CURRENT HEADLINES



Chinese Scientist Who Genetically Edited Babies Gets 3 Years in Prison


He Jiankui's work was also carried out on a third infant, according to China's state media, in a new disclosure that is likely to add to the global uproar over such experiments.

From the NYTimes News-2019-12-30:8:5:1




Extinction: A million species at risk, so what is saved?


With around one million species at risk, how do conservationists decide what species to save?

From the BBC News-2019-12-27:20:6:1




Pentagon Warns Military Personnel Against At-Home DNA Tests


The tests, from companies such as 23andMe and Ancestry, have become popular holiday gifts, but the military is warning service members of risks to their careers.

From the NYTimes News-2019-12-24:20:6:1




What You're Unwrapping When You Get a DNA Test for Christmas


To what extent is gifting a DNA test also a present for law enforcement?

From the NYTimes News-2019-12-22:14:6:1




Once, America Had Its Own Parrot


The Carolina parakeet was beautiful, and doomed. What could have driven it to extinction?

From the NYTimes News-2019-12-20:14:6:1




World's oldest fossil trees uncovered in New York


Fossil trees, dating back 386 million years, have been found at an abandoned quarry in New York.

From the BBC News-2019-12-19:14:6:1




DNA from Stone Age woman obtained 6,000 years on


Ancient DNA extracted from a tooth print in ancient "chewing gum" reveals new clues about our ancestors.

From the BBC News-2019-12-17:14:6:1




Humans 'sole culprits' in US parrot extinction


A study of North America's only native parrot confirms its disappearance was down to humans alone.

From the BBC News-2019-12-12:20:6:1




The Case of a Man With Two Sets of DNA Raises More Questions


A crime lab studied a patient's response to a bone marrow transplant. Readers requested more information about the perplexing findings.

From the NYTimes News-2019-12-12:14:6:2




DNA may hold clues to extinct animal lifespan


Scientists calculate the lifespans of long-lost species, including ancient human relatives.

From the BBC News-2019-12-12:14:6:1




When a DNA Test Says You're a Younger Man, Who Lives 5,000 Miles Away


After a bone marrow transplant, a man with leukemia found that his donor's DNA traveled to unexpected parts of his body. A crime lab is now studying the case.

From the NYTimes News-2019-12-7:14:6:1




Genetics can play key role in saving trees


Tree conservation strategies based on genetic data are best suited for landscapes affected by a rapidly changing climate, a study suggests.

From the BBC News-2019-12-5:14:6:1




Why the Great Auk Is Gone for Good


New research finds that the extinction of this flightless bird was completely our fault.

From the NYTimes News-2019-12-4:14:6:1




China Uses DNA to Map Faces, With Help From the West


Beijing's pursuit of control over a Muslim ethnic group pushes the rules of science and raises questions about consent.

From the NYTimes News-2019-12-3:8:5:1




Was This 18,000-Year-Old Siberian Puppy a Dog or a Wolf?


The animal was buried in a lump of frozen mud in Russia, its fur, whiskers and body fully intact. Scientists are studying its DNA to understand whether it is a dog or a wolf.

From the NYTimes News-2019-12-2:20:6:1




Is This the First Fossil of an Embryo?


Mysterious 609-million-year-old balls of cells may be the oldest animal embryos - or something else entirely.

From the NYTimes News-2019-11-27:14:6:1




Great auk extinction: Humans wiped out giant seabird


Extinction reconstruction with ancient DNA reveals humans were responsible for the demise of the giant, flightless great auk.

From the BBC News-2019-11-27:8:5:1




Dinosaurs: Restoring Mongolia's fossil heritage


The Gobi Desert produces stunning fossils but many Mongolians never get the chance to see them.

From the BBC News-2019-11-22:20:6:1




A third of tropical African plants face extinction


An assessment shows rapid loss of trees, shrubs and herbs in countries such as Ethiopia and Tanzania.

From the BBC News-2019-11-20:20:6:1




Scientists Are Just Beginning to Understand Mysterious DNA Circles Common in Cancer Cells


For years, researchers weren't exactly sure what to make of these extra loops of genetic material . That's quickly changing.

From the NYTimes News-2019-11-20:14:6:1




Fossils Provide Clues to When Snakes Still Had Use for a Pair of Legs


The discovery in Argentina will help to resolve mysteries over when snakes began their transition to their modern form.

From the NYTimes News-2019-11-20:14:6:2




Will Science Ever Give Us a Better Night's Sleep?


Unraveling the mysteries of sleep might depend on studying the genes of people who don't get much.

From the NYTimes News-2019-11-19:8:5:1




New hope for trees affected by ash dieback


A study identifies the genetics in ash trees that confers resistance to a deadly disease.

From the BBC News-2019-11-18:14:6:1




Millions of Ibises Were Mummified. But Where Did Ancient Egypt Get Them?


DNA analysis of the preserved birds found in many catacombs undercuts the explanation that there were large-scale ibis breeding farms.

From the NYTimes News-2019-11-16:8:5:1




How Did Plants Conquer Land? These Humble Algae Hold Clues


Two algal species share important genes with all modern land plants, a new analysis finds.

From the NYTimes News-2019-11-14:14:6:1




Secrets of the largest ape that ever lived


The fossilised tooth of a mysterious extinct ape is shedding new light on the evolution of great apes.

From the BBC News-2019-11-13:14:6:1




Some people 'genetically wired' to avoid some vegetables


An inherited gene makes certain healthy foods taste exceptionally bitter and unpleasant, according to researchers.

From the BBC News-2019-11-12:8:5:1




Norman Myers Dies at 85; Sounded Early Alarm on Environment


He lobbied governments and wrote books, papers and articles to alert the public to looming disasters like mass extinction well before they were common knowledge.

From the NYTimes News-2019-11-8:20:6:1




Crispr Takes Its First Steps in Editing Genes to Fight Cancer


So far, a procedure that turbocharges the immune system to attack tumors seems safe, but it's too soon to tell whether it helps patients.

