A Closer Genetic Look at the Incredible, Variable Bacteria Living in Your Mouth
Researchers take a closer look at the genomes of microbial communities in the human mouth. Bacteria often show very strong biogeography — some bacteria are…
Harvard University
Surprising Connection Discovered Between Prehistoric Dinosaurs and Mammals in Their Teeth
When most people think of ferocious, blade-like teeth on prehistoric creatures they picture Smilodon, better known as the saber-toothed tiger. But in the world of dinosaurs,…
From Fins to Limbs and Water to Land: Evolution of Terrestrial Movement in Early Tetrapods
The water-to-land transition is one of the most important and inspiring major transitions in vertebrate evolution. And the question of how and when tetrapods transitioned…
Chromosomes Actually Look Far Different Than the Pictures From High School Textbooks
High-resolution, 3D images of human chromosomes in single cells reveal how DNA structure might influence its function. In high school textbooks, human chromosomes are pictured…
Zoonomia Project: Largest Set of Mammalian Genomes Reveals Species at Risk of Extinction
The Zoonomia Project has released this vast dataset to advance both biomedical research and biodiversity conservation. An international team of researchers with an effort called…
Bioinspired Architecture: Next Generation of Skyscrapers and Bridges Inspired by Marine Sponges
Bioinspired architecture could pave the way for stronger, lighter structures. When we think about sponges, we tend to think of something soft and squishy. But…
How Did We Get So Picky About Friendship As We Age? Ask the Chimps
New study shows evidence of nonhuman animals selecting who they socialize during aging. No new friends and no drama. When humans age, they tend to…
Significant Link Found Between Air Pollution and Neurological Disorders in U.S.
Air pollution was significantly associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions for several neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias, in…
Evolution of Reptiles Timeline: New Study Rebuts 75-Year-Old Belief About How and When Reptiles Evolved
New study by a team of Harvard-led researchers rebuts 75-year-old belief in reptile evolution. Challenging a 75-year-old notion about how and when reptiles evolved during…
Interplanetary Storm Chasing – New Explanation for Mysterious Hexagonal Storm on Saturn
A new 3D model could explain the formation of a hexagon storm on Saturn. With its dazzling system of icy rings, Saturn has been a…
Going Beyond Human Brains: Deep Learning Takes On Synthetic Biology
DNA and RNA have been compared to “instruction manuals” containing the information needed for living “machines” to operate. But while electronic machines like computers and…
Better Vaccines Are in Our Blood: Using Red Blood Cells to Generate Targeted Immune Responses
New platform technology uses red blood cells to generate targeted immune responses in mice. Red blood cells do more than shuttle oxygen from our lungs…
Detailed Cellular Map of the Human Heart Created – Could Guide Personalized Cardiac Treatments
Scientists have created a detailed cellular and molecular map of the healthy human heart to understand how this vital organ functions and to shed light…
Most Shoes Have a “Toe Spring” That May Lead to Weaker Muscles and Painful Foot-Related Problems
Researchers say toe springs in shoes may come at a cost. The toe of most shoes, especially sneakers, bends ever so slightly upward. While that…
Twin Suns: Our Sun May Have Started Its Life with a Binary Companion
A new theory published recently in The Astrophysical Journal Letters by scientists from Harvard University suggests that the Sun may once have had a binary…
Evidence of Hibernation-Like State Discovered in Tusks of Strange 250-Million-Year-Old Antarctic Creature
Researchers discover Fossil evidence of ‘hibernation-like’ state in tusks of 250-million-year-old Antarctic animal. Among the many winter survival strategies in the animal world, hibernation is…
Ultracold Mystery Solved: Researchers Crack a Molecular Disappearing Act
By manipulating ultracold molecules mid-chemical reaction, researchers crack a molecular disappearing act. In a famous parable, three blind men encounter an elephant for the first…
Charles Darwin Investigated Goosebumps – Now Harvard Scientists Discover the Real Reason Behind Them
Harvard scientists find that the same cell types that cause goosebumps are responsible for controlling hair growth. If you’ve ever wondered why we get goosebumps,…