(International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis) There has been a substantial increase in food production over the last 50 years, but it has been accompanied by a narrowing in the diversity of cultivated crops. New research shows that diversifying crop production can make food supply more nutritious, reduce resource demand and greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance climate resilience without reducing calorie production or requiring more land.

(Trinity College Dublin) By understanding how, when, and why badgers move from one social group to another, researchers hope information gleaned from GPS devices will help them tailor vaccination programs to reduce the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

(Georgia Institute of Technology) There's new hope that we aren't alone in the universe, that advanced beings may exist on exoplanets. But they're probably not close by, says a new study on the stability of planetary tilts -- and orbits -- needed to encourage the evolution of complex life.

(Ecological Society of America) Researchers investigate and describe the conservation importance of buildings relative to natural, alternative roosts for little brown bats in Yellowstone National Park.

(University of Konstanz) In the last decade, papers by both Iain Couzin and Damien Farine have ranked among the most highly cited by scientists across multiple fields.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are distinguished by their dual ability to self-renew and their potential to differentiate, both of which require tight regulatory control. During the differentiation of ESCs, various cells develop into specialised cell types such as skin cells, nerve cells, muscle cells, etc. While our understanding of ES cell regulation has been dominated by transcriptional and epigenetic models, the role of post-transcriptional regulation via nuclear RNA decay has remained less […]

In the deep sea, far away from the light of the sun, organisms use chemical energy to fix carbon. At hydrothermal vents—where hot, mineral-rich water gushes out of towering chimneys called black smokers—vibrant ecosystems are fueled by chemical energy in the vent waters. Mussels thrive in this seemingly hostile environment, nourished by symbiotic bacteria inside their gills. The bacteria convert chemicals from the vents, which the animals cannot use, into tasty food for their mussel […]

Researchers from McMaster University have discovered striking variation in the underlying genetic machinery that orchestrates sexual differentiation in frogs, demonstrating that evolution of this crucial biological system has moved at a dramatic pace.

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms capable of entering, colonizing and growing within a host organism, thus producing an infection. Bacterial infections have been on the rise worldwide in recent years, but many mechanisms underlying bacterial pathogenesis are still poorly understood. This is highly relevant given the fact that the development of new antimicrobial therapies is largely based on current knowledge of the mechanisms behind these infections. The proteins […]

An international team of researchers has found what appears to be one of the secrets to evolutionary success for beetles—genes stolen from bacteria and fungi. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study of the beetle genome and what they found.

World-changing technologies that are poised to rattle the status quo -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Young arachnids may see the world in as much detail as adults -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Everything from bacon consumption to kidney function can skew cannabidiol dosing -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Cats are clingier to their human owners than their reputation would suggest. Karen Hopkin reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Findings fuel hopes for improved food-crop efficiency -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com