Researchers have shown that an Amazonian butterfly is a hybrid species, formed by two other species breeding together almost 200,000 years ago. Researchers have shown that an Amazonian butterfly is a hybrid species, formed by two other species breeding together almost 200,000 years ago. ​Researchers have shown that an Amazonian butterfly is a hybrid species, …

New butterfly species created 200,000 years ago by two species interbreeding Read More »

A new study reveals the detailed protein structure of the TAS2R14, a bitter taste receptor that allows us to perceive bitter taste. In addition to solving the structure of this taste receptor, the researchers were also able to determine where bitter-tasting substances bind to TAS2R14 and how they activate them. The findings may lead to …

Researchers discover how we perceive bitter taste Read More »

20 April is weed’s unofficial holiday. In honour of the special day, we collected our answers to all your cannabis questions. This is the science of 420 ​20 April is weed’s unofficial holiday. In honour of the special day, we collected our answers to all your cannabis questions. This is the science of 420 20 April …

How cannabis gets you high and alters your perception Read More »

Twin studies have proven invaluable for teasing out the effects of both genetics and the environment on human biology. Researchers studied pairs of twins to look at how the interplay of genetics and environment affect cognitive processing — the way that people think. They found that some cognitive abilities appear to be regulated more by …

Metacognitive abilities like reading the emotions and attitudes of others may be more influenced by environment than genetics Read More »

Animal and plant populations have been extensively studied, which has helped to understand ecosystem processes and evolutionary adaptations. However, this has not been the case with microbial populations due to the impossibility of isolating, culturing and analyzing the genetic content of the different species and their individuals in the laboratory. Therefore, although it is known …

Marine microbial populations: Potential sensors of the global change in the ocean Read More »

The 2010 Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the largest accidental spill in history, released almost 100 million gallons of oil, causing significant pollution. A decade later, its long-term effects remain unclear. A study investigating the impact on endemic fish species found 29 of 78 species unreported in museum collections since the spill, suggesting …

Fourteen years after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, endemic fishes face an uncertain future Read More »

Researchers have uncovered a mechanism in the brain that allows cocaine and morphine to take over natural reward processing systems. ​Researchers have uncovered a mechanism in the brain that allows cocaine and morphine to take over natural reward processing systems. Researchers have uncovered a mechanism in the brain that allows cocaine and morphine to take over …

A common pathway in the brain that enables addictive drugs to hijack natural reward processing Read More »

The origin of life continues to remain a matter of debate. The ribonucleic acid (RNA) world hypothesis proposes that ‘ribozymes’ which store genetic information and possess catalytic functions may have supported the activities of early life forms. Now, researchers explore how RNA elongation is regulated allosterically, shedding light on its impact on early life processes …

RNA’s hidden potential: New study unveils its role in early life and future bioengineering Read More »