A bird known for “brood parasitism”, laying its eggs in other birds’ nests, also has a strong preference for more brightly colored offspring. A new study shows that the two behaviors are unrelated. Continue reading Playing favorites: a new study investigates parental preferences in American Coot
CIFAR Fellows’s paper questions whether diabetes, heart attacks and strokes are actually non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Microbiota (bacteria, viruses, fungi) that spread flu, HIV/AIDS, may also carry NCDs. People with NCDs have damaged microbiota, causing disease when transmitted into healthy animals. Spouses and cohabitants’ shared lifestyles and environments also lead to gut bacteria transfer.
Continue reading Is diabetes communicable?
by Aparna Nathan figures by Abagail Burrus Superheroes aren’t the only ones with riveting origin stories. As humans, where did we come from? How did we populate six continents? For hundreds of years, archaeology has tried to provide the answers by digging up artifacts and piecing together their histories. However, shovels and brushes are now joining forces with test tubes and lab coats. Within the … Continue reading Digging for DNA: Ancient genomes can illuminate the past and reframe the present
Scientists have developed a biodegradable ultrasound speaker that can be placed inside the brain. When activated, it makes the blood-brain barrier permeable, potentially allowing certain drugs such as brain cancer chemotherapy and antidepressants to reaching their destination more easily. Continue reading Ultrasound speaker implant that can open a door to your brain
Flu shots have an exciting new role in the world of cancer therapy! A recent study shows that flu vaccines could be used to boost the effects of cancer immunotherapy. Continue reading Take your flu shots! Fighting cancer with flu vaccines.
CRISPR is a highly effective immune system that defends bacteria from viruses. It was recently shown that some viruses have evolved counter-defenses that protect their DNA with a nucleus-like structure. Continue reading Some viruses can defeat CRISPR with nucleus-like compartments
40 new species of fish have been found in Lake Mweru in East Africa. Breeding of related lineages may have allowed the cichlids to rapidly evolve to fill different ecological niches. Continue reading New Fish Species and Rapid Evolution Found in African Lake
A new study takes a crack at trying to predict someone’s face using just their DNA. Continue reading A Rough Portrait of Your Face, Painted by your DNA
Scientists at ETH Zurich recently developed a storage architecture using DNA, where they fused DNA into everyday objects in order to store data. Continue reading Artificial DNA can replace your thumb drive
A new migraine medication called ubrogepant recently passed a large scale phase 3 clinical trial. This medication may be able to help treat patients that cannot tolerate or do not respond to the most common types of migraine medication. Continue reading New migraine medication passes clinical trial