From the NYTimes News-2019-11-6:14:6:2




'Astonishing' fossil ape discovery revealed


Fossils of a newly-discovered ancient ape could give clues to how walking on two feet evolved.

From the BBC News-2019-11-6:14:6:1




Extinction Rebellion: High Court rules London protest ban unlawful


Lawyers say police now face claims for false imprisonment from "potentially hundreds" of protesters.

From the BBC News-2019-11-6:8:5:1




'Game-Changer' Warrant Let Detective Search Genetic Database


Privacy experts say it could set a precedent, opening up all consumer DNA sites to law enforcement agencies across the country.

From the NYTimes News-2019-11-5:20:6:2




Climate change alters Highland red deer gene pool


Scientists say they have seen "evolution in action" in the Highlands because of warmer temperatures.

From the BBC News-2019-11-5:20:6:1




Why Didn't She Get Alzheimer's? The Answer Could Hold a Key to Fighting the Disease


Researchers have found a woman with a rare genetic mutation that has protected her from dementia even though her brain has developed major neurological features of the disease.

From the NYTimes News-2019-11-4:14:6:1




HMS Beagle: Dock where Darwin's ship 'was dismantled' revealed


Researchers use specialist technology to trace the outline on the mud flats of a river in Essex.

From the BBC News-2019-10-29:8:5:1




Is Crispr the Next Antibiotic?


In nature, the gene-editing tool Crispr protects bacteria against viruses. Now it's being harnessed in the fight against superbugs and the flu.

From the NYTimes News-2019-10-28:14:6:1




Fossils Reveal the Epoch When Mammals Filled Dinosaurs' Void


An unusually rich trove found in Colorado shows the world in which our mammalian forebears evolved into larger creatures.

From the NYTimes News-2019-10-24:14:6:1




Prime editing: DNA tool could correct 89% of genetic defects


New technology - called prime editing - is like a "genetic word processor" able to re-write DNA.

From the BBC News-2019-10-21:14:6:1




Extinction Rebellion protesters dragged from Tube train roof


Extinction Rebellion says it will "take stock" of the reaction to the action for future protests.

From the BBC News-2019-10-17:14:6:1




Trilobite Fossils Show Conga Line Frozen for 480 Million Years


The orderly collection of ancient arthropods suggests that complex social behavior goes way back in the history of life on Earth.

From the NYTimes News-2019-10-17:14:6:2




Extinction Rebellion protests continue in London despite ban


The group says it believes a police order banning further climate protests in London is unlawful.

From the BBC News-2019-10-15:8:5:1




This Fungus Mutates. That's Good News if You Like Cheese.


American scientists set out to simulate a fungus's evolution into the edible mold that makes French cheeses like Camembert.

From the NYTimes News-2019-10-15:8:5:2




A Virus in Koala DNA Stirs the Genetic Pot


Many animals, including humans, have DNA left over from ancient viral infections. In koalas, researchers are studying the process in real time.

From the NYTimes News-2019-10-10:14:6:1




Extinction Rebellion: Flight delayed as activists vow to 'shut down' airport


Extinction Rebellion activists say they want to "shut down" London City Airport for three days.

From the BBC News-2019-10-10:8:5:1




Genome-edited bull passes hornless gene to calves


Researchers produce cattle that lack horns, meaning they cannot use them to injure other animals or humans.

From the BBC News-2019-10-7:14:6:1




Hampshire farmers join Extinction Rebellion climate protest


They want to highlight the fact they are one of the industries worst affected by climate change.

From the BBC News-2019-10-5:8:5:1




More than a quarter of UK mammals face extinction


A report on nature in the UK also shows 41% of species have experienced decline.

From the BBC News-2019-10-3:20:6:1




Extinction Rebellion 'lose control of fake blood hose'


Climate change activists sprayed fake blood outside the Treasury - but the jet was too powerful.

From the BBC News-2019-10-3:8:5:1




These Butterflies Evolved to Eat Poison. How Could That Have Happened?


Scientists have unraveled the sequence of gene mutations that enabled the monarch butterfly to thrive on toxic milkweed.

From the NYTimes News-2019-10-2:14:6:1




Pine martens returned to Forest of Dean after facing extinction


A group of Scottish pine martens have been brought to the Forest of Dean and fitted with tracking collars.

From the BBC News-2019-10-1:8:5:2




Collecting polar bear footprints to map family trees


Scientists use new 'environmental DNA' technique to identify each polar bear and their relationship.

From the BBC News-2019-10-1:8:5:1




Joachim Messing, 73, Who Charted the DNA of Viruses and Plants, Dies


His "shotgun sequencing" helped decode genetic information faster, transforming agriculture, medicine and the basic sciences. One result: engineered corn.

From the NYTimes News-2019-9-27:14:6:1




'Alarming' extinction threat to Europe's trees


Half of tree species found only on the European continent face extinction, including the conker tree.

From the BBC News-2019-9-27:8:5:1




What Whales and Dolphins Left Behind for Life in the Ocean


The ancestors of dolphins and whales survived in the seas by shedding genes involved in sleep, DNA repair and other seemingly critical activities.

From the NYTimes News-2019-9-26:14:6:1




Giving birth two million years ago was 'relatively easy'


Why is human childbirth so long and difficult? Scientists may have the answer from studying fossils.

From the BBC News-2019-9-18:20:6:1




How to Cool a Planet With Extraterrestrial Dust


A study of fossil meteorites suggests that a distant asteroid collision once sent Earth into an ice age.

From the NYTimes News-2019-9-18:14:6:1




Wild wheat genetics offer climate hope for food crops


Wild relatives of food crops, such as wheat, host an abundant array of genetic material to help the plants cope with a changing climate.

From the BBC News-2019-9-17:14:6:1




World's biggest amphibian 'discovered' in museum


DNA from historical museum specimens may help save the giant salamander from extinction in the wild.

