https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/biochemistry/ Biochemistry News. Read the latest research and watch related biochemistry news videos. en-us Thu, 08 Oct 2026 10:32:02 EDT Thu, 08 Oct 2026 10:32:02 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/biochemistry/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007233136.htm Scientists accidentally discovered a microscopic organism with a genetic code that breaks a rule researchers thought was nearly universal. While testing a new DNA sequencing technique, they examined a previously unknown protist collected from a freshwater pond at Oxford University. To their surprise, the organism uses two genetic signals that normally mark the end of a gene to encode two entirely different amino acids instead. These signals were previously thought to evolve together, making the discovery particularly remarkable. Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:31:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007233136.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042116.htm A brilliant yellow coral discovered off Costa Rica proved so unusual that scientists had to create an entirely new family to classify it. The meter-tall colonies rise from seafloors covered in brittle stars, inspiring the Tolkien-inspired name Laurinque elenya, or “golden tree of the stars.” Advanced genetic analysis revealed that the coral belongs to a previously unknown evolutionary lineage. Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:18:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042116.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005071535.htm Giving zoo lions whole carcasses on a feast-and-fast schedule appears to bring out more natural behavior. The lions spent nearly three times longer feeding, engaged in more tearing and manipulating of food, and rested more heavily after meals. Their activity then increased gradually during the fasting period, closely resembling the rhythm seen in wild lions. Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:46:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005071535.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005012444.htm Scientists found that prolonged fasting triggers major changes throughout the body, but many of the most interesting effects only appeared after about three days without food. The results suggest fasting may influence health in ways that go beyond weight loss and could eventually inspire treatments that mimic its effects. Mon, 05 Oct 2026 08:26:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005012444.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005012230.htm Scientists discovered that disrupting the chemical messages bacteria use to communicate can push dental plaque toward a healthier microbial balance. The approach could lead to new treatments for gum disease that control harmful bacteria without destroying beneficial species. Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:55:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005012230.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261004001832.htm Predatory wasps are hijacking shelters built by tropical trees for their ant defenders, potentially disrupting an ancient partnership that protects the plants from hungry insects. The takeover is far more common in disturbed landscapes such as oil palm plantations and could have lasting consequences for forest recovery and evolution. Mon, 05 Oct 2026 23:12:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261004001832.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261003234023.htm New research suggests animals could have evolved as early as 800 to 700 million years ago, roughly 200 million years earlier than some previous estimates. If so, the first animals may have lived before or during Snowball Earth, leaving behind little trace because their soft bodies were rarely preserved. Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:29:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261003234023.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080023.htm Scientists have discovered that E-cadherin, a protein best known as the “glue” holding cells and tissues together, has a surprising second job: helping epithelial cells swallow nearby dead cells. Using live zebrafish and mouse embryos, researchers found that cells can dramatically reshape their lower surfaces to engulf cellular debris while keeping their upper surfaces stable, allowing protective barriers to remain sealed. Sun, 04 Oct 2026 23:12:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080023.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080013.htm Scientists have discovered a human gene with a remarkable double life: it appears to play an important role in brain cells while still retaining the ability to jump around the genome. Called BC200, the gene evolved millions of years ago from a mobile piece of DNA known as a transposon, but unlike most genes that arose this way, it never lost its mobility. Researchers even found BC200 embedded inside a human poxvirus, suggesting it may have jumped from infected skin cells into the virus. Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:06:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080013.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001214120.htm A 30-year forestry experiment in Australia found that heavily thinned mountain ash forests grew unusually large trees while recovering enough carbon to match or exceed untouched areas. The results suggest carefully managed thinning could support timber production, wildlife habitat, and carbon storage at the same time. Sun, 04 Oct 2026 07:50:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001214120.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001095319.htm The essential amino acid leucine can boost cellular energy production by protecting key proteins on mitochondria from being destroyed. The discovery reveals a new connection between nutrition and metabolism that could eventually lead to new approaches for metabolic disorders and cancer. Sat, 03 Oct 2026 08:33:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001095319.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020329.htm Mysterious 97-million-year-old magnetic fossils may be the oldest evidence of an animal using Earth’s magnetic field like a built-in GPS. Their sophisticated magnetic structure could have helped an unknown ocean creature navigate thousands of kilometers with surprising precision. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:54:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020329.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053546.htm Scientists may have found a clue to one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the origin of life: how fragile RNA molecules could gather and survive before cells existed. New research shows that RNA is unusually good at assembling into tiny liquid-like droplets that concentrate molecules and can harden into protective, gel-like structures. Remarkably, much of this behavior may come down to a single oxygen-containing chemical group that RNA has but DNA lacks. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:21:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053546.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053536.htm Wild blacktip sharks can detect low-frequency sounds from nearly 250 feet away, according to experiments conducted off the Florida coast. The sharks not only heard the sounds but sharply changed direction away from them, suggesting they could pinpoint where they were coming from. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:58:33 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053536.