The Scientist

The Scientist

[:es]Contrary to Common Belief, Some Older Trees Make Fewer Seeds[:]

An analysis of more than half a million trees reveals that many species begin to taper off seed production once they hit a certain size.
The Scientist

[:es]Male Snakes Cannibalizing Females Present Evolutionary Puzzle[:]

The Scientist speaks with organismal biologist Xavier Glaudas about possible reasons for his recent finding that male Montpellier snakes cannibalize female conspecifics.
The Scientist

[:es]Screen of 250,000 Species Reveals Tweaks to Genetic Code[:]

A massive screen of bacterial and archaeal genomes revealed five previously unknown instances where an organism uses an alternate code to translate genetic blueprints into proteins.
The Scientist

[:es]Engineered Stem Cells Grant Geckos “Perfectly” Regenerated Tails[:]

Geckos injected with neural stem cells modified to block cartilage growth developed the skeletal and nervous components normally lacking from regrown tails.
The Scientist

[:es]Does Biological Sex Influence COVID-19 Outcomes? [:]

It’s unclear whether differing odds of dying between men and women reflect inherent differences between male and female immune systems or differences rooted in gender norms.
The Scientist

[:es]Plants Use RNA to Talk to Neighbors [:]

A study finds that plants sharing the same growth medium can exchange microRNAs that silence genes in the recipient, suggesting the nucleic acids may act as signaling molecules.
The Scientist

[:es]The Link Between Wandering and Sleeping Minds [:]

Researchers discover that when the mind wanders or goes blank, some parts of the brain behave as they do during sleep.
The Scientist

[:es]Falling Water, Rising Rocks, 1834[:]

Intrigued by an optical illusion he experienced while traveling in Scotland, Robert Addams wrote what is now considered one of the definitive observational accounts of so-called motion aftereffects.
The Scientist

[:es]Alzheimer’s Risk Gene Paradoxically Protects Against Memory Loss[:]

A new study links a variant of the apolipoprotein E gene called APOE ε4 to better memory in older age, even in the presence of amyloid plaques—a possible explanation for the variant’s persistence despite its association with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.