Life Science – Science & research news

When and why did human brains decrease in size 3,000 years ago? New study may have found clues within ants

October 22, 2021

When and why did human brains decrease in size 3,000 years ago? New study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution may have found clues within ants [...]

Shape-shifting worm blob model could inspire future robot swarms

October 12, 2021

By Mischa Dijkstra, Frontiers science writer ‘Blob’ of Lumbriculus variegatus blackworms. The half-circle to the right is the edge of a petri dish. Image credit: [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Stimulating environments boost the brain – Now scientists have identified many of the genes responsible

May 13, 2021

Growing up in stimulating environments causes epigenetic changes to genomic regions important for cognitive mental health: Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience [...]

80% of all SARS-CoV-2 proteins can now be produced in the lab

May 10, 2021

Most SARS-CoV-2 proteins can now be produced in the lab with these open science protocols: Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences [...]

An animal able to regenerate all of its organs even when it is dissected into three parts

May 5, 2021

By Tel Aviv University photography & media unit Polycarpa mytiligera. Credit: Tel Aviv University An extraordinary discovery in the Gulf of Eilat: Researchers from Tel [...]

Majority of bird species in Americas could survive climate change, shows study

May 5, 2021

By Robert Hanley / Durham University communications team The Arenal Volcano seen from the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Monteverde-Arenal is one of 21 Important Bird and [...]

Chief Editor Marc Strous is made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada

May 5, 2021

Marc Strous is a renowned microbial ecologist and Specialty Chief Editor of the Microbial Physiology and Metabolism section in Frontiers in Microbiology. [...]

Agricultural pesticides cause widespread harm to soil health and threaten biodiversity

May 4, 2021

Comprehensive review shows that pesticides cause damage soil health and biodiversity: Frontiers in Environmental Science [...]

The secret life of bee signals can communicate colony health

May 4, 2021

Recording the electrostatic energy of honeybee hives: Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

Oceans’ microscopic plants capture carbon via biophysical pathways

May 3, 2021

Diatoms capture carbon dioxide from sea water through biophysical means: Frontiers in Plant Science [...]

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 2020 Editor Awards

April 22, 2021

The editors who have made outstanding contributions to the journal, supporting the review process, helping to build exciting content and driving journal growth. [...]

NASA NeMO-Net video game helps researchers understand global coral reef health

April 21, 2021

Citizen scientists can play video game to help research on coral reefs: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

As plant/animal diversity wanes, is microbial life changing too? A perilously ‘profound ignorance’

April 19, 2021

Is microbial biodiversity worldwide increasing or decreasing? Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Earth’s crust mineralogy drives hotspots for intraterrestrial life

April 9, 2021

Earth’s crust mineralogy drives hotspots for intraterrestrial life, finds new study in Frontiers in Microbiology [...]

Stanford researchers and others illuminate mystery of sea turtles’ epic migrations

April 9, 2021

Charting long-distance migration of loggerhead turtles: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Study demonstrates the need to monitor the bit area of event horses

April 7, 2021

University of Helsinki A new study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that event horses that wear thin or thick bits in events had a greater risk of moderate [...]

What did the brains of the first land vertebrates look like?

March 26, 2021

By Mischa Dijkstra, Frontiers science writer / Dr Alice M Clement, Flinders University Dr Alice Clement. Image: Flinders University What did the brain of the early [...]

Dolphins adapt to survive invasive coastal constructions

March 18, 2021

Marine ecosystems are endangered by an increasing number of coastal development projects. A new study shows for the first time that bottlenose dolphins may adapt to [...]

New open-source platform accelerates research into the treatment of heart arrhythmias

February 26, 2021

By Rozi Harsanyi / School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London Image: megaflopp / Shutterstock An open-source platform, OpenEP [...]

Team reveals amazing reconstructions of our ancestors to correct mistakes of the past

February 26, 2021

How to ensure accuracy in soft tissue reconstructions of early hominins such as Lucy? A review in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Improving water quality could help conserve insectivorous birds — study

February 26, 2021

Scarcity of insect prey in disturbed lakes and streams contributes to bird decline, show new results By Anna Sigurdsson and Mischa Dijkstra, science writers A new study shows [...]

Red light put moths in the mood

February 24, 2021

Red lights makes moth antennae more sensitive to sex pheromones, stimulating mating: Frontiers in Genetics [...]

Pigs show potential for ‘remarkable’ level of behavioral, mental flexibility in new study

February 11, 2021

Pigs are intelligent and can be taught to play video games, showing conceptual understanding: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Chief Editor of Organic Chemistry is elected to the European Academy of Sciences

February 5, 2021

Professor Iwao Ojima We are proud to announce that Professor Iwao Ojima, Chief Editor of the Organic Chemistry section of Frontiers in Chemistry has been recently [...]

Researchers make discoveries to better understand SARS-CoV-2 virus

February 5, 2021

Key structural differences in the virus's spike protein between the viruses that cause SARS and Covid-19: Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences [...]

Shift in caribou movements may be tied to human activity

February 1, 2021

Caribou feed near the Kuparuk oilfield in Alaska. A UC study examined the landscape use of caribou in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge [...]

Alpine plants at risk of extinction following disappearing glaciers

January 29, 2021

Glaciers are melting around the world due to climate change. What is the predicted effect on plant biodiversity? Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Nearby vessels interrupt feeding of southern resident killer whales, especially females

January 13, 2021

How do boats affect the behavior of killer whales? Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

One-two punch: sea urchins are stuck belly up in low-oxygen hot water

January 8, 2021

How do sea urchin cope with climate change? Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Low genetic diversity in two manatee species off South America

January 6, 2021

Low genetic diversity in manatees off South America raises alarm for conservation actions: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

New bacterial culture methods could result in the discovery of new species

January 6, 2021

Surprisingly high biodiversity of previously unreported bacteria from the Tabernas Desert: Frontiers in Microbiology [...]

Better learners in collared flycatchers are more likely to copy information from competing species

December 22, 2020

Ability to use social information depends on individual cognitive skills in female collared flycatchers: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

How dolphins avoid “the bends”

November 24, 2020

New research suggests dolphins conserve oxygen and prevent dive-related problems by consciously decreasing their heart rates before diving: Frontiers in Physiology [...]

The microbiome of Da Vinci’s drawings

November 20, 2020

What microbes live on the original half-a-millennium-old drawings by Leonardo da Vinci? Frontiers in Microbiology [...]

Synthesis study demonstrates phytoplankton can bloom below Arctic sea ice

November 19, 2020

The results of synthesis study suggest that primary production in some regions of the ocean may be an order of magnitude greater than originally predicted: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Solitary bees are born with a functional internal clock – unlike honeybees

November 12, 2020

Developmental lag in the circadian clock may facilitate sociality: Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology [...]

“Helper” ambrosia beetles share reproduction with their mother

November 4, 2020

Fungus-growing Xyleborus affinis beetles have independently evolved a similar social structure to many casteless wasps and bees: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]