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053531.htm A huge genomic and fossil study suggests bats first evolved in Europe around 65 to 60 million years ago before spreading across the globe. The findings also indicate that flight and echolocation emerged near the beginning of bat evolution, potentially helping explain how bats became one of the most successful mammal groups on Earth. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 01:12:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053531.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100551.htm Mulberry compounds may reshape the gut microbiome in ways that support intestinal health and metabolism, with some combinations showing especially strong effects in animal studies. However, the results vary depending on the plant part and processing method, and the benefits have yet to be confirmed in humans. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 07:45:42 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100551.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225036.htm A 245-million-year-old marine reptile fossil preserves an astonishing amount of detail, including its stomach, liver, and intestines. The discovery reveals that Austronaga minuta was highly adapted for swimming even though its digestive system remained surprisingly simple. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:39:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225036.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225032.htm Yellow-morph green sea turtles in the Galápagos surprised scientists by staying remarkably close to home instead of making the long journeys typically associated with sea turtles. Satellite tracking showed that none left the marine reserve during the study, revealing just how important the islands’ coastal habitats may be to their survival. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:12:23 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225032.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225027.htm Scientists have discovered a new tick-borne virus in China that causes flu-like illness and may account for previously unexplained cases of fever, fatigue, digestive problems, and low platelet counts. Most patients with ALTNV alone recovered, but coinfections with another dangerous tick-borne virus were linked to more serious complications. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 21:45:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225027.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093204.htm A beautifully preserved fossil from Mongolia’s Gobi Desert has solved a mystery that puzzled paleontologists for nearly 40 years. Tamirkhan balcarceli shows that zhelestids were not early relatives of modern placental mammals, despite having teeth that seemed to suggest they were. Instead, the rabbit-like animal belonged to a separate lineage of small Cretaceous mammals. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:25:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093204.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005441.htm Scientists have streamlined a method for measuring DNA-bound phosphorus in soil, making it cheaper and easier while preserving its accuracy. The technique could reveal how soil microbes help recycle phosphorus and ultimately support more sustainable fertilizer and nutrient management. Sun, 27 Sep 2026 08:10:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005441.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924231826.htm Scientists have mapped the genetics of cat cancer on an unprecedented scale and found surprising similarities with tumors in humans. The findings could help bring precision cancer treatments to cats while also revealing new clues about how human cancers develop and respond to drugs. Sat, 26 Sep 2026 22:01:42 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924231826.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924231711.htm Scientists discovered rare flavoalkaloids in Cannabis leaves for the first time, along with dozens of other phenolic compounds that had never been reported in the plant. The findings suggest that Cannabis leaves, often discarded as waste, may contain a surprisingly rich source of potentially useful chemicals. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 21:25:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924231711.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924020400.htm Scientists think beneficial fungi could help transform nutrient-poor lunar and Martian regolith into a material capable of supporting crops. By helping plants access nutrients and withstand harsh conditions, these microbes could someday make self-sustaining space farming more realistic. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 22:26:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924020400.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260923035936.htm Scientists discovered two tiny new snail species in Montenegro, showing that even Europe still holds animals unknown to science. One lives in the threatened Komarnica Canyon, where a proposed hydropower reservoir could destroy habitat before its full biodiversity is understood. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:59:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260923035936.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005712.htm Some tropical trees have evolved a clever way to survive drought by taking in carbon dioxide at night, allowing them to keep their pores closed during the hot daytime and conserve water. By comparing three Clusia species, researchers discovered that this water-saving form of photosynthesis, known as CAM, did not arise through a single evolutionary change. Instead, ancient genome duplications followed by millions of years of genetic reshuffling produced strikingly different strategies, from strong CAM to stress-triggered and hybrid forms. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:05:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005712.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005709.htm A broken rib from Scotty, the largest known T. rex skeleton, contains an extraordinary fossilized network of blood vessels formed while the dinosaur was healing. Scientists used neutron and X-ray imaging to look inside the 66-million-year-old bone without damaging it, revealing details rarely preserved in fossils. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 22:20:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005709.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081050.htm Researchers observed a humpback whale mother staying beside her presumed stillborn calf for hours and possibly days off Australia’s Gold Coast. She maintained eye contact and remained close to the calf in behavior resembling caregiving and nurturing. Scientists say the rare observation may provide new insight into grief, maternal attachment, and emotional complexity in humpback whales. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:05:14 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081050.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222410.htm Genetic evidence has revealed a previously unknown gentoo penguin species on the remote Kerguelen Islands and shown that gentoos actually consist of four distinct species. The discovery also highlights a growing threat, as warming oceans could leave several island populations with little suitable habitat by 2050. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:11:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222410.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031033.htm Cats may identify one another through a surprisingly durable chemical “calling card” made from 13 unusual fatty acids in their urine. The compounds appear linked to mysterious fat droplets in the kidneys and may represent a scent-recognition system shared across the cat family. