Researchers found that bats can locate rustling mealworms in noisy environments with minimal distraction, but avoid areas with loud background noise. Foraging bats were more affected by white noise and traffic sounds than high wind rattling through vegetation.
A new report published in Disease Models & Mechanisms reveals that tumors trigger the same immune response as wounds, with hemocytes replicating and adhering to tumor surfaces to limit growth. The study identifies key pathways in the fly's immune response to tumor growth and tissue disruption, shared with humans.
Researchers have found a gene in flatworms that is highly similar to the human gene PTEN, which is frequently mutated in cancer. Disruption of this pathway leads to abnormal growths and cell death, making it an important model for studying human stem cells and cancer.
A new advance in cellular imaging allows scientists to track the movement of live cells in the area around tumors, providing insights into how certain immune cells help or hinder tumor growth. This study sheds light on potential drug targets and mechanisms to enhance the body's natural immune response to cancer.
Research reveals that elephant legs are much bendier than Shakespeare's depiction, with joints flexing significantly during locomotion. Studies also show that the animals' mobility range is comparable to that of trotting horses.
A team of scientists discovered that mirid bugs possess a 30 times thicker coating than blowflies, which disrupts the glue's adhesive powers, allowing them to escape. The unique greasy layer prevents the glue from forming discrete blobs, instead running like a fluid over the surface.
The review discusses how mouse genetics research has contributed to a better understanding of human health and disease. Researchers predict that creating 'humanized' mice will provide new experimental systems for testing novel therapeutics.
Clinician-scientists in the UK are struggling with a lack of career support, limited research training opportunities, and significant medical school debts. However, new funding and mentorship programs may help alleviate these challenges and preserve this vital profession.
Researchers discuss the difficulties in diagnosing and treating Barrett's oesophagus, a pre-cancerous condition often associated with chronic acid reflux. The authors suggest improving detection and treatment by developing standardized indicators, less costly screening methods, and laboratory animal models.
A team of scientists found that blackcap birds can distinguish between genuine and fake cuckoo eggs by altering the UV reflectivity. The study, published in The Journal of Experimental Biology, shows that when blackcap eggs are coated with a UV blocker or Vaseline, they are rejected by the parents.
A team of scientists found that lizards running on two legs is due to their acceleration, which creates a turning force acting on the lizard's torso, lifting it off the ground. The researchers suggest that 'pulling a wheelie' is the most likely explanation for the lizards' bipedalism.
Nautilus pompilus demonstrated short-term memory lasting up to an hour before fading away, but remembering it again after 6 hours. The living fossil's memory was comparable to that of modern cephalopods, challenging the assumption that complex brains are necessary for memory.
Spider silk exhibits different mechanical properties based on its amino acid composition, with proline-rich silks behaving like rubber bands and low-proline silks acting as rigid springs. The presence of proline affects the silk's hydration level, causing some silks to shrink and swell more than others.