From the BBC News-2019-9-17:8:5:1




Why This Scientist Keeps Receiving Packages of Serial Killers' Hair


Getting sufficient DNA out of a rootless hair has long been considered impossible. A scientist, better known for work with ancient fossils, has figured it out. It's a game-changer for crime and surveillance.

From the NYTimes News-2019-9-16:20:6:1




Neanderthal Footprints Found in France Offer Clues to Group Behavior


The 80,000-year-old prints fill in gaps left by fossils and artifacts.

From the NYTimes News-2019-9-12:20:6:1




Heathrow drone protest: Five arrested over planned disruption


The co-founder of activist group Extinction Rebellion is among those held in "pre-emptive" raids.

From the BBC News-2019-9-12:14:6:1




Scientists Find the Skull of Humanity's Ancestor, on a Computer


By comparing fossils and CT scans, researchers say they have reconstructed the skull of the last common forebear of modern humans.

From the NYTimes News-2019-9-11:8:5:2




Lasker Awards Honor Advances in Modern Immunology


The prizes recognized the discoverers of B and T lymphocytes, pioneers in genetic engineering to fight breast cancer, and a nonprofit that helps get vaccines to the world's poorest children.

From the NYTimes News-2019-9-11:8:5:3




The day the dinosaurs' world fell apart


Scientists reconstruct the seconds, minutes and hours following the dino-killing asteroid impact.

From the BBC News-2019-9-11:8:5:1




Loch Ness Monster may be a giant eel, say scientists


A DNA study rules out suggestions that "Nessie" is a prehistoric reptile or a shark.

From the BBC News-2019-9-5:8:5:1




A Creative Force in Understanding Genes


Dr. Heard grew up wanting to be a musician and is now an expert in epigenetics.

From the NYTimes News-2019-9-5:8:5:2




Behold Mortichnia, the Death Trail of an Ancient Worm


A 500-million-year-old fossil offered a rare treasure: The imprint of an animal that literally died in its tracks.

From the NYTimes News-2019-9-4:14:6:1




Extinction Rebellion 'stemmed from failed bus lane protest'


One of the protest movement's founders says she was inspired after praying on a psychedelic retreat.

From the BBC News-2019-9-2:14:6:2




'Mission Jurassic' fossil dinosaur dig closes for winter


Three full truck loads of dinosaur fossils ship out as scientists end their excavation season.

From the BBC News-2019-9-2:14:6:1




Can Genetics Explain Why Some People Thrive on Less Sleep?


Several members of the same family get by on less than six hours of sleep a night. Their genetics could illuminate how sleep works for the rest of us.

From the NYTimes News-2019-8-30:14:6:1




Many Genes Influence Same-Sex Sexuality, Not a Single 'Gay Gene'


The largest study of same-sex sexual behavior finds the genetics are complicated, and social and environmental factors are also key.

From the NYTimes News-2019-8-29:20:6:1




'All bets now off' on which ape was humanity's ancestor


The discovery of an ancient skull in Ethiopia underlines the complexity in the evolution of humans.

From the BBC News-2019-8-28:14:6:1




Deformed Skulls Mark a Historic Migration Into Europe


Human remains found in Croatia with signs of artificial cranial deformation provide the earliest genetic evidence of the presence of people from East Asia in Europe.

From the NYTimes News-2019-8-26:8:5:1




Kenya northern white rhinos: Vets harvest eggs from last two females


It is hoped the unprecedented procedure will prevent the extinction of the northern white rhino.

From the BBC News-2019-8-24:8:5:2




Extinction: Last chance to save 'rhinos of the oceans'


Sharks and rays pushed towards extinction by the shark fin trade are hot on the agenda at key wildlife talks.

From the BBC News-2019-8-24:8:5:1




Their Mothers Chose Donor Sperm. The Doctors Used Their Own.


Scores of children born through artificial insemination have learned from DNA tests that their biological fathers were the doctors who performed the procedure.

From the NYTimes News-2019-8-21:14:6:2




The Mystery of the Himalayas' Skeleton Lake Just Got Weirder


Every summer, hundreds of ancient bones emerge from the ice. A new genetic study helps explain how they got there.

From the NYTimes News-2019-8-21:14:6:1




Liane Russell, Who Studied Radiation's Effects on Embryos, Dies at 95


Her findings led to cautions against X-rays for pregnant women. She also discovered that the presence of the Y chromosome meant a mammalian embryo was male.

From the NYTimes News-2019-8-18:20:6:1




N.Y.P.D. Detectives Gave a Boy, 12, a Soda. He Landed in a DNA Database.


The city has 82,473 people in its database. Many of them have no idea their genetic information is there.

From the NYTimes News-2019-8-15:20:6:3




Kary B. Mullis, 74, Dies; Found a Way to Analyze DNA and Won Nobel


His discovery created a new world of possibilities in diagnosing disease, unearthing the past and assisting in criminal cases, including O.J. Simpson's murder trial.

From the NYTimes News-2019-8-15:20:6:2




Extinction: Humans played big role in demise of the cave bear


The arrival of human ancestors in Europe spelled the downfall of the cave bear some 40,000 years ago.

From the BBC News-2019-8-15:20:6:1




This Carnivorous Plant Invaded New York. That May Be Its Only Hope.


The waterwheel lives a double life: facing extinction in its native habitat even as it creeps into places where it doesn't belong.

From the NYTimes News-2019-8-13:8:5:1




Genome Study Reveals Clues to Komodo Dragon's Unique Abilities


A new study reveals evidence of a large number of mutations in important Komodo genes.

From the NYTimes News-2019-8-9:14:6:1




What's wrong with buying a dinosaur?


There's a growing fashion for fossils, but some argue it is undermining scientific research.

From the BBC News-2019-8-8:8:5:1




Novartis C.E.O. Defends Company's Decision to Withhold False Data From the F.D.A.


Responding to the agency's stern rebuke, Vas Narasimhan, the company's executive, tried to reassure investors that Novartis did not intentionally deceive the F.D.A. while seeking approval for its $2.1 million gene therapy.