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:24:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031033.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031020.htm Chemical clues preserved inside fossilized T. rex teeth reveal that the dinosaur maintained a body temperature of about 97 degrees Fahrenheit, almost identical to humans. The finding provides direct evidence that the giant predator was warm-blooded, helping explain how it stayed active and survived in chilly environments as far north as Alaska. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 01:56:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031020.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919025248.htm A chemical that stops drywood termites from building new exoskeletons killed about 95% of colonies in testing, offering a potentially safer alternative to traditional fumigation. Because termites eventually have no choice but to molt, the treatment turns a normal stage of their life cycle into a fatal weakness. Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:29:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919025248.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024816.htm A newly discovered snake from New Guinea has been named after Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, who has loved reptiles since childhood. Genetic testing and physical differences confirmed that the reddish-brown groundsnake, Lielaphis slashi, is a species scientists had never formally recognized before. The nonvenomous snake may use large rear teeth to catch slippery lizards and reptile eggs. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:07:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024816.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024812.htm A single-celled organism can shrink to one-quarter of its length in milliseconds using a remarkable calcium-powered protein “fishnet.” Scientists hope its unusual machinery could inspire artificial muscles capable of moving far faster than today’s designs. Sat, 19 Sep 2026 07:39:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024812.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024810.htm A deep-sea microbe uses an exceptionally heat-resistant enzyme to turn atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia at temperatures that would destroy most proteins. Its unusual structure and a newly observed reaction state may reveal an ancient, shared mechanism behind nitrogen fixation and could eventually inspire cleaner biotechnology and fertilizer production. Sat, 19 Sep 2026 07:49:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024810.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003737.htm Scientists discovered a new frog species in the flooded forests of the western Amazon, distinguishing it from nearly identical relatives through DNA and its unique call. Adenomera varcena highlights how much Amazonian biodiversity remains hidden even as habitat loss and climate change threaten these poorly understood species. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 10:08:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003737.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232128.htm A newly identified 240-million-year-old animal from Tanzania is forcing scientists to rethink the early dinosaur timeline. Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda belongs to a group previously known only from South America, linking fossil deposits on the two continents. That connection suggests Tanzania’s supposed oldest dinosaur fossils may actually be millions of years younger than previously thought. Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:48:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232128.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102439.htm The flesh eating New World screwworm has returned to the United States, threatening livestock, wildlife, pets and potentially people as it spreads north. A new UC San Diego tracking system aims to predict where the parasite could strike next while officials revive the eradication strategy that defeated it decades ago. Tue, 15 Sep 2026 06:39:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102439.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102436.htm A 125-million-year-old crocodile fossil has revealed preserved skin, possible sensory organs, sophisticated respiratory structures, and an unexpected pattern on its tail. Ultraviolet light exposed alternating bands that may represent ancient camouflage, potentially preserving the oldest known coloration in a crocodylomorph. Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:07:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102436.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260912220033.htm Scientists have engineered yeast to turn PET plastic and agricultural waste into ingredients for protein-rich, 3D-printed cookies called µBites. Developed partly for NASA’s Deep Space Food Challenge, the system can produce proteins, fats, vitamins, and even vanilla flavoring from waste materials. Researchers hope the unusual technology could eventually help address both plastic pollution and food insecurity, while also supplying food in extreme environments such as deep-space missions. Sun, 13 Sep 2026 07:54:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260912220033.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003852.htm Long-lived bats appear to combine powerful immune defenses with unusual strategies for eliminating damaged cells, potentially helping them avoid cancer and disease for decades. Researchers hope these genetic tricks could eventually reveal new ways to protect human health during aging. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 20:25:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003852.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003849.htm A feather discovered inside 66-million-year-old fossilized dinosaur poop may help explain why modern birds survived the asteroid catastrophe. The extinct bird it came from had more primitive insulating feathers, suggesting superior plumage may have helped the ancestors of living birds endure the deadly impact winter. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:47:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003849.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231717.htm Scientists have directly observed how two negatively charged DNA molecules can pair up despite normally repelling each other. Positively charged metal ions appear to bridge the gap, helping matching DNA helices align groove for groove like a molecular zipper. The discovery confirms a theory proposed two decades ago and could help researchers understand DNA interactions involved in cancer and other cellular processes. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 23:17:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231717.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005212.htm Two major alien-life announcements in 2025 generated enormous excitement, but most astrobiologists remained unconvinced. Only 6.6% of surveyed experts thought possible biological molecules on K2-18b probably represented extraterrestrial life, while 15.1% said the same about intriguing mineral patterns in a Martian rock. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:13:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005212.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201605.htm Researchers discovered that combinations of toxin-blocking proteins naturally found in rattlesnake blood can powerfully neutralize venom from several dangerous snake species. In lab tests, the mixtures were about 10 times more potent than a current commercial antivenom, pointing toward a new generation of nature-inspired snakebite treatments. Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:54:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201605.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260906170145.htm A critically endangered roloway monkey has given birth just months after surgeons performed an unusual operation that saved her foot from amputation. Her new daughter, Lagertha, is an important addition to a species believed to number fewer than 2,000 in the wild. Mon, 07 Sep 2026 22:09:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260906170145.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260906170129.htm Scientists have found evidence that some gut bacterial populations can spread rapidly between people and across continents, suggesting the microbiome may be more transmissible than previously thought. The research also revealed hidden bacterial groups associated with aging, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and type 2 diabetes. Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:34:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260906170129.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260904000310.htm Researchers at UC San Diego have demonstrated that a key cellular enzyme can accurately read an eight-letter genetic alphabet, doubling the four letters used by all known life on Earth. Detailed imaging revealed that RNA polymerase handles synthetic DNA letters in surprisingly similar ways to natural ones. The finding brings scientists closer to building expanded genetic systems that could perform entirely new biological functions. Sat, 05 Sep 2026 01:25:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260904000310.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234518.htm A substance found in edible sea squirts appeared to reverse several signs of aging in older mice. Plasmalogen supplements improved memory and learning, strengthened connections between brain cells, reduced inflammation, and even helped the mice grow thicker, darker hair. Researchers believe the compounds may encourage brain regeneration and protect aging synapses. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:29:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234518.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234514.htm A newly discovered microbe living inside ancient stromatolite communities may offer a rare look at how complex life first emerged. Researchers captured the first direct images of an Asgard archaeon physically connected to a bacterium, with the two microbes appearing to exchange nutrients and other compounds. Scientists think similar partnerships billions of years ago may have helped produce the first complex cells. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 09:11:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234514.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234508.htm Scientists have overturned a leading explanation for why male and female bonnethead sharks have differently shaped heads. Instead of males developing a pointed snout at maturity, both sexes actually begin with more pointed heads that become rounder with age, particularly in females. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:24:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234508.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234505.htm A common frog found across Ecuador and Colombia has finally been recognized as its own species after more than a century of mistaken identity. Museum specimens from the 1800s helped scientists reveal that Pristimantis milpe had been hiding in plain sight all along. Sat, 05 Sep 2026 18:35:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234505.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901070526.htm MIT researchers have created bacterial “transistors” that can be wired together into living circuits capable of performing calculations and directing chemical signals. One day, these biological computers could coat plant roots or leaves, detecting environmental threats and automatically triggering defenses. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:52:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901070526.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010719.htm Morning glories may be getting caught in an evolutionary tug-of-war between surviving climate change and attracting increasingly scarce pollinators. Over just nine years, researchers found that the plants’ rate of adaptation plunged by 96%, even though they still had plenty of genetic diversity to evolve. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 23:02:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010719.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010713.htm Scientists discovered that more than 500 species of vesper bats possess two separate sets of antibody genes, an immune arrangement never before found in mammals. The surprising system could help explain how bats tolerate so many viruses without becoming seriously ill. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 07:56:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010713.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831015200.htm A meter-long scorpion with massive pincers stalked ancient Britain 415 million years ago, long before forests and the better-known age of giant insects. Its surprising size and possible semi-aquatic lifestyle could reshape ideas about how early arthropods became giants. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:23:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831015200.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829235942.htm Wild monkeys in West Africa can climb vertical tree trunks using foot flexibility scientists did not realize they possessed. The discovery challenges a key assumption about what the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees looked like and how it moved. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 08:38:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829235942.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035221.htm Ancient footprints in Kenya reveal that eight Paranthropus boisei may have traveled together 1.4 million years ago, with some individuals reaching surprisingly large, human-like body sizes. The tracks offer a rare glimpse of their social behavior and suggest these extinct human relatives may have lived in more complex groups than previously thought. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 11:17:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035221.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260828082341.htm Dogs and humans may have more in common when it comes to aging than scientists realized. Researchers with the Dog Aging Project found that patterns of small molecules in dogs’ blood were linked to longer or shorter lifespans in remarkably similar ways to those seen in people. These metabolic “fingerprints” could offer clues about the biological processes that drive aging, including metabolism, inflammation, and cellular stress. Sat, 29 Aug 2026 08:47:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260828082341.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010517.htm Scientists tracking thousands of animals found that our physical presence can reshape where wildlife moves and lives, sometimes as strongly as roads, cities, and other human development. Because different species reacted in very different ways, conservation efforts may need to become much more targeted. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 01:22:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010517.htm