Over half of our genomes consist of thousands of remnants of ancient viral DNA, known as transposable elements, which are widespread across the tree of life. Once dismissed as the "dark side" of the genome, researchers at Helmholtz Munich and Lu

Science has revealed some of the secrets of the X chromosome, but many remain. In humans, female cells contain two X chromosomes (XX) and male cells contain one (XY). In each female cell, one X chromosome must be inactivated—crumpled up in such a way that

Ecologists from the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) and the Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS) at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) have identified significant ecological risks associated with the release of hybrid groupers into Hong Kong's co

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) targets important cells of our immune system, making infected individuals more vulnerable to diseases and infections. Once inside human cells, HIV integrates the viral genome into that of the human host. Ultimat

Researchers from Mainz University and EMBL Hamburg present a new approach to determine the form of disordered proteins by using two different methods simultaneously in a single sample. Their findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academ

Cetaceans—marine mammals that include dolphins, porpoises, and whales—are crucial to coastal ecology. Their presence fosters carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling and redistribution, and control of certain prey species. Moreover, they serve as bioindicat

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Aarhus University, Denmark, researchers have confirmed protonic conductivity over distances exceeding 100 micrometers along filamentous Desulfobulbaceae, commonly referred to as cable bacteria. Findings provide insights

How does a tiny molecule help shape the future of global food security? Researchers from the University of Tasmania have provided new insights into auxin, a master plant hormone, and its vital role in starch production—the powerhouse of the world's most

Scientists are unraveling the mystery of what triggers Huntington's disease, a devastating and fatal hereditary disorder that strikes in the prime of life, causing nerve cells in parts of the brain to break down and die.

Ants, with their highly organized social behavior, have long inspired research. In particular, they have often inspired simple solutions to complex problems and, today, they could help us solve one of the most pressing challenges in today's urban environ

Freshwater ecosystems cover less than 1% of Earth's surface, but are vital for life on this planet. New research reveals that damage to these environments is pushing freshwater animals to the edge of extinction, with 24% of species in danger of being wip

A team of chemical, industrial and biotechnical engineers affiliated with several institutions in China has developed a dual-reactor system that can be used to convert CO2 to a consumable single-cell protein. In their paper published in the journal Enviro