Researchers discovered a structural aberration in octopus ribosomes that enhances accuracy and reduces errors in protein synthesis. This finding may be linked to the evolution of the octopus's complex sensory system, which includes a highly sensitive 'taste by touch' system.
A new study mapped the internal structures of 87 ray-finned species in three-dimensional detail, revealing a wide range of brain sizes and shapes. Environmental factors appear to drive this variation, with deep-sea fishes tending toward smaller brains relative to skull size.
A new study confirms that trilobites' feather-like structures attached to their limbs functioned as sophisticated gills, allowing them to extract oxygen from seawater. The research resolves a long-standing controversy over the respiratory capabilities of these ancient arthropods.
Researchers uncover 289 million-year-old mummy of lizard-like creature Captorhinus aguti, preserving skin, cartilage, and protein remnants. The find reveals the oldest example of costal breathing system in amniotes, shedding light on early reptile evolution.
A new study reveals how octopuses use their arms to recognize and mate with each other. The researchers found that the male hectocotylus contains special sensors that detect female sex hormones, allowing the males to locate females without visual cues.
A 500-million-year-old fossil reveals the earliest known chelicerate with a claw, pushing back the evolutionary history of chelicerates by 20 million years. This discovery sheds light on the assembly of the chelicerate body plan and their early ecological context.
Researchers at Harvard University have discovered a way to fully regenerate skin in mice by unblocking an embryonic healing mechanism. The study suggests that removing the block on this mechanism may be sufficient to allow regeneration to occur, potentially leading to new therapies for human patients.
A new study published in Science reveals that tectonic plates began moving around 3.5 billion years ago, with the Pilbara Craton in western Australia showing evidence of plate movement and drift. The research used ancient rock samples to track the motion of the plates, providing insights into Earth's history and evolution.
Oysters have been found to coordinate with microbes to regulate chemistry and support shell calcification, highlighting potential partnerships for resilience in a changing ocean. This discovery may also provide insights into how microbes contribute to resilience in other organisms.
Researchers at Harvard University have discovered that cycads heat up their reproductive organs to attract beetle pollinators, who possess infrared sensors to detect these signals. The study found that all 17 cycad species followed a circadian pattern, with male cones heating first and females cooling down before warming up again.
Scientists have discovered a new species of deep-sea limpet clinging to a sunken log in the Central Pacific Ocean. The discovery provides crucial insights into ocean biodiversity and ecosystem secrets, revealing that even tiny islands of habitat can sustain deep-sea communities long enough for population turnover and dispersal.
Researchers at Harvard University have discovered that salamanders rely on the sympathetic nervous system to activate stem cells throughout the body, enabling them to regrow entire limbs. This finding may provide insights into developing regenerative treatments for humans, particularly in limb regeneration and organ repair.
A new international perspective argues that scientific evidence supports the coca leaf as a useful crop plant. Decriminalizing coca could enable medical research, create sustainable economic opportunities, and recognize Indigenous rights, while aligning global policy with modern science.
Researchers identified two major steps in the evolution of human bipedality, involving a shift in the growth plate and changes in bone formation. These genetic shifts, driven by genes such as SOX9 and PTH1R, fundamentally altered the pelvis geometry, enabling humans to walk upright.
Researchers identified X- and Y-linked sequences in Nautilus, indicating a more dynamic sex determination system than previously thought. The study's findings have implications for cephalopod biology and conservation.
Researchers discovered the basal ganglia use distinct kinematic codes during learned behaviors and natural movements, shedding light on human movement disorders. The findings suggest the basal ganglia play essential roles in learned movements, but not necessarily in routine motor control.
A study of Olenoides serratus trilobite limbs reveals a simpler, functional design than horseshoe crabs, with specialized appendages for walking, burrowing, and mating. The research provides new insights into the behavior and movement of ancient arthropods, offering a rare window into life over half a billion years ago.
Researchers mapped the range of movement in Olenoides serratus trilobite limbs, shedding light on their behavior and function. The study revealed a simpler, functional limb design with limited extension range, allowing them to walk, burrow, and forage.
A study by Harvard biologists found that two deer mouse species, one living in densely-vegetated areas and the other in open areas, have evolved distinct brain circuitry responses to aerial predators. The research revealed that the difference in escape behaviors is not just visual or peripheral, but central processing in the brain.
Researchers from Harvard University have discovered ancient proteins in the enamel of 18-million-year-old fossilized mammals from Kenya's Rift Valley. The study uses a new proteomics technique to reveal a diversity of proteins in different biological tissues, providing insights into the lives and evolution of these ancient animals.
A new analysis reveals US media coverage of archaeology research prioritizes certain regions, such as the UK, Israel, and Australia, over others like China and Taiwan. The study's findings raise concerns about cultural affiliation and identity groups being excluded from mainstream narratives.
A new online tool, Tango, pairs Democrats and Republicans on common teams, reducing negative partisanship and increasing warmth and financial generosity. The results showed comparable effects to rolling back rising polarization in American political life, lasting at least a month and often up to four months from gameplay.
Researchers found GPT-4o exhibits humanlike cognitive dissonance by changing its views on Vladimir Putin after being given the illusion of choosing essay topics. The AI's responses mirror human psychology's tendency to rationalize past behaviors, highlighting the fragility of its opinions.
A Harvard University study reveals systematic biases in estimating sex disparities in ACL injury rates due to gendered factors like resource availability and training ratios. This skews comparisons between women and men, potentially leading to inaccurate reports of higher injury rates among women.
A new long-term study of gun usage found that most gun carriers began to carry in adulthood, not adolescence. Adult-onset carriers were more persistent in their carrying and had a different pattern of exposure to violence, whereas adolescent-onset carriers were associated with direct exposure to gun violence.
