analysis of air samples taken at altitudes of up to 3,000 meters above Japan has revealed the presence of a vast range of viable bacteria and fungi transported by air masses originating more than 2,000 kilometers away, in regions enriched with fertilizers and pesticides. The study reveals a new way in which human, animal and

Aotearoa New Zealand's flightless parrot, the k k p , evolved two different color types to potentially help them avoid detection by a now-extinct apex predator, researchers report. Aotearoa New Zealand's flightless parrot, the kākāpō, evolved two different color types to potentially help them avoid detection by a now-extinct apex predator, Lara Urban at Helmholtz

Researchers have demonstrated that bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) checked their body size in a mirror before choosing whether to attack fish that were slightly larger or smaller than themselves, saying it was the first time for a non-human animal to be demonstrated to possess some mental states that are elements of private self-awareness. What

Summer storms are generally more frequent, intense and concentrated over cities than over rural areas, according to new, detailed observations of eight cities and their surroundings. The results could change how city planners prepare for floods in their cities, especially as urban areas expand and as climate change alters global weather patterns. Summer storms are

New research has revealed how underwater noise produced by humans may help explain why southern resident orca populations have not recovered from historic lows. The team reports that underwater noise pollution -- from both large and small vessels -- forces northern and southern resident orcas to expend more time and energy hunting for fish. The

Researchers have highlighted patterns of gene activation during Malabar grouper larval development, revealing an unusual early peak of activation of thyroid and corticoid genes during the early larval stage of these fish. Their paper shows that thyroid and corticoid genes are activated twice during larval development, once during the early larval stage and once during

Methane concentrations in Earth's atmosphere increased at record speed over the past five years. At least two-thirds of annual methane emissions now come from human activities, including fossil fuel use, agriculture, and landfills and other waste. The world has not hit the brakes on methane emissions, a powerful driver of climate change. More than 150

Researchers are developing a promising method to support the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in horses. Awareness of the prevalence of IBD in both humans and animals has increased in recent decades, and the need for effective and affordable diagnostic methods has become increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, are developing

Historically, Lake Okeechobee was thought to be impaired only by phosphorus, focusing efforts on reducing agricultural runoff. However, new comprehensive sampling across the Lake Okeechobee Waterway and its connected estuaries shows that toxic algal blooms also are driven by rising nitrogen levels from human waste and urban runoff. Increased nitrogen, worsened by extreme rainfall, significantly

As Europe grapples with the growing threat of tropical diseases brought by the Asian tiger mosquito, new research is enabling scientists to accurately predict towns across the continent where there is a high risk of dengue fever. As Europe grapples with the growing threat of tropical diseases brought by the Asian tiger mosquito, a research

A new theory explains how juvenile crown-of-thorns sea stars (commonly known as starfish) can destabilize coral reefs. The 'degraded reef framework' explains how the loss of live coral, which crown-of-thorns starfish feed off, paradoxically benefits juvenile COTS. As live coral diminishes, these starfish accumulate in rubble habitats, which serve as juvenile nurseries. Research into one