Forget Meat—Here Comes Genetically Modified Protein Fungus
Move over meat, scientists have engineered a fungal organism that produces protein more efficiently than conventional livestock while dramatically reducing environmental damage.
Biology
Mysterious Magnetic Fossils Left Behind by An Unknown Ancient Creature Offer Clues to the Origins of Nature’s “Sixth Sense”
Ninety-seven-million-year-old magnetic fossils, left behind in sea beds by an unknown creature, may have been a biological GPS.
Could Toothpaste Made From Hair Help Teeth Regrow Enamel? Scientists Think So
Scientists at King’s College London have developed a sustainable biomaterial derived from hair that could help rebuild tooth enamel.
Life on Earth Began About One Billion Years Earlier than Previously Thought, New Research Finds
Scientists have detected signatures in ancient rocks that push back the timeframe for the discovery of early life by billions of years.
Watch As This Parasitic Ant Queen Deploys a “Chemical Weapon” and Tricks Worker Ants into Killing Their Own Mother
Researchers have discovered parasitic ant queens that use natural "chemical weapons" to trick ants from rival colonies.
Bees Can Tell Time: New Study Reveals Shockingly Advanced Insect Intelligence
Bees can distinguish split-second flashes of light, revealing surprising timing abilities and advanced cognitive flexibility.
Eerie Sightings of “Sea Serpents” Have Haunted Sailors for Centuries—We Went to a Famous Monster Hunter for Answers to the Mystery
Tales of sea serpents have haunted seafarers for centuries, and Scottish researcher Adrian Shine offers a naturalist's view on some of history's most famous cases.
“Tectonics, Climate, and Life Co-Evolved Through Deep Time”: How a Supercontinent Breakup Produced All Complex Life on Earth
All complex life on Earth may be the result of plate tectonics tearing apart the ancient supercontinent Nuna 1.5 billion years ago.
Scientists Discover Extremophiles Thriving in Blue ‘Volcanic Goo’ Deep in the Ocean
New research reveals that in some of the most inhospitable parts of the ocean depths, a blue volcanic mud contains evidence of extremophiles.
Bioengineering ‘Hack’ Allows Scientists to Recreate Octopus Camouflage Pigment Using Bacteria
Scientists at UC San Diego have successfully used bacteria to reproduce a unique pigment that allows octopuses to blend in with their surroundings.
Flatworm Stem Cell Discovery Could Soon Rewrite the Rules of Regeneration Science
Scientists have long been intrigued by the ability of flatworms to regenerate complete bodies from small fragments of tissue. The underlying mechanisms behind this process have remained relatively unclear until recently.
Scientists Map the Colors of Life to Hunt for Potential Biosignatures on Alien Worlds
In the search for alien life, one Cornell researcher says color may be a telltale sign of biosignatures on far-off exoplanets.
Levitation Breakthrough Enables Scientists to Sort Living Cells Using “Invisible Force” Instead of Physical Contact
A groundbreaking new device uses electromagnetic levitation to help researchers gently sort living cells, with no need for physical contact.
Scientists Demonstrate ‘Brain-Inspired’ Computers Made from Mushrooms That Mimic Neural Activity
Scientists have designed a novel fungus-based computer system that incorporates parts made from common shitake mushrooms.
“We Don’t Know Why It Happens”: Scientists Discover Bats That Glow an Eerie Green Under UV Light
Scientists studying North American bats have found several species that have the ability to glow when exposed to UV light.
Scientists Have Revealed the ‘Shocking’ Hunting Abilities of These Tiny Predaory Worms
Researchers have discovered a microscopic roundworm that uses electrostatic induction to launch itself onto flying insects.
Discovery of Ancient Amber in Ecuador Reveals the Tiny Inhabitants of an Ancient Gondwanan Forest
A team of scientists recently identified the first deposits of amber in South America to contain ancient insects, providing a window into biological life 112 million years ago.
Newly Discovered Glowing Shark and a Hidden Crab Reveal the Deep Sea’s Untold Biodiversity
Scientists have recently classified two new species off the coast of Western Australia that illuminate how little we actually know about life in the deep sea.
“We Knew We Had Documented Something Extraordinary”: Killing Behavior of European Bats Sounds Like a Scene from a Horror Movie
Eerie audio recordings reveal how Europe's largest bats hunt, catch, kill, and eat birds in mid-flight without having to land.
Ancient Fungi May Have Paved the Way for Life on Land, New Research Reveals
Before the first trees sprouted on Earth, the planet’s barren landscape may already have been transformed by fungi.
What One Bacteria’s Survival in a High-Stress Rocket Flight Means for Humans and the Search for ET
In a boon to human space travel, new research has shown that bacteria essential to our health can survive rocket launches and microgravity.
Venus Flytrap’s Bizarre Insect Capture Mechanism Has Long Puzzled Scientists—Now They Finally Know How It Works
Researchers have discovered how the Venus flytrap translates a physical touch into an electrical signal that quickly closes its trap.
Evidence of Hybrid Mammoths Roaming the Ancient Americas Reveals an Evolutionary Surprise
North American mammoths interbred more often than previously believed, suggesting hybrids were surprisingly common in the past 400,000 years.
Evolutionary Mystery of Psilocybin Deepens With Discovery That Mushrooms Twice Evolved the Psychedelic Compound
New research reveals a psychedelic mystery involving how two types of mushrooms evolved to produce psilocybin on separate occasions.
Fatal Attraction: This Flower Mimics a Dying Creature to Lure Pollinators
New research reveals a plant that mimics the scent of injured ants to attract flies, enabling an unusual pollination strategy.
