Featured News – Science & research news

Taming electrons with bacteria parts and a little 'blood' – a new synthetic biology system

January 20, 2020

A tunnel of bacteria proteins could act as a highway for transferring electrons to destinations of our choosing, with potential applications for new medicines or fuels: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. [...]

New dog, old tricks? Untrained stray dogs can understand human cues

January 17, 2020

Study suggests that understanding between humans and dogs transcends training: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Contaminating a fake rubber hand could help people overcome OCD, study suggests

January 16, 2020

'Rubber hand illusion' could help people overcome OCD condition without stressful exposure therapy: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience [...]

Be wary of online probiotic health-benefit claims

January 15, 2020

Most probiotic information online originates from unreliable sources: Frontiers in Medicine [...]

eDNA expands species surveys to capture a more complete picture

January 14, 2020

Casting a genetic net identifies more marine vertebrates than traditional surveys but has limits: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Capturing CO2 from trucks and reducing their emissions by 90%

January 9, 2020

New solution to capture CO2 from truck's exhaust systems involves liquefying it on vehicle's roof: Frontiers in Energy Research [...]

Skipping breakfast linked to lower test scores

December 18, 2019

Students who rarely ate breakfast achieved lower GCSE grades than those who ate breakfast frequently: Frontiers in Public Health [...]

Lazy moths taste disgusting

December 16, 2019

Scientists find that unappetizing moths make less effort to escape attacking bats: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Baby’s first breath: a new method for helping preemies to breathe

December 12, 2019

Two joint papers demonstrate that administering oxygen can help premature babies breathe independently sooner: Frontiers in Pediatrics [...]

Justified and unjustified movie violence evokes different brain responses

December 11, 2019

The perceived intent of violence in movies activates different centers of the brain: in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

NASA space data can cut disaster response times, costs

December 10, 2019

Using near-real-time satellite data could improve emergency management: Frontiers in Environmental Science [...]

Gulf Coast corals face catastrophe

December 9, 2019

Only rapid reduction of greenhouse gases will save Gulf of Mexico corals: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

How a Manuka honey 'sandwich' could be the key to fighting infections

December 4, 2019

Using small amounts of Manuka honey between layers of surgical mesh acts as a natural antibiotic. [...]

MS linked to variant of common herpes virus through new method

December 3, 2019

A certain herpes variant may have a role in the development of multiple sclerosis: Frontiers in Immunology [...]

Palm oil: Less fertilizer and no herbicide but same yield?

November 27, 2019

International team investigates environmentally sustainable palm oil production: Frontiers in Forests and Global Change [...]

Spot the difference: Two identical-looking bird species with very different genes

November 26, 2019

Similar birds actually diverged 500,000 years ago: Frontiers in Genetics [...]

Access to food and nutrition more limited in sub-Saharan Africa than previously estimated

November 25, 2019

Chronic and hidden hunger affect nearly half of rural households in sub-Saharan Africa: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems [...]

Iron availability in seawater key to explaining amount and distribution of fish

November 22, 2019

Large areas of the ocean may have insufficient iron for most fish: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Self-cannibalizing mitochondria may set the stage for ALS development

November 14, 2019

Powerhouses of the cell ‘eat themselves up’ jumpstart path to neurodegenerative disease; Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience [...]

Where the Sun doesn’t shine? Skin UV exposure reflected in poop

October 24, 2019

Exposure of the skin to UVB light alters the mix of bacteria found in the gut, possibly via vitamin D; Frontiers in Microbiology [...]

An innovative new diagnostic for Lyme disease

October 18, 2019

Lyme disease is one of medicine's great mimics, and notoriously difficult to diagnose. A new study has uncovered six potential biomarkers for accurate and early identification; Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology [...]

Hurricane resilience in the Bahamas

October 17, 2019

A Stanford-led study suggests ecosystem investments to minimize storm damage; Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Crop-boosting AI can benefit many fields

October 16, 2019

Machine learning algorithms developed to select high-yield food crops could be applied to 'hyperspectral analysis' in other disciplines, from astronomy to espionage; Frontiers in Plant Science [...]

Extreme weather caused by climate change has damaged 45% of Australia’s coastal habitat

October 16, 2019

Researchers examined the cumulative impacts of recent extreme climate events on marine habitats around Australia; Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Face palm: are palm oil boycotters hypocrites?

October 15, 2019

Oil palm is alternatively seen as a gift from god or a crime against humanity - according to science, it is neither; Frontiers in Forests and Global Change [...]

Fire blankets can protect buildings from wildfires

October 15, 2019

Existing fire blanket technology can protect an isolated building from a short wildfire attack, but technological advancements are needed for severe situations; Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering [...]

High salt reduces tumor growth by tackling immune cells

October 14, 2019

A high salt diet inhibited tumor growth in two independent mouse models; Frontiers in Immunology [...]