From the NYTimes News-2019-8-7:20:6:1




North Atlantic right whales in crisis - and the people risking lives to save them


Once hunted to near extinction, North Atlantic right whales are now facing new human threats.

From the BBC News-2019-8-2:20:6:2




Bid to better protect Scotland's 'Dinosaur Isle'


There are fears that Skye's fossils of creatures from more than 165 million years ago are threatened by irresponsible collectors.

From the BBC News-2019-8-2:20:6:1




Jeffrey Epstein Hoped to Seed Human Race With His DNA


Mr. Epstein, the accused sex trafficker, was fascinated by eugenics. He told scientists and others of his vision of using his New Mexico ranch to impregnate women.

From the NYTimes News-2019-7-31:20:6:1




Genetic testing: What secrets could it reveal about you?


Genome sequencing projects around the world are revealing promising new health insights.

From the BBC News-2019-7-30:8:5:1




Red List: Extinction threat to overlooked species


Fish, snails and fungi join a list of threatened species, as conservationists say small, slimy species have been overlooked.

From the BBC News-2019-7-18:8:5:1




Extinction Rebellion: Who are they and what are their aims?


The Extinction Rebellion group is holding climate protests across the UK.

From the BBC News-2019-7-16:8:5:1




A Skull Bone Discovered in Greece May Alter the Story of Human Prehistory


The bone, found in a cave, is the oldest modern human fossil ever discovered in Europe. It hints that humans began leaving Africa far earlier than once thought.

From the NYTimes News-2019-7-10:14:6:1




'Amazing' gene-silencing drugs reach NHS


Doctors say the drugs are making the "previously untreatable, treatable" and have huge potential.

From the BBC News-2019-7-9:14:6:1




DNA Begins to Unlock Secrets of the Ancient Philistines


Genetic analysis of remains from ruins in Israel hints at the origins of the Levantine people described in the Hebrew Bible.

From the NYTimes News-2019-7-3:20:6:1




New Weapons Against Cancer: Millions of Bacteria Programmed to Kill


Genetically modified microbes release "nanobodies" that alert the immune system to cancer in mice, scientists report.

From the NYTimes News-2019-7-3:14:6:1




'Friendly' bacteria could help save frogs from disease


A discovery by UK scientists could help save species such as the European common frog from extinction

From the BBC News-2019-6-22:8:5:1




DNA Microscope Sees 'Through the Eyes of the Cell'


A new imaging tool works more like Google Maps than a traditional microscope.

From the NYTimes News-2019-6-20:20:6:1




Meet the Narluga, Hybrid Son of a Narwhal Mom and a Beluga Whale Dad


Its skull sat in a museum collection for decades before new technology unlocked its genetic secrets.

From the NYTimes News-2019-6-20:14:6:1




Fossil proves hyenas once roamed Canada's Arctic Plains


A 50-year-old mystery has been solved by scientists who identified the teeth of ancient Arctic hyenas.

From the BBC News-2019-6-19:8:5:1




How an Arctic Hyena Was Found in Canada, Then Lost, Then Found Again


The discovery illustrates how museum collections may be filled with forgotten fossils that could expand knowledge of prehistory.

From the NYTimes News-2019-6-18:20:6:1




Cuttlefish Arms Are Not So Different From Yours


Cephalopods, flies and even humans share genes needed to develop limbs, perhaps provided by a common ancestor.

From the NYTimes News-2019-6-18:14:6:1




Those Puppy Dog Eyes You Can't Resist? Thank Evolution


Dogs have a muscle that lets them make a face to melt a human's heart.

From the NYTimes News-2019-6-17:20:6:1




Grow Faster, Grow Stronger: Speed-Breeding Crops to Feed the Future


Plant breeders are fast-tracking genetic improvements in food crops to keep pace with global warming and a growing human population.

From the NYTimes News-2019-6-17:14:6:1




Using DNA to tailor medicine


Technology is making it possible to tailor treatments to ever smaller groups of patients.

From the BBC News-2019-6-17:8:5:1




Climate Change: Why are thousands of species facing extinction?


The Earth's biodiversity is decreasing at a faster rate than ever before. Why is this happening?

From the BBC News-2019-6-16:20:6:1




Dr. Henry Lynch, 91, Dies; Found Hereditary Link in Cancer


To a doubting medical world, he found compelling evidence that some cancers are passed along genetically. His work was ultimately widely embraced.

From the NYTimes News-2019-6-13:20:6:1




Bermuda land snail: An animal 'back from the dead'


A remarkable story of how a snail was rescued from the edge of extinction and returned to the wild.

From the BBC News-2019-6-13:8:5:1




How to Protect Your DNA Data Before and After Taking an at-Home Test


Mail-in genetic tests offer a wealth of information about your ancestry and insight into medical risks - in exchange for a lot of data. Here's where that data goes, and how to delete it.

From the NYTimes News-2019-6-12:20:6:1




Plant extinction 'bad news for all species'


Almost 600 plant species have been lost from the wild in the last 250 years, according to a study.

From the BBC News-2019-6-11:8:5:1




Grape expectations: DNA reveals history of vintage wine


The French were probably sipping wines we drink today 900 years ago, according to DNA from old grapes.

From the BBC News-2019-6-10:14:6:1




Who Were the Ancestors of Native Americans? A Lost People in Siberia, Scientists Say


Genetic analysis of ancient teeth and bones suggests Native Americans largely descend from a vanished group called the Ancient Paleo-Siberians.

From the NYTimes News-2019-6-5:14:6:1




He Was Looking for Opals. Instead He Found a New Dinosaur Species.


Scientists reported the discovery in Australia of a plant-eating species, 35 years after a miner brought fossils to a museum in Sydney.

From the NYTimes News-2019-6-4:8:5:1




Baby gene experiment 'foolish and dangerous'


Twin girls had their DNA altered to protect against HIV - but their mutation may increase the risk of an early death.

From the BBC News-2019-6-3:20:6:1




Their Children Were Conceived With Donated Sperm. It Was the Wrong Sperm.