A new Harvard study finds humans possess higher metabolic rates than primates and apes, allowing for bigger brains, longer lifespan, and increased reproduction. Humans have 'escaped a tradeoff' between resting and active metabolism due to unique sweating ability.
A new study reveals that a giant meteorite impact, equivalent to four Mount Everests, triggered a tsunami that mixed ocean debris and heated the atmosphere. This led to a rapid recovery of bacterial life, with iron-metabolizing bacteria flourishing in its wake.
A new study reveals that bais, vast treeless clearings in the Congo Basin, are home to numerous endangered species, including Western lowland gorillas and African forest elephants. The researchers found over 2,000 distinct bais, covering less than 0.2% of the national park's landscape.
The study reveals that sea robin legs are sensitive to both mechanical and chemical stimuli, and are covered in papillae similar to human taste buds. The research provides new insights into the evolution of this unique trait, which could offer clues about how humans developed bipedalism.
Researchers have discovered a remarkably preserved fossil site in Massachusetts that provides a rare glimpse into terrestrial life from over 300 million years ago. The findings reveal a diverse ecosystem of early land-dwelling animals and plants, including some of the oldest known examples of their groups.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new device that can easily twist and study 2D materials, opening up new possibilities for discovering new phases of matter. This innovation uses micro-electromechanical systems to control the twist angle, making it easier to produce unique samples and study their properties.
Researchers have successfully achieved spin squeezing in a more accessible way, enabling precise measurements with quantum-enhanced metrology. This breakthrough may lead to new portable sensors for biomedical imaging and atomic clocks.
A team led by Harvard's Ryan Flynn has discovered the mechanism of how RNA is chemically linked to N-glycans, proving the existence of glycoRNAs. This finding broadens the scope of known glycoconjugates and opens new avenues for research into glycoRNA biology.
A team of biologists has discovered a unique breeding behavior in the Andamanese Charles Darwin's frog, laying terrestrial eggs inside tree holes in an upside-down position. The frog also produces complex advertisement calls and engages in aggressive fights for mating rights.
A team of Harvard researchers has discovered a new species of chordate, Nuucichthys rhynchocephalus, in the Drumian Marjum Formation of the American Great Basin. The fossil provides valuable insights into early vertebrate evolution and biodiversity, as it is one of only four species documenting this stage of vertebrate lineage.
Researchers at Harvard University discovered that giant deep-sea vent tubeworms possess two functional carbon fixation pathways, the Calvin-Benson–Bassham (CBB) and reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycles. These pathways are coordinated to enable symbionts to thrive in dynamic and harsh environments.
Researchers created a virtual rodent with an artificial brain that can move like a real rodent, simulating complex behaviors using biomechanical data from real rats. The model uses deep reinforcement learning and AI to predict neural activity across behaviors.
Researchers at Harvard University have successfully sequenced the genome of the extinct little bush moa, providing new genetic evidence about its sensory biology. The study sheds light on how and why some birds evolved to become flightless, offering clues for future de-extinction efforts.
Researchers at Harvard University have successfully demonstrated the survival of quantum coherence in a chemical reaction involving ultracold molecules. The team observed intricate quantum dynamics underlying the reaction process and outcome, revealing that quantum coherence was preserved within the nuclear spin degree of freedom throu...
Researchers at Harvard University have successfully demonstrated the first metro-area quantum computer network in Boston, using existing telecommunication fiber to send hacker-proof information via photons. The breakthrough overcomes signal loss issues, enabling the creation of a secure quantum internet.
A team of Harvard researchers, led by Jeff Lichtman, has created the largest synaptic-resolution, 3D reconstruction of a piece of human brain to date. The dataset contains 1,400 terabytes of data on neural connections in a tiny piece of human temporal cortex.
Ancient marine plankton communities showed subtle changes before major extinctions, serving as an early warning system for future ocean life loss. These findings offer new insight into how biodiversity responds to global warming and its relevance to worst-case scenarios.
A new Harvard study reveals that male bonobos engage in more acts of aggression than chimpanzees, contrary to their peaceful reputation. The researchers found that bonobos exhibit less sexual coercion and violence towards females, but more frequent 'squabbling' among males.
Researchers at Harvard University discover that hybrids between Amazon butterfly species can produce new, genetically distinct species with unique traits. This study challenges the long-held assumption that hybridization inhibits speciation, instead suggesting it can drive the evolution of new lineages.
Scientists have created a novel instrument that enables the precise measurement of superconductors under extreme pressure, overcoming existing limitations. The new tool uses quantum sensors integrated into a standard pressure-inducing device, allowing for direct imaging of the material's behavior.
Astronomers have discovered a massive, wave-shaped structure in the Milky Way, which is oscillating through space-time. The Radcliffe Wave is approximately 9,000 light years long and moves like a traveling wave, with star clusters along its path moving up and down.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new antibiotic compound, cresomycin, that effectively targets and kills multiple strains of drug-resistant bacteria. The breakthrough demonstrates improved ability to bind to bacterial ribosomes, overcoming resistance mechanisms.
New Harvard study finds that perceived time influences actual physical healing time, challenging conventional beliefs about psychological influence on health. The study used a standardized procedure to mildly wound volunteer subjects and found that wounds healed faster when participants believed more time had passed.
A Harvard University research team has demonstrated a new strategy for making and manipulating cuprate superconductors, clearing a path to engineering new forms of superconductivity. The team created a high-temperature, superconducting diode made out of thin cuprate crystals using a low-temperature device fabrication method.
A global study of 1,001 children across 12 countries found that adult talk is the key predictor of language development in infants and toddlers. No effects were found related to socioeconomics or multilingualism.