A newly sequenced genome reveals insights into the evolution from single-celled life forms to multicellular animals. Choanoflagellates, tiny planktonic organisms, are the closest living relatives of animals and hold key information about human history and the origins of life.
A team of researchers used miniature backpacks with accelerometers to study the gliding behavior of Southeast Asian colugos, also known as flying lemurs. The findings show that colugos push off from trees more forcefully for long jumps but quickly reach terminal velocity and land with reduced impact forces.
Researchers developed a new synthetic adhesive that mimics gecko toe hairs, allowing for directional adhesion on smooth surfaces. The adhesive is made from hard plastic microfibers that become stronger with use and can detach without residue.
Scientists have found that male Anna's hummingbirds create a distinctive chirping sound by spreading their tail feathers during dive displays, which is used to attract females and deter rivals. The unique mechanism, similar to the whistling of ducks, sheds new light on bird sound production.
A new study assesses the ecological costs of human activities on a global scale, finding that rich nations' environmental footprints heavily impact poor countries. The study estimates that the portion of high-income nations' footprints falling on low-income countries is greater than their combined financial debt.
A newly discovered parasite transforms its ant host into a ripe red berry, tricking birds into eating infected ants to spread the infection. The parasite, Myrmeconema neotropicum, causes the ant's gaster to turn red and become sluggish, making it easy for birds to consume.
A new study by UC Berkeley scientists reveals that dinosaurs experienced rapid growth spurs and reached sexual maturity near the end of this phase, well before reaching maximum body size. This finding suggests that dinosaurs were born precocious and suffered high adult mortality, making early sexual maturity necessary for survival.
The sequencing of Physcomitrella patens genome provides a window into the evolution of green plants, revealing key traits like desiccation tolerance. The discovery may help improve crop growth in arid conditions and advance bioenergy research.
A US-French research team is creating a comprehensive inventory of all non-microbial life on Moorea, including plants, animals, and fungi. The project aims to catalog and barcode every species on the island, shedding light on ecosystem responses to climate change, invasive species, and human impact.
Scientists at UC Berkeley have discovered a technique that enables the detection of biomolecules' dynamic reactions in a single living cell, providing unprecedented resolution. By using gold nanoparticles, researchers can determine enzyme activation and gene expression in real-time without killing the cells.
The discovery of a fifth planet around 55 Cancri is significant due to its habitable zone, where water could exist as a liquid. The planet's size and orbit suggest it may be rocky, with a potential for life.
Physicists at UC Berkeley have built the world's smallest radio using a single carbon nanotube, detecting radio signals through mechanical vibration. The nanoradio can tune in to FM broadcasts and even transmit music pieces from over a century old.
African elephants led by older, more dominant matriarchs travel significantly fewer miles to seek food than subordinate groups. During the dry season, dominant groups trek an average of 4-5 kilometers per day, while subordinate groups cover 8-11 kilometers.
A study found that sleep deprivation excessively boosts the part of the brain connected to depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders. The amygdala becomes hyperactive in response to negative visual stimuli, shutting down the prefrontal cortex and preventing the release of chemicals needed for calmness.
Researchers caution that genetic ancestry testing is flawed and can produce false leads, impacting tribal benefits, medical decisions, and census data. The technology's limitations and potential dangers warrant policy statements from professional associations.
A team of astronomers at UC Berkeley reports a nearly global cloud cover and morning drizzle of methane over Titan's western foothills. The drizzle may be caused by processes similar to those on Earth, with moisture-laden clouds pushed upslope by winds condensing to form a coastal rain.
A fossilized whale skeleton found on California's Año Nuevo Island is the youngest and most complete known example of a whale fall in North America. The 11- to 15-million-year-old skeleton was home to multiple mollusks, challenging previous theories that large whales were necessary for these deep-sea communities to thrive.
UC Berkeley physicists have successfully measured the spin of an individual atom on a surface, a key achievement for both quantum computing and spintronics. By employing low-temperature spin-polarized scanning tunneling spectroscopy, researchers were able to determine the spin of isolated adatoms atop cobalt nanoislands.
Toothed whales developed sonar to track squid in surface waters at night, allowing them to follow cephalopods as they migrated downwards into darkness. This led to the refinement of echolocation systems, enabling whales to hunt squid in deep ocean depths.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that fruit flies have taste cells specific to carbonation, which encourages them to consume food with growing microorganisms. The discovery suggests that other animals may have taste receptors tuned to important chemicals in their environment.
For the first time since their discovery in 1977, astronomers have observed a Uranus ring crossing and detected significant changes in the rings' arrangement. The observations used advanced telescopes and revealed new details about the fine dust that permeates the rings, including a previously unseen outer ring.
A new study found that a compound in broccoli, known as DIM, may help boost the immune system. DIM was shown to increase blood levels of cytokines and stimulate white blood cells in mice, suggesting potential health benefits against infections and cancer.
Researchers found that over one-third of African starlings engage in cooperative breeding, a behavior typically seen in birds and other animals, due to the unpredictability of their savanna habitats. In contrast, non-cooperative species live in forests with more stable environments.
A new genetic analysis suggests that the frog-killing fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, may be a greater threat to mountain yellow-legged frogs due to its ability to spread over long distances and persist in the environment through sexual reproduction. This could make it harder to save the frogs from extinction.
Fossils discovered in New Mexico reveal that dinosaurs and their predecessors lived side by side for 15-20 million years. The findings provide new insights into the evolution of dinosaur precursors and challenge long-held theories about the pace of changeover.
