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DNA DISCOVERY
DNA strands should repel each other — it took 20 years for scientists to finally discover the tiny molecular “zipper” that brings them togetherScientists have observed DNA molecules overcoming electrical repulsion to zip together. Positively charged metal ions act as bridges, facil...
Ancient DNA reveals how farming, wildlife and human activity transformed a Canadian lake's ecosystem over 1,000 yearsAncient DNA from Crawford Lake sediment reveals a millennium of ecological history. Scientists tracked changes in plants, animals, and huma...
In 1855, scientists discovered a fungus that turns flies into zombie hosts. More than 160 years later, its spores still show how a parasite can control behavior in fliesA parasitic fungus, Entomophthora muscae, infects flies and manipulates their behavior. This fungus drives infected insects to high points ...
A 31,000-year-old fossil has challenged everything scientists thought about the extinct 'American cheetah' — its DNA and diet tell a surprising storyAncient DNA studies have rewritten the family tree of the "American cheetah," Miracinonyx trumani. Genetic evidence shows this extinct cat ...
Scientists find California blackworms have an unexpected advantage in tight spaces: The worms escape narrow channels faster than wider ones, a finding that could influence the design of soft robotsCalifornia blackworms have been observed skillfully traversing narrow channels, showing superior navigation compared to wider ones. The con...
Tibetans adapted to live at high altitudes where oxygen is scarce; study suggests ancient interbreeding with an extinct human population may have given their ancestors a genetic advantage to survive in one of planet’s harshest environmentsTibetan highlander populations have distinct genetic variants in proximity to the EPAS1 gene, facilitating their adaptation to high altitud...
Life on Earth has always used four DNA letters, but scientists have created a bigger genetic alphabet and found something unexpectedScientists have demonstrated RNA polymerase can read eight genetic letters. This enzyme accurately transcribes synthetic DNA, which nature ...
Nepal floods: DNA testing offers last hope to families searching for missing loved onesNepal faces a significant challenge identifying flood victims after devastating floods. Authorities are relying on DNA testing to identify ...
Nepal floods: DNA testing offers last hope to families searching for missing loved onesNepal authorities are using DNA testing to identify hundreds of flood victims. Families seek closure and confirmation of their missing love...
In 2007, ESA sent 3,000 tardigrades into low Earth orbit; after 10 days of vacuum and UV-A/UV-B exposure, 68% revived upon rehydrationKnown for their resilience, tardigrades have astonishingly withstood the harsh conditions of outer space. Their unique protein showcases an...
In 1986, a woman was murdered in her LA home & cops called it botched burglary; her father suspected her husband’s old lover, an LAPD officer, & DNA proved him right 22 years later1986 Sherri Rasmussen Los Angeles murder case: DNA evidence helped solve a more than 20-year-old Los Angeles murder case involving an LAPD ...
In 1992, NASA studied C. elegans worms exposed to space radiation on IML-1; the experiment reported higher mutation rates than in ground controlsIn 1992, micro worms unveiled the troubling effects of space radiation on DNA, showcasing considerable genetic harm to these minuscule crea...
In 2024, Florida scientists found a hidden trail left behind by invasive snakes — their DNA can linger in water and soil even after they disappearA 2024 study by Florida scientists found that invasive snakes can be detected through traces of DNA left behind in water and soil. The new ...
Science says ancient soil can reveal about extinct animals that left no bones, the hidden DNA record beneath our feetThe discovery of DNA preserved in ancient sediments is expanding our understanding of what can constitute a fossil record. Bones provide ph...
In 2009, Illinois treated a six-mile canal with more than 1,800 gallons of fish-killing poison — and found just one invasive carpTo address the menace of invasive Asian carp, Illinois officials deployed rotenone in a canal, leading to the recovery of numerous fish; ho...
A 2024 Harvard-led study collected 281 German cockroaches from 17 countries across 6 continents and analyzed their DNA; researchers found the pest evolved from an Asian cockroach about 2,100 years ago before hitching rides with humans around the worldAccording to new genetic findings, the German cockroach's roots trace back to Asia nearly 2,000 years ago. It seems that the cockroach adap...
In 1991, Alpine hikers found a body melting from a glacier and called police. 5,300 years later, it proved to be Ötzi the IcemanIn 1991, Alpine hikers found a body melting from a glacier and called police. 5,300 years later, it proved to be Ötzi the Iceman. The disco...
In 1836, a pangolin from Nepal entered a London museum collection. 190 years later, scientists sequenced its preserved DNA and confirmed Manis aurita as a distinct species, giving conservationists a new tool against poachingA historic pangolin specimen from 1836 helped confirm Manis aurita as a distinct species. This discovery aids conservationists in identifyi...
Alps Climber mystery solved: Bodies of two Belgian found in Swiss Alps, 34 years after they vanishedThe remains of two Belgian mountaineers who disappeared in the Swiss Alps in 1992 have been identified after melting ice exposed their rema...
Neanderthals disappeared about 40,000 years ago, but their DNA may now be helping some modern humans build more muscleA genetic variant inherited from Neanderthals boosts muscle mass in certain modern humans. This variant impacts the signaling of growth hor...