Red pandas are among the world’s most adorable yet endangered animals, with fewer than 10,000 remaining in the wild. Protecting them requires a better understanding of their health, especiall…

Vaccines of the past required new designs and protocols for each pathogen, making the process expensive and time consuming. A new modular vaccine platform might provide a better approach to designi…

Are all genetic conditions and diseases inherited? Not always! While humans inherit their genomes from their parents, it is possible to acquire genomic variants later in life. There are some key diffe...

Despite the importance of population descriptors in human genomics research, many scientists struggle to translate evolving ethical guidelines into their computational workflows. To characterize this ...

Behind every retinal disease is a clock counting down on photoreceptors – the light-sensing cells that once lost do not naturally grow back. A new study suggests that might change. Scientists…

Could cancer hold answers to the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease? A recent paper suggests that a protein released by cancer cells may lead to degradation of characteristic protein aggregates in Al…

Photo by Vanessa Loring on Pexels.com Imagine sitting down to a dinner specifically designed for your health: a plate full of vibrant sweet potatoes, spinach, and liver, all rich in the Vitamin A w…

We usually think of DNA as a blueprint for physical traits like eye color and height. But our genes also quietly shape how we experience the world, respond to stress, and form and sustain relations…

Parrots display dramatic colors, from the famous green and red, to the less familiar blue, yellow and brownish tones. Although acknowledged as genetically inherited, the genes resulting in these di…

A good song depends on more than hitting the right notes. It depends on timing. Somewhere in the background, a metronome keeps the beat steady so everything else can fall into place. New research s…

Digital games in museums face the challenge of translating complex scientific concepts into engaging experiences that facilitate both individual learning and peer discussion. This practice insight exa...

As bacteria evolve to become more resistant to antibiotics, scientists are revisiting “phage therapy” (using natural viruses that destroy bacteria) as an avenue for treating infections. A new commu…

For more than a century, scientists said one thing with certainty: mice do not menstruate. A new study has now rewritten that rule, and with it, how we study one of the most common biological proce…

It’s time to dig a little deeper into some newer genetics concepts. Previously in this series, we have explored the ins and outs of cell division and other genetic processes as a way to dive …

The X and Y chromosomes split hundreds of millions of years ago and seem to live very different lives. But new research shows they still regulate the same genes across the genome, quietly shaping b…

While there are no drugs to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy, there is still hope for a treatment that can alleviate its cause and symptoms. A new gene therapy approach that introduces a mini vers…

Stories bring people together, help learners see deeper meaning, and provide much needed context to learning. Here we examine the different sides of the home genetic revolution, and how something t…

The ocean is full of biodiversity; however, with no apparent geographic barriers to initiate speciation we do not fully understand how new species form in the ocean. Blue bottles shed some light in…

Here are the 67 books Scientific American staffers couldn’t put down this year, from fantasy epics to gripping nonfiction

U.S. flu rates remain low, but experts are keeping an eye on a new strain that’s been linked to unexpectedly early and severe seasons in several other countries

We know how important it is to get our protein, but what about our magnesium or selenium? This new study explores how living in areas lacking specific micronutrients could influence human genetics.

Nectar, produced by specialized glands called nectaries in flowers, is instrumental in attracting pollinators and enabling plant reproduction. Its composition and production are determined by a com…

A method known as CRISPR allows scientists to edit the DNA of living organisms. A recent paper shows that this method can be used to restore hearing in adult mice with a form of genetic deafness.

Long before dogs became part of our families, they were wild wolves. A small change in their DNA may have helped them take the first step toward friendship with humans.

Written by: Guest Writer Olivia Conway Stray bits of DNA can slip into our genomes without warning—not from an invader, but from our own mitochondria. These genetic stowaways, called NUMTs, may cau…

A new study by Chawla et al. characterized changes in DNA openness associated with major depressive disorder in human brain samples. They identified cell type-specific changes and linked genetic va…

Sexual reproduction offers many evolutionary advantages. However, in some cases, female asexual reproduction reigns supreme. Yahshiro et al. explore how and why queens overthrew kings in certain te…

Optimal eye placement across the animal kingdom is a diverse phenomenon to suit every creature’s purpose and way of life. During development, the interocular distance (space between two eyes) and e…

Who needs something new when you can repurpose what you already have? A 2025 study finds that medications designed for cystic fibrosis and high blood pressure effectively resolve key physiological …

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay In a recent study by Geilenkeuser et al., researchers developed a new system to help different types of gene editing molecules get into cells efficiently. Exper…

Stories bring people together, help learners see deeper meaning, and provide much needed context to learning. Here we examine the most famous cells in history and how their existence benefits socie…

Bananas are one of the most consumed fruits globally yet also one of the most wasted. With a shelf life of just 1 week, they may seem to go from perfectly ripe to overripe overnight. In the U.S. al…

Humans, bacteria, and viruses all use a common genetic code to communicate with one another, but new evidence shows that some viruses found in the human gut may use an alternative genetic code to e…

A recent study identifies accumulation of a certain protein filament as a hallmark of brain aging, which can be targeted to improve aging health. Furthermore, it links this accumulation with disrup…