Microbial ecosystems—for example, in seawater, the soil or in the human gut—are astonishingly diverse, but researchers often struggle to reproduce this diversity in the lab: Many microorganisms die when attempts are made to cultivate them.

Scientists at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, have captured real-time footage showing how a key hormone receptor activates genes, offering a clearer view of one of the most fundamental processes in biology.

New laboratory research shows that when viruses attack a species that forms toxic algal blooms, those thick, blue-green slicks that choke waterways and that threaten ecosystems, drinking water, and public health, what results might be even worse than befo

A wild ginger has a clever trick up its sleeve to lure in pollinators. No, it's not a sweet fragrance that fills the air, but the foul stench of rotting flesh and dung. To attract carrion-loving flies and beetles, the flowers of the plant genus Asarum br

Originally from South America, the charismatic tegu made its way to the United States via the pet trade of the 1990s. After wreaking havoc in Florida's ecosystems, the exotic lizard was classified as an invasive species. But a recent discovery from the F

A multi-institutional collaboration of synthetic biology research centers in China has developed a genetically engineered strain of Vibrio natriegens capable of bioremediating complex organic pollutants, including biphenyl, phenol, naphthalene, dibenzofur

A study in the journal Forests highlights the critical need for understanding and managing nonnative forest specialist and generalist pests.

A community garden in the heart of a city can be an oasis—an island of greenery where people can escape the sounds of traffic, sink their hands into the earth, and connect with the natural world. These spaces can be especially important in lower-income ne

Imagine if agricultural and food byproducts could be transformed into an effective and holistic feed for livestock while also helping to combat climate change. Milad Parchami, Ph.D. in Resource Recovery at the University of Borås in Sweden, explored a pro

Metals and hormone-disrupting substances such as estrogens present a genuine risk to the sustainability of agriculture and water management in Europe. This is the conclusion of doctoral research conducted by Chinese environmental scientist Yuwei Jia at th

Antarctic krill not only react to external environmental influences such as light or food. They also use their internal clocks to adapt to the extreme conditions of the polar environment.

"Supply and demand" constraints limit the body's ability to produce the various proteins needed for critical life functions, according to a new study.