Most forest-dwelling species have been disrupted by fragmentation, new research suggests. Using a new analysis method, scientists assessed the impact of human-induced forest fragmentation on the abundance of 1,673 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians around the globe. Their findings revealed that in many forests, the animal communities in the core differ greatly from […]
Category: Paper of Interest
How the world’s largest fungus grew to its humongous proportions 
One of the largest terrestrial living organisms, an Armillaria ostoyae specimen dubbed the ‘Humongous Fungus’, covers almost 9 kilometres and weighs 544 tonnes. Armillaria fungi live mostly underground, which gives them the needed space to grow to epic proportions. A team of scientists set out to pinpoint the genetic mechanism that allows this fungus group to grow. They sequenced […]
Grizzlies can tolerate saturated fats better than humans
Unlike humans, grizzly bears experience no immediate adverse effects from eating a diet rich in saturated fats, according to results of a new study. Researchers fed two groups of captive bears different diets, one high in “healthy” fats like oats and salmon and the other full of saturated fats like beef and cheese. The bears […]
Survival of the fullest: Red knots’ chances of surviving winter increase with its body weight
Endangered rufa red knots – which make one of the world’s longest migrations, from southern South America to the Arctic – are more likely to leave for breeding grounds earlier, arrive sooner and breed successfully if they start out their summer migration on a full stomach. Using innovative radio tracking, researchers observed a group of […]
Scientists create a global tool to help countries plan for better conservation funding
Conservation funding can mitigate biodiversity loss if those finances are invested wisely, and a newly designed model aims to help governments accomplish this goal over time. Authors of a new study designed an evidence-based model to help predict the impact of conservation funding on biodiversity loss in 109 countries. Their data revealed that, in the […]
Strong link between depression and risk of early death for both men and women
Association between depression and early death remains strong among men and has ramped up among women over the past two decades, results of a long-term community-based study suggest. Researchers examined 60 years of mental health data of over 3000 adults from a region in Atlantic Canada and linked the data to deaths in the Canadian […]
Genetic variants for breast cancer can help in better screening and treatments, earlier detection
Scientists have identified 72 new genetic variants associated with the risk of breast cancer. In two recently published studies, researchers describe the new variants – including some that are associated with two biologically distinct types of breast cancer cases that don’t respond to hormonal therapy. These results come from a global project which involved over […]
How volcanoes can melt ice sheets long after the eruption
Volcanic ash can trigger abrupt melting of ice sheets long after the eruption, according to evidence from ancient ice sediment records. While volcanic eruptions and the release of ash into the air generally has a cooling effect on the planet’s atmosphere, deposits of ash onto ice sheets can cause spontaneous melts that contribute to global […]
Collision of two stars offers astronomers first glimpse of gravitational waves in visible light
Three months ago, two neutron stars in a galaxy 130 million light-years away from Earth collided with an explosion so powerful that, for the first time ever, astronomers were able to observe a cosmic event of this scale. It all started when scientists at LIGO/Virgo detected gravitational waves, which were at first thought to be […]
Battling blazes exposes firefighters to carcinogens
After putting out flames, firefighters face a four-fold risk of DNA damage, new research suggests. Previous studies have pointed to exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)—which release into the air as a result of burning of wood, plastics, furniture, electronics and other building materials—as a possible cause for higher rates of cancer among firefighters. The […]
Fattening up fat cells can help fight leukemia
Boosting fat cells in the bone marrow helped suppress cancer cells while regenerating healthy blood cells, new research suggests. According to study authors, the present research is unique in its focus on the bone marrow as an ecosystem, which led to the identification of fat cells as a possible therapy target – instead of the […]
Genes of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Genetic variants associated with the obsessive-compulsive disorder, which affects over 80 million people around the world, have been pinpointed in a new study. Isolating and characterizing such genes may help researchers understand the underlying biology of OCD and develop treatments for this disease. Scientists analyzed sequencing data for 608 candidate genes, and identified four genes […]
Big brains help cetaceans create complex, “human-like” societies
Cetaceans, such as dolphins and whales, have complex societies with behaviors that closely resemble human and primate relationships, new research suggests. In a first study of its kind, scientists have created a comprehensive database of brain sizes and behaviors in 90 species of dolphins, whales and porpoises. They found evidence of such complex social behaviors […]
Ibuprofen is better than morphine for children recovering from minor surgery
When it comes to pain relief and minimum side effects, ibuprofen is more suitable than oral morphine for children recovering from minor orthopedic surgery, results of a new clinical trial suggest. Researchers observed reaction to painkillers in 154 children aged 5 to 17 years who underwent minor orthopedic surgery, such as keyhole surgery on joints, […]
Few patients with kidney problems receive recommended follow-up care
Most patients hospitalized with acute kidney injury (AKI) don’t get the follow-up help recommended by specialists, according to a new study. Researchers asked 145 Canadian nephrologists about the factors that influence their likelihood to recommend follow-up for patients after a hospitalization with AKI. These responses were then compared with rates of community follow-up with nephrologists […]
Simulated copulation techniques reveal cetacean sex secrets
A new study helps examine how mechanical interactions during copulation influence the shape of genitalia and fertility in cetaceans. Researchers used samples of cetacean genitalia acquired after the animals’ natural cause death. The scientists inflated excised penises using a saline solution to simulate an erection, and studied its interaction with silicone endocasts of vaginas in […]
