Featured News – Science & research news

Broadening the scope of research on one of Frontiers in Microbiology‘s largest sections

September 27, 2021

Two years have passed since the first COVID-19 case was reported. The impact of the pandemic has been devastating with death toll numbers painting a dismal picture of post [...]

Bat guts become less healthy through diet of ‘fast food’ from banana plantations

September 23, 2021

By Tania Fitzgeorge-Balfour, science writer Pallas’s long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina) feeding on banana flowers. Image credit: Julian Schneider New research [...]

Former MDPI CEO Dr. Franck Vazquez joins Frontiers

September 21, 2021

Publishing industry veteran and a former chief executive officer of MDPI, Dr. Franck Vazquez, has been appointed to lead Frontiers’ strategic partnerships. [...]

Human whistled languages may offer model for how to study dolphin communication

September 21, 2021

By Peter Rejcek, science writer Image credit: Ricardo Canino / Shutterstock More than 80 cultures still use whistled language to communicate over long distances by [...]

Why is Covid-19 more severe in some patients? Using AI, we found a likely answer

September 17, 2021

By Dr Emmanuelle Logette, EPFL Blue Brain Project Dr Emmanuelle Logette of the EPFL Blue Brain Project Why does Covid-19 present itself more severe in some patients but not [...]

Scientists pretend to be Neanderthals to explore how they caught birds in caves for food

September 16, 2021

By Mischa Dijkstra, Frontiers science writer Image credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock.com From fossil evidence and through scientific role-play, researchers reconstruct that [...]

Prof Iain Stewart: “It’s important that challenges to the ‘business as usual’ are not constrained behind a paywall”

September 14, 2021

By Prof Iain Stewart, Royal Scientific Society, Amman, Jordan/Colm Gorey, Frontiers science writer Prof Iain Stewart speaking at a conference. Image: Prof Iain Stewart Prof [...]

Regular exercise may lower risk of developing anxiety by almost 60%

September 10, 2021

By Colm Gorey, Frontiers science writer Image: BGStock72/Shutterstock.com The findings of a study published with Frontiers suggests that those who engage in regular exercise [...]

Five Nobel Prize winners publish scientific article collection for children

September 7, 2021

The Nobel Collection of free scientific articles for next generation of scientists goes live [...]

Climate crisis could double frequency of extreme regional summer droughts in Europe

September 7, 2021

Climate crisis could double frequency of extreme regional summer droughts in Europe, according to new study in Frontiers in Water [...]

Environmental privilege: How recovery and rebuilding after climate disasters favors the wealthy

August 25, 2021

Environmental privilege: How recovery and rebuilding after climate disasters favors the wealthy, Frontiers in Sustainable Cities [...]

How well did the EU respond to the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic? Experts now give their verdict

August 21, 2021

By K.E.D. Coan, science writer Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com During the first wave of the pandemic, the European Union’s COVID-19 response highlighted ongoing [...]

World Mosquito Day: How the pest’s diet could lead to discovery of new antimalarial drug

August 20, 2021

By Suzanna Burgelman/ PhD student and fellow Trizah Koyi Milugo, ICIPE PhD student and fellow Trizah Koyi Milugo. Image: Trizah Koyi Milugo A preventable disease, malaria [...]

Absence of fans at European elite soccer ‘ghost games’ significantly decreases home advantage

August 19, 2021

Absence of fans at European elite soccer ‘ghost games’ significantly decreases home advantage, finds new study in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living [...]

Microplastics hinder the growth of microscopic marine animals

August 17, 2021

By Tania Fitzgeorge-Balfour, science writer Example of marine dinoflagellates (Dinophysis sp., not the species studied in the paper). Image credit: Rattiya [...]

Secret to speediness of ancient bipedal reptile has been revealed

August 16, 2021

By Clarissa Wright, Frontiers science writer Close-up of a reptile eye, but not the ancient Eudibamus cursoris. Image Aedka Studio/Shutterstock.com The Early Permian marked a [...]

Are enteroviruses behind mysterious outbreaks of chronic fatigue syndrome?

August 12, 2021

By Prof Maureen Hanson, Cornell University Image: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels.com Chronic fatigue syndrome is a long-term illness with a wide range of symptoms, no known [...]

Tiny ‘maniac’ robots could deliver drugs directly to central nervous system

August 11, 2021

By Conn Hastings, science writer Image credit: Life science / Shutterstock.com A new study investigates tiny tumbling soft robots that can be controlled using rotating [...]

Tens of thousands of unique molecules detected in 467 beers from around the world

August 10, 2021

By Mischa Dijkstra, Frontiers science writer Image: Hana Mara/Pexels.com Scientists from Germany have used state-of-the-art complementary mass spectrometry methods to [...]

Baby marine turtles’ stomachs are full of harmful plastic debris, suggests new study

August 2, 2021

Baby marine turtles’ stomachs are full of harmful plastic debris, suggests new study in Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

IBMS to transition leading biomedical journal to Gold Open Access

July 29, 2021

Image: Tom Robertson/Shutterstock.com The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) has announced the transition of the British Journal of Biomedical Science (BJBS) from hybrid [...]

Secret role of swallowing in conversations revealed by new research

July 28, 2021

Secret role of swallowing in conversations revealed by new research in Frontiers in Communication [...]

Machine learning and knowledge engineering uncovers significant role of elevated blood glucose in severe Covid-19

July 28, 2021

By Colm Gorey, Frontiers’ Science Communications Manager A digital reconstruction of SARS-CoV-2 primary infection in the lungs. Image: Blue Brain Project/EPFL [...]

ESOT to transform major journal to Gold Open Access

July 27, 2021

Image: Flamingo Images/Shutterstock.com The European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) has announced the transition of Transplant International from Hybrid access to [...]

