2+ hour, 31+ min ago  (590+ words) To survive inside the human bloodstream, the African trypanosome parasite covers itself with a protective layer made of proteins called variant surface glycoproteins (VSG). A study published in Nature Microbiology has now identified a key protein that allows the parasite…...

5+ mon, 2+ week ago  (231+ words) Researchers at the University of Maryland have identified the gene responsible for a rare type of wheat that forms three ovaries in each flower instead of just one. Because each ovary can grow into a grain, this finding could help…...

6+ mon, 2+ week ago  (361+ words) Octopuses are among the most neurologically complex invertebrates, famed for their extraordinary dexterity. Their eight arms allow them to capture hidden prey, communicate, explore, and even mate across varied habitats. Although octopus arms rank among some of the most flexible…...

7+ mon, 3+ week ago  (584+ words) "This is like giving evolution a fast-forward button," says co-senior author Pete Schultz, the President and CEO of Scripps Research, where he also holds the L.S. "Sam" Skaggs Presidential Chair. "You can now evolve proteins continuously and precisely inside cells without…...

10+ mon, 4+ day ago  (658+ words) Ever since a few enterprising bed bugs hopped off a bat and attached themselves to a Neanderthal walking out of a cave 60,000 years ago, bed bugs have enjoyed a thriving relationship with their human hosts. Not so for the unadventurous…...

10+ mon, 1+ week ago  (464+ words) When pollinators visit flowers, they produce a variety of characteristic sounds, from wing flapping during hovering, to landing and takeoff. However, these sounds are extremely small compared to other vibrations and acoustics of insect life, causing researchers to overlook these…...