Hummingbirds are extremely small but remarkably tough. Some species make migrations of more than 9,000 km (about 5,590 miles) a year. Their journeys are largely fueled by nectar, which is sipped from wildflowers and converted to fat.

Scientists have developed a new method to monitor the elusive eastern indigo snake, the longest native snake in the United States. This innovative approach looks for traces of environmental DNA in soil samples and can significantly bolster efforts to cons

A research team from the South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) studied the global variability of plant hydraulics in relation to wind speed. Their findings are published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

A mussel bed along Northern California's Dillon Beach is as healthy and biodiverse as it was about 80 years ago, when two young students surveyed it shortly before Pearl Harbor was attacked and one was sent to fight in World War II.

Shell-dwelling cichlids take intense care of their offspring, which they raise in abandoned snail shells. A team at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence used 3D-printed snail shells to find out what happens inside.

Imagine a city under constant threat from invaders. The city's defense system deploys a sophisticated anti-missile defense mechanism to neutralize threats before they can cause harm. In the microscopic world, bacteria face a similar scenario. For every b

It's all connected: coronaviruses and other emerging infectious diseases, loss of biodiversity, and destruction of the environment by humans. Around the world, pathogens and parasites are responding to the changes in unexpected ways, fueling the rise of

A team of researchers co-led by the University of California San Diego has developed a method to produce a special class of plant hormones, known as strigolactones, at unprecedented levels using microbial cell factories. By amplifying the production of st

Ribosomal translation is the process by which cells synthesize proteins based on the genetic instructions encoded in messenger RNA. It is essential for life, yet it is an incredibly complex process involving multiple steps and the precise coordination of

University of Basel researchers have discovered that bacteria can sense threats in advance through a general danger signal. Bacteria detect when nearby cells are dying and proactively form a protective biofilm. Understanding how bacteria communicate and r

Continental European snakes, geckos and Italian wall lizards are making their way to northern Europe undetected among imports of ornamental olive trees destined for gardens and green spaces.

We have all been told to avoid direct sunlight between 12 noon and 3 p.m., seek out shade and put on sunscreen and a hat. Nevertheless, most of us have experienced sunburn at least once. The skin turns bright red, feels irritated and needs cooling.