A tropical butterfly species, Hypolimnas bolina, has made a remarkable comeback in just 10 generations, with the proportion of males increasing from 1% to 39%. The rise is attributed to a suppressor gene that controls the spread of Wolbachia bacteria, which previously killed most male offspring.
The sea anemone genome shows similarities with the human genome, providing a new view of our common ancestors. The study found that many genes are conserved across species, allowing scientists to infer features of the ancestral genetic blueprint for animals.
Cancer researcher Peter Duesberg's chromosomal theory of cancer suggests that each cancer is unique and resistant to drugs due to aneuploidy, a chromosomal disruption that can be seen easily through a microscope. This theory supports the development of drug resistance in cancer cells.
UC Berkeley scientists discovered that Mars' shoreline variations can be explained by the movement of its spin axis, and thus its poles. The team calculated that an initial shift of 50 degrees from today's pole would disrupt the Arabia shoreline.
Death rates from lung and bladder cancer remained high decades after residents in northern Chile were exposed to high levels of arsenic, indicating a clear pattern of latency in health effects. The study found that mortality risks continued to rise long after exposure ended, supporting the need for more testing of world's water sources.
Fossilized dinosaurs exhibiting wide-open mouth and head-back poses were likely victims of brain damage or asphyxiation due to trauma, according to two paleontologists. This new explanation challenges the long-held notion that the pose resulted from water currents or muscle contractions.
The California and Carnegie Planet Search team has reported 28 new exoplanets, increasing the total number of known exoplanets to 236. The new discoveries include seven confirmed brown dwarfs, which are failed stars that can be more massive than Jupiter-sized planets.
Researchers have developed a device that can map magnetic fields at an unprecedented level of precision, detecting even the smallest magnetic fields with great accuracy. The breakthrough uses ultra-cold Bose-Einstein condensates to create a highly sensitive magnetometer.
A new study found that flash-heating breast milk can successfully inactivate HIV, providing a safe alternative for mothers in resource-poor communities. The technique involves heating the milk in a pan of water over a flame and retains most of its nutritional and antimicrobial properties.
The star's mass is estimated at between 100 and 200 times that of the sun, making it one of the rarest types of massive stars. The supernova's brightness and longevity are attributed to its potential as a pair-instability supernova, which would produce a significant amount of heavy elements.
Researchers have developed a method to achieve pressures up to a billion atmospheres, recreating conditions expected in the cores of supergiant planets. This breakthrough allows for the study of extreme chemistry and material properties, shedding light on the composition of Earth's mantle and rocky core.
A new study analyzing US nuclear reactors finds a range of electricity costs from 3 cents to 14 cents per kilowatt hour, with higher costs attributed to poor plant operation and security concerns. The study suggests that new technologies and safer reactors may not mitigate the financial risks associated with nuclear power.
A team of astronomers has assembled the most complete picture yet of a pair of asteroids orbiting each other, thanks to combined observations from professionals and amateurs. The asteroid 90 Antiope is depicted as two slightly egg-shaped rubble piles locked in orbit, with uncertainties remaining from previous studies.
Researchers have found a new class of gold catalysts that can act as both an acceptor and a donor of electrons in chemical reactions. This unique property allows gold to participate in reactions at carbon-carbon bonds, leading to the creation of novel organic molecules.
Researchers found that more than half of primitive organisms have acquired genes through horizontal gene transfer, while only a few eukaryotes have done so. Two species of bacteria were also found to share large groups of genes, allowing them to adapt to their environment more quickly.
The AEGIS survey provides a unique combination of deep, intensive observations over a wide area, yielding large samples even of rare types of galaxies. The study reveals a time when galaxies were starting to reach maturity, with high star formation rates and powerful black holes at their centers.
A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that smoking significantly increases the risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection. Smokers have a 73% greater chance of becoming infected than non-smokers, and if infected, are 50% more likely to develop active TB disease.
Researchers led by paleobiologist Jere H. Lipps argue that Europa's icy surface may harbor life due to the presence of water ice, briny oceans, and tidal friction generating heat. This could lead to a variety of habitats supporting life forms, from microorganisms to macroscopic organisms.
Researchers from UC Berkeley and Texas A&M University deploy high-resolution intelligent robotic video system to locate the ivory-billed woodpecker, a species considered extinct for decades. The system provides detailed video sequences of other birds, suggesting a new approach to field biology work.
New research reveals that the US crime rate declined dramatically in the 1990s, falling 40% across cities and states. Policing improvements, including increased workforce and aggressive tactics, are credited as key factors in this unexpected drop.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have successfully generated electricity from heat by trapping organic molecules between metal nanoparticles. The discovery could lead to more efficient ways to directly convert heat into electricity, potentially reducing waste and emissions.
The new high-performance mirror, called the high-index contrast sub-wavelength grating (HCG), packs the same reflective punch as current mirrors but is at least 20 times thinner. This characteristic presents critical advantages for today's ever smaller integrated optical devices.
A new medical technique using microsecond electrical pulses has been shown to create permanent nanoscale holes in target cell membranes without harming surrounding tissue. This technique, called irreversible electroporation (IRE), has the potential to revolutionize minimally invasive surgical treatments for tumors.
A new study by UC Berkeley scientists finds that male sweat contains a chemical called androstadienone, which increases cortisol levels and affects women's hormonal balance. The study suggests that inhaling this chemical could be used to raise cortisol levels in patients with diseases like Addison's disease.
A new study has developed a generic global law to predict large-scale patterns in litter mass decay rates and nitrogen release from litter. The research found that the dominant drivers of nitrogen release were initial concentration and remaining mass of leaf and root litter.