Genomes debunk the idea of blonde, Nordic Vikings
Researchers sequenced the genome of 442 Viking Age bone fragments from all over Europe. The Vikings may not have been quite as Nordic as we thought.
Sept. 17, 2020 • ~6 min
Tags: history genomes europe featured science-and-technology society-and-culture vikings
Odd immune system lets anglerfishes fuse males to females
Among deep-sea anglerfishes, tiny males permanently attack to relatively gigantic females. New understanding of this process could benefit human health.
Aug. 3, 2020 • ~8 min
Tags: reproduction fish genomes science-and-technology health-and-medicine sexes immune-systems
Genomes reveal the source of bat ‘superpowers’
The genomes of six living bat species reveals the source of some of their superpowers, including echolocation, flight, and imperviousness to certain deadly viruses.
July 29, 2020 • ~6 min
Tags: evolution genes genomes bats science-and-technology
Team pinpoints the origin story of SARS-CoV-2
A reconstruction of the evolutionary origins of SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, shows its lineage could hold other nasty viruses.
July 28, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: evolution covid-19 genomes viruses bats featured health-and-medicine pandemics
Smallpox is so much older than we thought, Vikings had it
"We have found the oldest evidence of smallpox. Moreover, it seems to have been surprisingly common as early as in the Viking Age."
July 27, 2020 • ~6 min
Tags: history genomes viruses featured society-and-culture health-and-medicine smallpox vikings
Genes clarify the colors on these little hybrid birds
New research clarifies the throat and belly colors of hybrid warblers. It's plumage that ornithologists have puzzled over for a long time.
July 15, 2020 • ~6 min
Tags: birds genes genomes colors science-and-technology earth-and-environment
Viral ‘family tree’ reveals COVID-19 spread in Denmark
A new "coronavirus family tree" has given researchers a better look at how COVID-19 came into Denmark and how it spread domestically.
June 30, 2020 • ~5 min
Tags: covid-19 genomes viruses social-lives health-and-medicine
Gardenias show how plants became great chemists
Sequencing the gardenia genome shows how plants evolved to re-use tricks from their genetic toolbox to create new chemicals.
June 25, 2020 • ~9 min
Tags: dna evolution plants genomes science-and-technology flowers
Model warns of genetic modification gone awry in trees
A new model could help prevent unintended consequences when researchers use genetic modification on trees for things like biofuel.
April 12, 2020 • ~5 min
Tags: trees genomes genetic-engineering wood science-and-technology
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