Biology
From the smallest microbe to the largest dinosaurs and from the tiniest spore to the biggest giant sequoia, biological research continues to uncover weird and wonderful secrets.
Latest News
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Study suggests ancient sharks fed with a split, rotating lower jaw
Sharks pre-date even the earliest dinosaurs, so it's not surprising to hear that they've changed over the years. It was recently discovered, for instance, that they were once able to rotate the two sides of their jaw outwards, helping them to feed. -
Study supports theory that fish fins evolved from gill arches
The skeletal structure of a fish's gill arches and paired fins are quite similar – enough so that it was once believed the fins evolved from the arches. Although that theory has since been discounted, a new study suggests it may have been correct. -
3D-printed tiles boost biodiversity on sea walls
When natural ocean shoreline is replaced by an artificial seawall, a lot of precious intertidal habitat is lost. A new study, however, indicates that by covering those walls with specially designed tiles, a substitute habitat can be created. -
Suckerfish seen "surfing" blue whales in world-first underwater footage
A new study has delved into underwater behavior of remora, producing the first-ever continuous recordings of these so-called suckerfish in action and showing how they surf, feed and even socialize on the surface of blue whales. -
Protein injections into testes could treat male infertility
Researchers have developed a way to treat male infertility by delivering nanoparticles loaded with proteins directly into the testes. In tests in mice, previously infertile animals were soon able to father pups at a similar rate as unaffected mice. -
Newly discovered pterosaur walked along the shore to feed on worms
If the movie Jurassic World is to be believed, pterosaurs could easily catch human-sized prey. A newly discovered species of the prehistoric reptile wouldn't have posed much of a threat to us, however, as it likely fed more like a modern sandpiper. -
New tardigrade species fends off killer light with a fluorescent shield
The tardigrade is one of nature’s toughest creatures. Now scientists have discovered a new species that adds to an already impressive array of survival tools by employing a type of fluorescent shield to protect itself against lethal UV radiation. -
Increasing occurrence of an extra arm artery shows evolution at work
Some are born with three arteries in their forearm, and a new study is suggesting more and more people are holding onto this temporary embryonic artery into adulthood, which the researchers believe could be natural selection at work. -
"New" mosasaur had a fish-grabbing snout like a crocodile
The mosasaur was likely one of the most ferocious prehistoric marine predators. A previously unknown species of the reptile has now been classified, and it sported a crocodile-like snout that may have allowed it to catch prey that others missed. -
Bacteria helps animals sense the Earth’s magnetic field, study speculates
A persistent scientific mystery over the past century has been exactly how some animals seemingly have the ability to sense the Earth’s magnetic field. A team of researchers are suggesting the magnetic-sensing bacteria could be symbiotically generating this novel sense. -
First complete dinosaur skeleton reconstructed 162 years after find
After only 162 years, the first complete dinosaur skeleton to be recovered has finally been properly reconstructed and studied. The 193-million-year-old remains of a Scelidosaurus spent over 150 years stored at the Natural History Museum in London. -
Bacterial colonies survive in space for years, could seed planets
A new experiment placing bacteria on the outside of the International Space Station (ISS) has found that micro-organisms can survive in space for years, or even decades. The study lends weight to the idea that life could travel between planets.