A study has used advanced genetic and genomic techniques to offer a major step forward in understanding and diagnosing infectious intestinal diseases. The large-scale study analyzed more than 1,000 stool samples from people with diarrheal illness to harness two cutting edge tools. The study used metagenomic (DNA-based) and metatranscriptomic (gene...
Molecules in blood and urine could reveal how much ultra-processed food you eat
Sets of metabolites found in blood and urine reliably correspond with how much energy from ultra-processed food a person consumes, according to a new study.
Surprise baby whale sightings reveal there’s still much to learn about humpbacks
Humpback whales are not always born in tropical waters, new research has shown -- challenging long-held assumptions about their breeding and migration behaviors, while raising new questions for marine conservation.
Thousands of animal species threatened by climate change
A novel analysis suggests more than 3,500 animal species are threatened by climate change and also sheds light on huge gaps in fully understanding the risk to the animal kingdom.
Scientists describe 71 new Australian bee species
A team of researchers has discovered 71 new native bee species belonging to the resin pot bees, or Megachile (Austrochile), which are unique to Australia and present in every state and territory except Tasmania.
Fast food, fast impact: How fatty meals rapidly weaken our gut defenses
A study has become the first in the world to unravel the immediate effects of a high-fat diet on our gut health.
Genomic data shows widespread mpox transmission in West Africa prior to 2022 global outbreak
Historically, most human mpox infections have resulted from zoonotic transmission --m eaning from animals to humans -- and these spillovers have rarely led to human-to-human transmission. But during the 2022 global outbreak, mpox began spreading readily between people. A new study now shows the virus was circulating long before then.
Glaciers will take centuries to recover even if global warming is reversed, scientists warn
New research reveals mountain glaciers across the globe will not recover for centuries -- even if human intervention cools the planet back to the 1.5 C limit, having exceeded it.
Nimble dimples: Agile underwater vehicles inspired by golf balls
Underwater or aerial vehicles with dimples like golf balls could be more efficient and maneuverable, a new prototype has demonstrated.
How to swim without a brain
A team was able to show that swimming movements are possible even without a central control unit. This not only explains the behavior of microorganisms, it could also enable nanobots to move in a targeted manner, for example to transport drugs to the right place in the body.