As genetic testing becomes more widespread, parents are finding that sperm used in artificial insemination did not come from the donors they chose.

From the NYTimes News-2019-6-3:14:6:2




Why Crocodiles Are Not Just Living Fossils


They've changed remarkably over millions of years, and at one point may even have been warmblooded.

From the NYTimes News-2019-6-3:14:6:1




GM fungus rapidly kills 99% of malaria mosquitoes, study suggests


A fungus has been genetically modified with spider venom to kill the mosquitoes that spread malaria.

From the BBC News-2019-5-31:8:5:1




A School of Fish, Captured in a Fossil


A slab of rock and the methods used to study it could offer clues to when a behavior common in fishes first evolved.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-29:20:6:1




White Panda Is Spotted in China for the First Time


Albinism, a rare genetically inherited condition, caused the animal's unusual appearance.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-27:14:6:1




This New Treatment Could Save the Lives of Babies. But It Costs $2.1 Million.


The price set by the Swiss drugmaker Novartis may be the world's highest for a single treatment - prompting renewed debate about how society will pay for gene-therapy breakthroughs.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-24:14:6:2




It's a Lefty! Welcome to the World's First Crispr Snail Baby.


Most snails are righties. Now scientists have found genes that make some of them born with shells coiling the other way.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-24:14:6:1




Seeing Red in the Fossil Record


A discovery in a fossilized mouse could help scientists work out the true colors of dinosaurs and other creatures from prehistory.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-23:20:6:1




Matter: How Did Life Arrive on Land? A Billion-Year-Old Fungus May Hold Clues


A cache of microscopic fossils from the Arctic hints that fungi reached land long before plants.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-22:20:6:1




Barbara Marx Hubbard, 89, Futurist Who Saw 'Conscious Evolution,' Dies


In her writings and lectures, she postulated that the human race was on the brink of an enhanced way of existing and could bring about great things.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-22:14:6:2




How Did Life Arrive on Land? A Billion-Year-Old Fungus May Hold Clues


A cache of microscopic fossils from the Arctic hints that fungi reached land long before plants.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-22:14:6:1




Artificial life form given 'synthetic DNA'


UK scientists have created an artificial version of the stomach bug E. coli that is based on an entirely synthetic form of DNA.

From the BBC News-2019-5-16:14:6:2




Bedbugs survived the dinosaur extinction event


The much-maligned bedbug has been around for 115 million years - since dinosaurs ruled the Earth.

From the BBC News-2019-5-16:14:6:1




Barbara Marx Hubbard, 89, Futurist Who Saw ‘Conscious Evolution,’ Dies


In her writings and lectures, she postulated that the human race was on the brink of an enhanced way of existing and could bring about great things.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-16:8:5:1




Matter: Scientists Created Bacteria With a Synthetic Genome. Is This Artificial Life?


In a milestone for synthetic biology, colonies of E. coli thrive with DNA constructed from scratch by humans, not nature.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-15:20:6:1




How Volunteer Sleuths Identified a Hiker and Her Killer After 36 Years


What does it actually take to identify a person through genetic genealogy? Wading through infidelities and pornography.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-11:8:5:1




Times Insider: To Tell the Story of Biodiversity Loss, Make It About Humans


The authors of a sweeping United Nations report on species in danger of extinction faced the same question I often do in reporting: Why should anyone care about the loss of nature?

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-10:8:5:1




Trilobites: Dinosaurs With Bat Wings Were More Than Legend


Chinese scientists first thought it was a prehistoric bird, until chipping away at the fossil revealed surprising features.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-8:14:6:2




Matter: In This Doctor’s Office, a Physical Exam Like No Other


Genetic and molecular analysis of 109 volunteers turned up hidden health problems in about half of them. Critics say the approach amounted to ‘carpet-bombing’ the body.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-8:14:6:1




Small tyrannosaur 'was cousin of T. rex'


A 92-million-year-old dinosaur provides evolutionary insights on the evolution of the tyrannosaurs.

From the BBC News-2019-5-7:14:6:1




Humans Are Speeding Extinction and Altering the Natural World at an ‘Unprecedented’ Pace


A dire United Nations report, based on thousands of scientific studies, paints an urgent picture of biodiversity loss and finds that climate change is amplifying the danger to humanity.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-6:14:6:1




Nature crisis: Humans 'threaten 1m species with extinction'


A compelling UN assessment shows the full picture of humanity's devastating impact on biodiversity and nature.

From the BBC News-2019-5-6:8:5:1




What does a biodiversity emergency mean for humans?


Hundreds of thousands of different species of animals and plants are thought to be facing extinction.

From the BBC News-2019-5-5:20:6:1




Extinction Rebellion told prison is not a 'yoga retreat'


The climate change group deletes advice saying "most prison officers are black and wish you no harm".

From the BBC News-2019-5-3:14:6:1




You Will Never Smell My World the Way I Do


Scientists find that whiskey’s smokiness, the smell of beets and lily of the valley perfume can be utterly different depending on your genetic wiring.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-3:8:5:1




Matter: Denisovan Jawbone Discovered in a Cave in Tibet


Until now, fossils of the ancient human species had been found in just one Siberian cave. The discovery suggests that Denisovans roamed over much of Asia.

From the NYTimes News-2019-5-1:14:6:1




Michael Gove 'shares high ideals' of climate protesters


The environment secretary agrees with some of Extinction Rebellion's demands, but says there are "open questions" about the timescale for action.

From the BBC News-2019-4-30:14:6:2




Extinction Rebellion: Activists say meeting with Michael Gove 'disappointing'


Extinction Rebellion says the environment secretary refused declare a climate emergency.

From the BBC News-2019-4-30:14:6:1




Glimpsing a world beyond human extinction


Writer and explorer Robert MacFarlane explores the "underland" beneath our feet.

