Biology

Stopping Candida in its tracks

Enlarge[1] Fluorescently-labelled Candida albicans, showing the formation of invasive filaments. Credit: Tina Bedekovic Scientists are one step closer to understanding how a normally harmless fungus changes to become a deadly infectious agent. The opportunistic fungus…

Current Ebola Strain Mutated, But Not More Deadly

The current Ebola outbreak is difficult enough, but scientists are worried about the one thing that could make it even worse: mutation. Cutting edge scientific research has revealed that the current strain of Ebola has…

Monarch butterflies rebound in Mexico, numbers still low

The number of Monarch butterflies that reached wintering grounds in Mexico has rebounded 69 percent from last year's lowest-on-record levels, but their numbers remain very low, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Last year, the…

Using the unique spectral signature of guano to identify unknown seabird colonies

Scientists have discovered that penguin and seabird poo (guano) from colonies around the Antarctic Peninsula has a unique spectral signature that can be identified from satellite imagery. The results are published this week in the…

Tinkering with the Tao of pandas

Good news on the panda front: Turns out they're not quite as delicate - and picky - as thought. Up until now, information gleaned from 30 years worth of scientific literature suggested that pandas were…

Thousands march worldwide for rhino, elephant protection

Thousands marched in Africa and around the world to pressure governments to do more to stop the poaching industry that many fear is driving rhinos and elephants to the brink of extinction. The protests, dubbed…

Unknown rice parasite threatens harvests in Africa

Few agronomists are familiar with Rhamphicarpa fistulosa, a fragile weed with white flowers, from the broomrape family. Yet this root parasite is increasingly affecting rice cultivation in Africa. This has become clear from the initial…

Captive whooping cranes released into the wild

Four whooping crane chicks raised in captivity began their integration into the wild Saturday as part of the continuing effort to increase the wild population of this endangered species. The cranes, hatched and raised by…

Interactions of Earth's smallest players have global impact

A new study reveals the interactions among bacteria and viruses that prey on them thriving in oxygen minimum zones—stretches of ocean starved for oxygen that occur around the globe. Understanding such microbial communities in their…