Fossilized dinosaur eggshells can preserve amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, over millions of years

Calcite, the material making up fossilized eggshells, may preserve amino acids better than bone.

Evan Thomas Saitta, Postdoctoral Scholar in Paleontology, University of Chicago • conversation
April 9, 2024 ~9 min

DNA says you’re related to a Viking, a medieval German Jew or a 1700s enslaved African? What a genetic match really means

Genealogical and genetic ancestors aren’t the same thing. A DNA match − or a lack of one − may not tell you what you imagine it does about your family tree.

Harald Ringbauer, Group Leader, Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology • conversation
March 29, 2024 ~12 min


As climate change and pollution imperil coral reefs, scientists are deep-freezing corals to repopulate future oceans

Just as the world’s zoos breed critically endangered animals in captivity to repopulate the wild, scientists are building a global effort to freeze corals for reef restoration.

Mary Hagedorn, Research Scientist, Smithsonian Institution • conversation
March 28, 2024 ~11 min

Could a couple of Thai otters have helped the UK’s otter population recover? Our study provides a hint

Research has revealed how British otters may have been able to recover from species loss in the 1950s with the help of otters from Asia.

Sarah du Plessis, PhD Candidate, Cardiff University • conversation
Feb. 27, 2024 ~6 min

Gut bacteria may explain why grey squirrels outcompete reds – new research

New research suggests the gut bacteria of red and grey squirrels differ significantly, potentially explaining the decline of the native red and the success of its grey counterpart.

Craig Shuttleworth, Honorary Visiting Research Fellow, Bangor University • conversation
Feb. 21, 2024 ~6 min

Men become less fertile with age, but the same isn’t true for all animals – new study

Understanding how the ageing of sperm works in other animals is more important than ever as human male fertility is in decline.

Regina Vega-Trejo, Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Evolutionary Biology, University of Oxford • conversation
Feb. 14, 2024 ~8 min

Secrets of soil-enriching pulses could transform future of sustainable agriculture

New technology could unlock the soil-enriching nitrogen-fixing ability of legumes…and one day apply this to other crops too.

Sebastian Schornack, Senior research group leader in the Enabling Nutrient Symbioses in Agriculture (ENSA) project, University of Cambridge • conversation
Feb. 8, 2024 ~7 min

‘Jaws’ portrayed sharks as monsters 50 years ago, but it also inspired a generation of shark scientists

‘Jaws,’ published in 1974, terrified the public of sharks, but it also brought shark research into the scientific mainstream.

Gavin Naylor, Director of Florida Program for Shark Research, University of Florida • conversation
Jan. 31, 2024 ~10 min


DNA from stone age chewing gum sheds light on diet and disease in Scandinavia's ancient hunter-gatherers

Genetic analysis reveals one of the teenagers probably had advanced gum disease.

Emrah Kırdök, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Mersin University • conversation
Jan. 18, 2024 ~7 min

Florence Bell died unrecognised for her contributions to DNA science – decades on female researchers are still being sidelined

In the academic world, researchers are rewarded for publishing frequently. Not only is this affecting research quality but it is also hindering female scientists.

Natalia I. Kucirkova, Professor Reading and Early Childhood Development, The Open University • conversation
Nov. 22, 2023 ~7 min

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