From the BBC News-2019-4-29:20:6:1




Feature: Australia Is Deadly Serious About Killing Millions of Cats


Feral felines are driving the country’s native species to extinction. Now a massive culling is underway to preserve what’s left of the wild.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-25:20:6:2




Sooner or Later Your Cousin’s DNA Is Going to Solve a Murder


The Golden State Killer case was just the start. Hundreds of cold cases are hot again thanks to a new genealogy technique. The price may be everyone’s genetic privacy.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-25:20:6:1




Extinction Rebellion: How might ministers win over the protesters?


A closer look at Extinction Rebellion's demands and how the government might try to achieve them.

From the BBC News-2019-4-22:20:6:1




Gene Wolfe, Acclaimed Science Fiction Writer, Dies at 87


His four-book series “The Book of the New Sun” is considered one of the major works of the genre.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-19:20:6:1




This Genetic Mutation Makes People Feel Full — All the Time


Two new studies confirm that weight control is often the result of genetics, not willpower.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-18:14:6:2




'Giant lion' fossil found in Kenya museum drawer


The bones of the huge creature belong to a new species which roamed east Africa 20 million years ago.

From the BBC News-2019-4-18:14:6:1




Extinction Rebellion: Charges over climate change train protest


Three people deny obstructing trains during the Extinction Rebellion protest and are remanded in custody.

From the BBC News-2019-4-18:8:5:1




He Listed a T. Rex Fossil on eBay for $2.95 Million. Scientists Weren’t Thrilled.


“I own this thing,” Alan Detrich recalled telling a museum director. “It is mine. I can do whatever I want.”

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-17:20:6:1




Rare kakapo parrots have best breeding season on record


Kakapos were one of New Zealand's most common birds, but they are now on the brink of extinction.

From the BBC News-2019-4-17:14:6:1




Extinction Rebellion London activists glue themselves to DLR train


Three Extinction Rebellion campaigners glued themselves to a train at London's Canary Wharf.

From the BBC News-2019-4-17:8:5:1




Stanford Clears Professor of Helping With Gene-Edited Babies Experiment


Stephen Quake and two colleagues were found to have followed proper scientific protocol in their interactions with the Chinese researcher who did the work.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-16:20:6:1




Extinction Rebellion: what do they want - and is it realistic?


The UK needs to move to net zero CO2 emissions by 2025 say protestors but how hard would that be to achieve?

From the BBC News-2019-4-16:14:6:1




Don’t Count on 23andMe to Detect Most Breast Cancer Risks, Study Warns


The DNA testing company, which has 10 million customers, misses nearly 90 percent of people with risky BRCA mutations. It says the criticism is overblown.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-16:14:6:2




Extinction Rebellion London protest: Arrests top 100


Extinction Rebellion campaigners enter their second day of blocking traffic in central London.

From the BBC News-2019-4-16:8:5:1




Stonehenge: DNA reveals origin of builders


The ancestors of the people who built Stonehenge travelled west across the Mediterranean to get to Britain.

From the BBC News-2019-4-15:20:6:1




Extinction Rebellion: Climate protesters block roads


Extinction Rebellion targets central London in a global day of action against climate change.

From the BBC News-2019-4-15:14:6:1




Gene-Edited Babies: What a Chinese Scientist Told an American Mentor


Stanford is investigating Stephen Quake’s interactions with He Jiankui, the scientist who performed the controversial experiment.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-14:8:5:1




Ralph Solecki, Who Found Humanity in Neanderthals, Dies at 101


Dr. Solecki’s archaeological research at Shanidar Cave in Iraq found that Neanderthals cared for the ailing and buried their dead with flowers.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-11:20:6:1




Fossils Are Filling Out the Human Family Tree


The more fossils we find, the more we learn that many kinds of humans have lived on Earth.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-10:20:6:1




Extinction Rebellion: Saving the world or wasting police time?


The climate change protest group urging people to get arrested to gain attention.

From the BBC News-2019-4-10:8:5:1




The climate change protests making headlines


Extinction Rebellion's fight against climate change is making headlines.

From the BBC News-2019-4-9:20:6:1




Q&A: Orchids Bloom in Thousands of Forms. But Why?


Each species of orchid is designed to attract a specific pollinator. The genes that make that possible are highly adaptable, scientists say.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-8:14:6:1




Sydney Brenner, a Decipherer of the Genetic Code, Is Dead at 92


A Nobel Prize winner, he was a central player in the golden age of molecular biology, beginning with the discovery of the structure of DNA.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-5:20:6:1




Introducing the World’s First Gene-Edited Lizard


Scientists weren’t expecting him to look like this.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-5:14:6:1




Fossil of ancient four-legged whale found in Peru


Researchers believe the four-metre-long mammal, found in Peru, was able to swim and walk on land.

From the BBC News-2019-4-4:20:6:1




'Living fossil' given new home at ZSL London Zoo


The extremely rare Chinese giant salamander was rescued after an attempt to smuggle it into the UK.

From the BBC News-2019-4-3:8:5:1




DNA Is Solving Dozens of Cold Cases. Sometimes It’s Too Late for Justice.


Like many other decades-old cases, the 1973 killings of a Montana couple were finally solved using DNA and genealogy technology. But the suspect in the case had died in 2003.

From the NYTimes News-2019-4-1:20:6:1




Fossil Site Reveals Day That Meteor Hit Earth and, Maybe, Wiped Out Dinosaurs


A jumble of entombed plants and creatures offers a vivid glimpse of the apocalypse that all but ended life 66 million years ago.

From the NYTimes News-2019-3-29:20:6:2




Chicxulub asteroid impact: Stunning fossils record dinosaurs' demise


Remarkable specimens shed light on the minutes and hours following the Earth-changing asteroid strike.

From the BBC News-2019-3-29:20:6:1




Killer frog disease 'part of Earth's sixth mass extinction'


A fungus that kills amphibians is responsible for the biggest loss of nature from a single disease.

From the BBC News-2019-3-29:8:5:1




Scientists to study relocated red squirrels' hair


The analysis could provide information on the animals genetics and the diseases that affect them.

From the BBC News-2019-3-29:8:5:2




At 71, She’s Never Felt Pain or Anxiety. Now Scientists Know Why.


