In dangerous fungal family’s befriending of plants, a story of loss
Researchers show that gene loss -- not the evolution of new genes -- helped drive the fly amanita mushroom into its symbiotic relationship with...
Genetic basis for how harmful algae blooms become toxic
Scientists have uncovered the genetic basis for the production of domoic acid, a potent neurotoxin produced by certain harmful algae blooms.
Did key building blocks for life come from deep space?
All living beings need cells and energy to replicate. Without these fundamental building blocks, living organisms could not exist. Little was known about a...
Fewer biofuels, more green space: Climate action researcher calls for urgent shift
Growing and harvesting bioenergy crops -- corn for ethanol or trees to fuel power plants, for example -- is a poor use of land,...
How Sacred Ibis mummies provided the first test of evolution
A debate over mummified birds brought to France after Napoleon's conquest of Egypt played a central role in delaying acceptance of evolutionary theory; an...
Steelhead life cycle linked to environment, pink salmon abundance
A new study has found that steelhead trout have a remarkable life-cycle variation that responds to changes in temperature and numbers of other species...
The cart before the horse: A new model of cause and effect
Natural little scientists, human babies love letting go of things and watching them fall. Baby's first experiment teaches them about more than the force...
Cancer hijacks the microbiome to glut itself on glucose
A new study shows that leukemia actively undercuts the ability of normal cells to consume glucose, thus leaving more glucose available to feed its...
New, highly stable catalyst may help turn water into fuel
Breaking the bonds between oxygen and hydrogen in water could be a key to the creation of hydrogen in a sustainable manner, but finding...
Building a flu factory from host cell components
A quantitative proteomic study of how influenza virus affects lung-derived cell lines found that protein synthesis machinery relocates to the autophagosome in infected cells.