If You Have Trouble Listening in a Crowded Room, Your Hearing May Not Be to Blame
Scientists studying the ability to distinguish between voices speaking simultaneously have identified a culprit beyond poor hearing.
Unraveling Gravitropism: Scientists Decode the Unusual Relationship Between Gravity and Plant Roots
An international team of scientists has unraveled the mysterious relationship between gravity, and the growth trajectories of plant roots.
Strange Blue Bird Spotted in Texas Believed to Be the First Known Hybrid Between Blue and Green Jay Species
A recent study confirmed the existence of a hybrid bird between the blue jay and green jay species in nature.
Tipsy Chimps? Study Reveals Wild Apes Consume the Equivalent of Two Drinks a Day
A new study suggests that chimpanzees in the wild are consuming the equivalent of several alcoholic drinks each day.
Genetic Links Between Humans and Bees Reveal the “Hive Mind” Behind Social Behavior
Humans and bees share genetic traits responsible for social behavior, suggesting that the basic elements of connection transcend species.
Culture May Be Replacing DNA as the Driver of Human Evolution, New Theory Suggests
Scientists are re-examining whether genetic changes remain the primary catalyst of human evolution, or if another factor has become more influential.
These Ant Queens Use Uncanny ‘Cloning’ Abilities to Give Birth to Two Entirely Different Species
Scientists have revealed that queen ants in southern Europe can produce male clones of a completely different species.
Insect Apocalypse: These Ants Are Vanishing at an Alarming Rate
Scientists concerned with a recently identified “Insect Apocalypse” have discovered an alarming rate of decline in Fijian ant populations.
Is There Life On Mars?: NASA Says Perseverance Rover Found Biosignatures Most Likely From Ancient Microbes
Moving a major step closer to proclaiming that life on Mars once existed, NASA researchers have discovered potential biosignatures.
“It Literally Leapt Out of the Rock at Us”: 150 Million-Year-Old Baby Pterosaur Fossils Stun Paleontologists
A recent study provides fresh details about how two small 150 million-year-old pterosaurs met their end during intense tropical storms.
“We Finally Have A Roadmap”: Biomanufacturing Breakthrough Reveals Bacteria’s Ultra-Efficient Breakdown of Plant Waste
The mystery of how tiny bacteria can digest the toughest plant waste has been resolved with major implications for biomanufacturing.
Scientists Fear “Mirror Life” Synthetically Produced in the Lab Could Create a Dangerous New Form of Biology
Scientists are warning that creating “mirror life,” a radical new concept in synthetic biology, could potentially have dangerous repercussions.
Bright Idea: These “Almost Magical” Glowing Succulents Could Offer Sunlight-Powered Sustainable Lighting Systems
These incredible glowing houseplants engineered by scientists could soon offer sustainable, bioluminescent alternatives to indoor lighting.
These Ingenious Spiders Use Light from Captured Fireflies as “Bait” to Attract More Prey
Scientists find evidence of spiders trapping fireflies and letting them live for extended periods of time to attract additional prey.
Origins of Life Decoded? Researchers Unravel How RNA and Amino Acids May Have First Combined
Researchers have revealed early conditions under which RNA and amino acids may have combined, giving rise to the origin of life on Earth.
Artificial Photosynthesis Breakthrough: Scientists Create Molecule That Stores Energy Like Plants Do
In the quest for sustainable technologies, researchers have taken a significant step toward making artificial photosynthesis a reality.
AI Unveils a Major Discovery in Ancient Microbes That Could Hold the Key to Next Generation Antibiotics
AI is searching for new antibiotics within ancient, single-celled microbes known for their ability to survive in extreme environments.
These Cyborg Jellyfish Could Help Researchers Reach Inaccessible Ocean Depths and Inspire Future Deep Sea Vehicles
Cyborg jellyfish could soon help explore some of Earth’s most inaccessible ocean deaths, according to engineers at CU Boulder.
Bizarre Krayt Dragon-Like “Penis Worm” Discovered in Grand Canyon Reveals Ancient Evolutionary Arms Race
A newly discovered Cambrian, "Kraytdraco," reveals a bizarre predatory 'penis worm' in an ancient arms race beneath Grand Canyon seas.
“We Just Opened Up a Pandora’s Box”: Ionic Liquid Discovery May Expand Habitable Zones in Search for Alien Life
MIT study suggests ionic liquid-based life forms could survive on the surface of rocky planets previously considered uninhabitable.
This Parasitic Worm Could Invade Your Body Undetected—Scientists Finally Know How It Infects Millions Annually
Research reveals how a parasitic worm can disable pain neurons to evade immune detection, offering deeper insights into infection and pain.
Scientists Successfully Synthesize ‘Superalcohol’ Seed of Life Molecule in Space-Like Conditions
Scientists announce the first ever successful synthesis of a "superalcohol" seed of life molecule that could aid the search for life in space.
The Deepest Ecosystem Ever Found Has Been Discovered in the Ocean’s Mysterious Hadal Trenches
Chinese ocean explorers have discovered the deepest life on record, existing at extreme depths on the sea floor.
“I’m Stunned and Flabbergasted”: Scientists Were “Blown Away” By a Rare Fossil Discovery Challenging Past Thinking on Pre-Dinosaur Evolution
A newly discovered prehistoric reptile, Mirasaura grauvogeli, was found to have unusual structures similar to feathers.
A ‘Neurobiotic’ Sixth Sense? Scientists Find Microscopic Organisms Can Directly Communicate with the Human Brain
Scientists have revealed a potential 'neurobiotic' sixth sense derived from direct communication between microorganisms and the human brain.