Scientists discovered a previously unidentified genetic mutation in a Scottish woman. They hope it could lead to the development of new pain treatment.

From the NYTimes News-2019-3-28:14:6:1




'Mission Jurassic' dinosaur hunt to get under way


British scientists are about to participate in one of their biggest dinosaur hunts in decades.

From the BBC News-2019-3-25:14:6:1




Huge fossil discovery made in China's Hubei province


The fossils found on a river bed in eastern China are estimated to be about 518 million years old.

From the BBC News-2019-3-24:8:5:1




Trilobites: DNA Clues to an Ancient Canary Islands Voyage


The islands’ pioneers likely arrived centuries before European conquest, as part of a large-scale movement of people from North Africa.

From the NYTimes News-2019-3-21:20:6:1




Chop Up a Worm. It Will Regenerate. Scientists Figured Out Why.


Researchers identified the master control gene that enables worms to grow a new body, capturing the imagination of some humans looking for a fresh start.

From the NYTimes News-2019-3-20:20:6:1




DNA and a Coincidence Lead to Arrest in 1999 Double Murder in Alabama


For 19 years, police were unable to identify the person who fatally shot two 17-year-olds. Then they turned to the technique used in the Golden State Killer case.

From the NYTimes News-2019-3-19:8:5:1




Ancient migration transformed Spain's DNA


A migration from Central Europe transformed the genetic make-up of Iberia, a new DNA study reveals.

From the BBC News-2019-3-15:8:5:1




Matter: The Story of the Iberian Peninsula, Told in DNA


With an analysis of nearly 300 skeletons from various periods, scientists are peering into human prehistory in the region.

From the NYTimes News-2019-3-14:20:6:1




A Dead Baby Was Found in a Ditch in 1981. DNA Helped Charge the Mother With Murder.


A cold case in Sioux Falls, S.D., was given new impetus after detectives employed DNA technology and genealogy data.

From the NYTimes News-2019-3-12:20:6:1




Galleonosaurus dorisae: New dinosaur discovered in Australia


Based on its teeth, Galleonsaurus would have been a herbivore and belonged to the ornithopod family.

From the BBC News-2019-3-11:8:5:1




Trilobites: If We Blow Up an Asteroid, It Might Put Itself Back Together


Despite what Hollywood tells us, stopping an asteroid from creating an extinction-level event by blowing it up may not work.

From the NYTimes News-2019-3-8:14:6:1




Northern white rhinos: could science save the sub-species?


After the death of the last male northern white rhino, scientists are looking at new ways to revive the sub-species on the brink of extinction.

From the BBC News-2019-3-3:20:6:1




Matter: One Twin Committed the Crime — but Which One? A New DNA Test Can Finger the Culprit


A handful of criminal prosecutions have stalled because DNA tests cannot distinguish between suspects who are twins. Then scientists decided to create one.

From the NYTimes News-2019-3-1:14:6:1




Trilobites: How the Icefish Got Its Transparent Blood and See-Through Skull


Research shows how the Antarctic blackfin icefish differs from its close relatives on the genetic level.

From the NYTimes News-2019-2-28:20:6:1




Matter: DNA Gets a New — and Bigger — Genetic Alphabet


DNA is spelled out with four letters, or bases. Researchers have now built a system with eight. It may hold clues to the potential for life elsewhere in the universe and could also expand our capacity to store digital data on Earth

From the NYTimes News-2019-2-21:20:6:1




China Uses DNA to Track Its People, With the Help of American Expertise


The Chinese authorities turned to a Massachusetts company and a prominent Yale researcher as they built an enormous system of surveillance and control.

From the NYTimes News-2019-2-21:14:6:1




A Mother Learns the Identity of Her Child’s Grandmother. A Sperm Bank Threatens to Sue.


The results of a consumer genetic test identified the mother of the man whose donated sperm was used to conceive Danielle Teuscher’s daughter. Legal warnings soon followed.

From the NYTimes News-2019-2-16:8:5:1




Gene-edited animal plan to relieve poverty in Africa


Researchers in Edinburgh develop gene-edited farm animals for poor farmers in Africa.

From the BBC News-2019-2-15:20:6:1




Basics: Everywhere in the Animal Kingdom, Followers of the Milky Way


As scientists learn more about milk’s evolution and compositional variations, they are redefining what used to be a signature characteristic of mammals.

From the NYTimes News-2019-2-11:20:6:1




The Patient Had Bone Cancer. The Diagnosis Arrived 240 Million Years Too Late.


The fossil of an ancient animal teaches a sad lesson: Cancer has been around for a very, very long time.

From the NYTimes News-2019-2-7:14:6:1




Rosalind Franklin: Mars rover named after DNA pioneer


The rover Europe sends to Mars in 2020 to look for life will carry the name of an unsung hero of DNA discovery.

From the BBC News-2019-2-7:8:5:1




When did the kangaroo hop? Scientists have the answer


According to new fossils, the origin of the famous kangaroo gait goes back 20 million years.

From the BBC News-2019-2-6:8:5:1




How the Hummingbird Bill Evolved For Battle


In the South American tropics, where hummingbirds must compete for food, evolution has drastically reshaped their bills.

From the NYTimes News-2019-2-5:8:5:2




ScienceTake: The Hummingbird as Warrior: Evolution of a Fierce and Furious Beak


Winsomely captured in poems and song, the birds are yielding new secrets about their astounding beaks and penchant for violence.

From the NYTimes News-2019-2-5:8:5:1




FamilyTreeDNA Admits to Sharing Genetic Data With F.B.I.


The direct-to-consumer testing site quietly agreed last year to help federal investigators solve rapes and murders. The arrangement was not disclosed until last week.

From the NYTimes News-2019-2-4:20:6:1




Shark on UK plates highlights trade in endangered species


You could be unwittingly eating sharks that are on the brink of extinction, a study suggests.