‘Talking drum’ shown to accurately mimic speech patterns of west African language

July 27, 2021

Dundun drummers in bright blue clothing playing the drums in a rural setting.

By Peter Rejcek, science writer The Ifesowapo dùndún ensemble performing in Igbo Ora, southwest Nigeria. Image: Dr Cecilia Durojaye A novel analysis into the acoustical [...]

New method predicts ‘stealth’ solar storms before they wreak geomagnetic havoc on Earth

July 21, 2021

For the first time, stealth coronal mass ejections can be detected before they wreak havoc on Earth without the need for dedicated spacecraft: Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences [...]

Tomato fruits send electrical warnings to the rest of the plant when attacked by insects

July 20, 2021

Tomato fruits send electrical warnings to the rest of the plant when attacked by insects, finds new study in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems [...]

Three key habitat-building corals face worrying future due to climate crisis

July 19, 2021

Three key habitat-building corals face worrying future due to climate crisis, shows new study in Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

When corals meet algae: first stages of symbiosis seen for the first time

July 15, 2021

First observations of coral cells and free-living algae physically interacting: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

The two-thousand-year-old mystery of the havoc-wreaking worm

July 15, 2021

By Daegan Miller / University of Massachusetts Amherst Office of News and Media Relations Section of a piling attacked by shipworms in Belfast, Maine. Image credit: Barry [...]

Just 25 mega-cities produce 52% of the world’s urban greenhouse gas emissions

July 12, 2021

Just 25 mega-cities produce 52% of the world’s urban greenhouse gas emissions, finds new study in Frontiers in Sustainable Cities [...]

Slow music in tunnels can keep drivers focused and safe

July 8, 2021

Study is proof-of-principle that background music can improve road safety: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Study is first to show that air pollutants increase risk of painful periods for women

July 7, 2021

Air pollution increases the risk of severe period pain for women and girls: Frontiers in Public Health [...]

Microbes in cow stomach can break down plastic

July 2, 2021

Microbes in cow stomachs can break down plastics, representing an eco-friendly way to reduce litter: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology [...]

Hotter, more frequent droughts threaten California’s iconic blue oak forests

June 29, 2021

California's blue oak woodlands are threatened by hotter and more frequent extreme droughts due to climate change: Frontiers in Climate [...]

Surprising ‘fight or flight’ discovery in sleepwalkers paves way to new understanding of phenomenon

June 24, 2021

By Colm Gorey, Frontiers science writer Image: New Africa/Shutterstock.com New research published in the open access journal Frontiers investigating the biological mysteries [...]

A dog’s life: James A Serpell and his investigation into the origin story of mankind’s best friend

June 24, 2021

By Colm Gorey, Frontiers science writer/Prof James Serpell, University of Pennsylvania Prof James A Serpell, University of Pennsylvania. Image: University of Pennsylvania Two [...]

Twin study is first to reveal common genetic risk factors for PTSD and migraine

June 22, 2021

By Conn Hastings, science writer Image credit: LanaG/Shutterstock.com While scientists have known that PTSD and migraine often co-occur, no one had studied this link before [...]

Surprising spider hair discovery may inspire stronger adhesives

June 18, 2021

By K.E.D. Coan, science writer Cupiennius salei wandering spider. Image credit: Kevin Wells Photography / Shutterstock.com A recent study by the open access publisher [...]

Glyphosate pesticides persist for years in wild plants and cause flower infertility

June 16, 2021

Glycophosphate persists within wild plants for at least two years, reducing fertility: Frontiers in Plant Science [...]

Aquaponics treatment system inspired by sewage plants grows tastier crops and keeps fish healthy

June 14, 2021

Novel fish waste treatment system breaks down fish sludge and turns it into fertilizer: Frontiers in Plant Science [...]

Molecular changes in white blood cells can help us diagnose ‘the bends’ earlier in divers

June 10, 2021

First study to show gene expression changes in divers with 'the bends' show role of genes for inflammation and immunity: Frontiers in Physiology [...]

Breakthrough study shows defining traits are forged the moment we’re born

June 10, 2021

Functional brain connectivity networks with behavioral relevance are already present in young infants, finds new study in Frontiers in Psychiatry. [...]

Dr Tal Gordon: ‘During one of my dives, an animal I collected ejected its digestive system at me’

June 7, 2021

By Mischa Dijkstra, Frontiers science writer / Tal Gordon, George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Israel Tal Gordon during one of her research dives. [...]

Young Arabic speakers offered kid-friendly route into scientific discovery

May 31, 2021

Arabic speakers worldwide can now access a library of kid-friendly scientific articles thanks to a newly launched educational resource. [...]

Beer byproduct mixed with manure proves an excellent organic pesticide

May 31, 2021

By Tayyibah Aziz, science writer A productive lettuce yield following the researchers’ new biodisinfestation method. Image: Maite Gandariasbeitia et al A new study [...]

Beached whale carcasses answer mysteries of elusive species

May 25, 2021

Stable isotope analysis shows that beaked whales exhibit ocean-wide site fidelity, finds new study in Frontiers in Conservation Science [...]

‘We need more research which examines racism and racialization on health and wellbeing of black women’

May 21, 2021

By Colm Gorey, Frontiers science writer/Dr Jenny Douglas, The Open University Dr Jenny Douglas, The Open University. Image: Jenny Douglas To mark the launch of the new [...]

First-of-its-kind flower smells like dead insects to imprison ‘coffin flies’

May 21, 2021

The first known case of a flower mimicking dead arthropods to attract pollinators: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

How dancing honey bees could help us save pollinators

May 20, 2021

By Suzanna Burgelman/Dr Margaret Couvillon, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Dr Margaret Couvillon. Image: Margaret Couvillon Pollinators are under threat [...]