Video games offer clues to help curb animal disease outbreaks

October 14, 2019

As Asia and Europe battle African swine fever, University of Vermont research shows how farmers' risk attitudes affect the spread of infectious animal diseases and offers a first-of-its kind model for testing disease control and prevention strategies; Frontiers in Veterinary Science [...]

Is this brain cell your ‘mind’s eye’?

October 1, 2019

Only brain activity involving ‘L5p neurons’ enters conscious awareness, says new theory; Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience [...]

Bacteria injections help the immune system fight cancer

September 23, 2019

After decades of mouse studies, bacterial immunotherapy looks set for a return to oncology clinics; Frontiers in Oncology [...]

Comparing primate vocalizations

September 13, 2019

Study shows Old World monkeys combine items in speech — but only two and never more, unlike humans; Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Researchers identify cancer killing capability of lesser-known immune cells

September 12, 2019

Linked with obesity, esophageal cancer is one of the fastest growing cancers in the Western world. Image: Shutterstock. Finding new ways to reverse the inhibition of [...]

The vagina monocultures

September 11, 2019

Johns Hopkins team develops donor screening for vaginal microbiota transplantation; Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology [...]

Skin bacteria could save frogs from virus

September 10, 2019

Ranavirus can wipe out entire common frog populations, but researchers say their latest study could help the species; Frontiers in Microbiology [...]

New insight from Great Barrier Reef coral provides correction factor to climate records

September 6, 2019

Researchers have fine-tuned the records used to make global climate predictions using high-resolution microscopic techniques and geochemical modeling; Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Wolf-dog ‘swarms’ threaten Europe’s wolves

September 5, 2019

A new study reveals that scientists are divided on issues such as how to remove hybrids and free-roaming dogs, and whether they should be kept captive, sterilised and released or killed; Frontiers in Ecology in Evolution [...]

Cometh the hourglass: Why do men prefer a low waist-to-hip ratio?

September 2, 2019

Waist-to-hip ratio can signal sex, age, pregnancy, parity -- as well as capacity for offspring brain development; Frontiers in Psychology [...]

A new vision for genomics in animal agriculture

August 29, 2019

The USDA blueprint predicts genomic technologies will play an increasingly central role in global livestock production; Frontiers in Genetics [...]

Exploring the origins of the apple

August 28, 2019

The wild apples in the Tien Shan Mountains represent the main ancestral population for our modern apple. These trees produce large fruits, which are often red when ripe and [...]

Study documents impacts of selective logging on Congo’s intact forest landscapes

August 27, 2019

Logging in the timber-rich forests of northern Congo is a major driver of the region's economic development -- and its ecological impoverishment; Frontiers in Forests and Global Change [...]

Marching for climate change may sway people’s beliefs and actions

August 26, 2019

US climate marches increased optimism about people's ability to work together to address climate change, according to a survey of bystanders; Frontiers in Communication [...]

The fat of the land: estimating the ecological costs of overeating

August 23, 2019

Overeating is bad for our planet’s health, not just our own. Image: shutterstock. Overeating wastes far more food than we throw away, suggests research — by Matthew [...]

Pores for thought: ion channel study beckons first whole-brain simulation

August 20, 2019

Blue Brain Project’s ‘Channelpedia’ is open to brain modellers everywhere; Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience [...]

Winter is coming: a stark divide in red-neck phalarope migration

August 15, 2019

Red-neck phalaropes split between the Pacific Ocean and the Arabian Sea for the colder months, researchers discover; Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Growing existing forests essential in mitigating global crises

August 13, 2019

“Proforestation” has significant potential in the United States; Frontiers in Forests and Global Change [...]

The mind-muscle connection: for aesthetes, not athletes?

August 9, 2019

Focusing on movement instead of muscle can enhance weightlifting performance, suggests research; Frontiers in Sports and Active Living [...]

Common food additive found to affect gut microbiota

August 7, 2019

Experts call for better regulation of a common additive in foods and medicine, as research reveals it can impact the gut microbiota and contribute to inflammation in the colon; Frontiers in Nutrition [...]

Online information on how to boost immunity based on commercially biased sources

August 6, 2019

Just 12% of search engine results for "boost immunity" mentioned vaccines, the most proven and effective method of boosting immunity; Frontiers in Medicine [...]

Artificial intelligence enables recognizing and assessing a violinist’s bow movements

July 29, 2019

A system developed by David Dalmazzo and Rafael Ramírez, members of the Music Technology Group, allows violin students to benefit from real-time accurate information about their movements when playing the instrument; Frontiers in Psychology [...]

The geoengineering of consent: how conspiracists dominate YouTube climate science content

July 25, 2019

Most YouTube videos relating to climate change prevention oppose scientific consensus and hijack technical terms to appear credible, says study; Frontiers in Communication [...]