From the BBC News-2019-1-31:8:5:1




Trilobites: Searching for the Genetic Underpinnings of Morning Persons and Night Owls


Researchers identified hundreds of gene variations that may be connected to when people go to bed.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-30:14:6:1




Trilobites: Seeking Superpowers in the Axolotl Genome


The smiling salamanders can regrow most of their body parts, so researchers are building improved maps of their DNA.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-29:8:5:1




GM chickens lay eggs to help fight cancer


Researchers have genetically modified chickens to lay eggs which contain drugs that fight cancer.

From the BBC News-2019-1-27:20:6:1




These Patients Had Sickle-Cell Disease. Experimental Therapies Might Have Cured Them.


Success against sickle-cell would be “the first genetic cure of a common genetic disease” and could free tens of thousands of Americans from agonizing pain.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-27:8:5:1




Neanderthals 'could kill at a distance'


Neanderthals produced weapons that could kill from 20m away, a new study claims.

From the BBC News-2019-1-25:8:5:1




Why we still underestimate the Neanderthals


Evidence is increasingly forcing us to re-visit our assumptions about the Neanderthals.

From the BBC News-2019-1-24:20:6:1




Trilobites: And You Thought the Platypus Was Odd


“When I first saw it, I just said ‘What?!’ and didn’t speak for a while,” said one of the researchers who studied the fossils of a prehistoric marine reptile.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-24:14:6:1




How to Stop Rogue Gene-Editing of Human Embryos?


Some U.S. researchers knew of a Chinese scientist’s intentions to implant edited embryos but were unable to stop him. Now scientific institutions are trying to devise global safeguards.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-23:20:6:1




Dippy the dinosaur arrives in Scotland


The famous replica skeleton, usually displayed at London's Natural History Museum, goes on show in Glasgow.

From the BBC News-2019-1-22:14:6:1




TRENDING: Take a DNA Test, Then Buy an Airplane Ticket


For more and more people, learning about their genetic makeup is just the first step. The second is heading to the airport so they can explore their roots in person.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-22:14:6:2




He Jiankui: China condemns 'baby gene editing' scientist


Investigators say He Jiankui sought "fame and fortune" with his claim to have edited baby genes.

From the BBC News-2019-1-22:8:5:1




Fossil shark named after 80s video game


The shark's teeth resemble alien spaceships from the game, Galaga, according to US scientists.

From the BBC News-2019-1-21:14:6:1




Scientist Who Edited Babies’ Genes Is Likely to Face Charges in China


A Chinese government investigation found that He Jiankui had “seriously violated” state regulations by altering human embryos.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-21:8:5:1




Coming Soon to a Police Station Near You: The DNA ‘Magic Box’


With Rapid DNA machines, genetic fingerprinting could become as routine as the old-fashioned kind. But forensic experts see a potential for misuse.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-21:8:5:2




Orca Calf Offers Hope for a Fading Group in the Pacific Northwest


The newborn killer whale, called L124, looks healthy. But its family is still in danger of extinction.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-17:20:6:1




Is Ancient DNA Research Revealing New Truths — or Falling Into Old Traps?


Geneticists have begun using old bones to make sweeping claims about the distant past. But their revisions to the human story are making some scholars of prehistory uneasy.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-17:8:5:1




The coffees you've never heard of which face extinction


Of 124 coffees in the world, we only drink two, but we need to protect all of them, say scientists.

From the BBC News-2019-1-16:20:6:1




Lab Severs Ties With James Watson, Citing ‘Unsubstantiated and Reckless’ Remarks


In a recent documentary, the geneticist doubled down on comments he made a decade ago, then apologized for, regarding race, genetics and intelligence.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-12:8:5:1




How Astounding Saw the Future


Tracing the evolution of the mid-20th-century magazine whose pages gave rise to the genre of science fiction.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-10:20:6:1




Peter Meldrum, Who Lost a Fight to Patent Genes, Dies at 71


He led Myriad Genetics, whose patents on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, associated with breast cancer, were invalidated by the Supreme Court.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-9:20:6:1




Feature: How Beauty Is Making Scientists Rethink Evolution


The extravagant splendor of the animal kingdom can’t be explained by natural selection alone — so how did it come to be?

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-9:8:5:2




'New' apple and pear varieties found in Wales


About 200 trees were DNA-tested to find and preserve unrecorded varieties unique to Wales.

From the BBC News-2019-1-9:8:5:1




Trilobites: Giant Fungus Is Older, Bigger and Rarely Mutates


New genetic analysis shows that an underground parasitic mold in Michigan is about 2,500 years old and has a low mutation rate.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-8:14:6:1




Trilobites: An Elephant-Size Relative of Mammals That Grazed Alongside Dinosaurs


Paleontologists believed dicynodonts died out as dinosaurs conquered the world, but fossils found in Poland suggest they survived millions of years more.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-4:14:6:1




Edinburgh scientists discover mammoth secret in ivory DNA


Researchers at Edinburgh Zoo have found woolly mammoth DNA inside ivory trinkets from the illegal trade.

From the BBC News-2019-1-3:20:6:2




Genetically modified 'shortcut' boosts plant growth by 40%


Scientists overcome a natural restriction in plants that could boost yields from important food crops.

From the BBC News-2019-1-3:20:6:1




Judith Rich Harris, Who Played Down the Role of Parents, Dies at 80


It’s not that parents don’t matter in how their child turns out, she said, but genes and their peer groups play a greater role.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-1:20:6:1




‘Genesis 2.0’ Review: How to Clone a Mammoth


Is it possible to bring back the mammoth? The documentary “Genesis 2.0” investigates.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-1:8:5:2




James Watson Won’t Stop Talking About Race


The Nobel-winning biologist has drawn global criticism with unfounded pronouncements on genetics, race and intelligence. He still thinks he’s right, a new documentary finds.

From the NYTimes News-2019-1-1:8:5:1




How ancient DNA may rewrite prehistory in India


Aryans are not the earliest or only source of Indian civilisation, suggests new research on genetic ancestry.

From the BBC News-2018-12-31:8:5:1