For The Better

Microscopic algae that corals need for survival harbor a common and possibly disease-causing virus in their genetic material.

Do whales increase the removal of carbon from the atmosphere? Despite some hope that this would be the case, a new study has found the amount of potential carbon capture by whales is too little to meaningfully alter the course of climate change. The te…

Researchers have trained a robotic ‘chef’ to watch and learn from cooking videos, and recreate the dish itself.

Night-time pollinators such as moths may visit just as many plants as bees, and should also be the focus of conservation and protection efforts, a new study suggests.

Diverting streams and rivers to irrigate crops or provide drinking water may significantly extend the time microplastics spend in river catchments before they flow into our oceans, a new study reveals.

Scientists using artificial intelligence technology may be inviting unwanted noise into their genome analyses. Now, researchers have created a computational correction that will allow them to see through the fog and find genuine DNA features that could…

Extreme weather events have affected moth and butterfly activity more than the average increase in global temperature over the last several decades.

Genes that make bacteria resistant to antibiotics are much more widespread in our environment than was previously realized. A new study shows that bacteria in almost all environments carry resistance genes, with a risk of them spreading and aggravating…

The first human genome, which has served as the reference until now, was released approximately 20 years ago. It was a landmark accomplishment that had a huge impact on biomedical research and changed the way scientists study human biology. But it was …

Researchers have identified significant differences in the gut microbiome of female southern white rhinos who are reproducing successfully in captivity, as compared to females who have not reproduced successfully in captivity. The work raises questions…

New research shines light on how parents who talk more to their infants improve their children’s brain development. Scientists used imaging and audio recordings to link early language skills to caregiver speech, delivering an affirming message that par…

The pandemic and its aftermath have raised anxiety to new levels. But the roots of anxiety-related conditions, including obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder (OCSD), are still unclear. In a new study, scientists discovered insights into the importanc…

Microbes are by far the most important factor in determining how much carbon is stored in the soil, according to a new study with implications for mitigating climate change and improving soil health for agriculture and food production.

The accelerating loss of biodiversity and increasing rate of species extinction is a major threat to ecosystems around the globe. And yet, quantifying those losses at a large scale hasn’t been possible, in large part due to a lack of the required infra…

Staying active could help keep the onset of type 2 diabetes at bay, even if someone has a genetic risk of developing the disease. Researchers say this highlights the importance of exercise in chronic disease prevention.

Governments around the world must do more to tackle the growing threat of drug-resistant infections, according to new research. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites stop responding to medicines designed to t…

In early 2014, a great anomaly descended upon the seas: A patch of warm water that manifested in the Gulf of Alaska. Scientists called it ‘The Blob.’