The water content of leaves, their thickness, their density and other properties can now be determined without even having to touch them. A team of researchers from the CSIC Institute of Acoustics and the Agri-Food Research and Technology Centre (CITA) of Aragon has just presented an innovative technique that enables plant leaves to be studied using ultrasound in a quick, simple and non-invasive fashion... — full story
Researchers cure colour blindness in squirrel monkeysResearchers used gene therapy to cure two squirrel monkeys of colour blindness - the most common genetic disorder in people. The work, in this week's Nature, demonstrates the potential... — full story
Genome of Phytophthora infestans decodedA large international research team has decoded the genome of Phytophthora infestans, the notorious organism that triggered the Irish potato famine in the mid-19th century and also... — full story
Invigorated muscle structure allows geese to brave the HimalayasA higher density of blood vessels and other unique physiological features in the flight muscles of bar-headed geese allow them to do what even the most elite of human athletes struggle... — full story
Researchers capture bacterial infection on filmResearchers have developed a new technique that allows them to make a movie of bacteria infecting their living host. Whilst most studies of bacterial infection are done after the death... — full story
Scientists unlock optical secrets of jewel beetlesA small green beetle may have some interesting lessons to teach scientists about optics and liquid crystals - complex mechanisms the insect uses to create a shell so strikingly beautiful... — full story
Study reveals lizard tucks legs and swims through sandA study published in the 17 July issue of the journal Science details how sandfish - small lizards with smooth scales - move rapidly underground through desert sand. In this first thorough... — full story
Native lizards evolve to escape attacks by fire antsPenn State Assistant Professor of Biology Tracy Langkilde has shown that native fence lizards in the southeastern United States are adapting to potentially fatal invasive fire-ant attacks... — full story