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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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

Oceans’ microscopic plants capture carbon via biophysical pathways

May 3, 2021 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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

Earth’s crust mineralogy drives hotspots for intraterrestrial life

April 9, 2021 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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 // 0 Comments

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