EurekAlert! News by Subject: Biology

Biology

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 3-Jun-2026 18:17 ET (3-Jun-2026 22:17 GMT/UTC)

25-Mar-2026

Genetic breakthrough uncovers evolutionary limits of the COVID-19 virus

Oxford University Press USA
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new paper in Genome Biology and Evolution indicates that while the COVID-19 virus has developed rapidly since 2019, it has done so within limited genetic channels. These genetic limits have remained unchanged. Despite scientists’ earlier fears about dramatic, rapid evolution of the COVID-19 virus, it appears recent changes in the virus were relatively constrained; the virus altered by combining pre-existing mutations. The virus has not expanded the number of genetic routes it can take to evolve.

Journal: Genome Biology and Evolution
Funder: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

24-Mar-2026

Ancient origins of human glycosylation pathway revealed

Higher Education Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Ever wondered how ancient life forms developed the ability to modify proteins through glycosylation? A groundbreaking study published in Engineering reveals the surprising evolutionary origins of this crucial biological process, uncovering links between early cellular life and modern human biology. Dive in to explore the fascinating journey of glycosylation through time!

Journal: Engineering

24-Mar-2026

The hidden cost of sperm storage: Ejaculates found to deteriorate across the animal kingdom

University of Oxford
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Current World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines typically recommend 2–7 days of abstinence before taking semen samples or assisted reproduction. However, a new study led by Oxford University researchers suggests that regular ejaculation – whether through sexual activity or masturbation – results in higher quality sperm, with less DNA damage.

Journal: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B Biological Sciences

24-Mar-2026

Birds do it, bees do it … sip alcohol, that is

University of California - Berkeley
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Natural yeasts ferment anything sugary, including fruit, flower nectar and sugar water in a hummingbird feeder. In the first study to analyze the ethanol content of nectar in a range of species, UC Berkeley biologists fought off the birds and bees to collect samples. Nearly all contained ethanol. Hummingbirds can sip up to twice their weight in nectar daily, which could provide a dose equivalent to a standard alcoholic drink for a human.

Journal: Royal Society Open Science

24-Mar-2026

How plants stop growing to survive stress

University of California - Riverside
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A UC Riverside researcher worked years into retirement to uncover the biology behind plants' response to environmental stress. Her dedication could help secure crops - and food - in a more volatile environment.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

24-Mar-2026

Vivid dreaming makes sleep feel deeper

PLOS
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers led by Guilio Bernardi at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca in Italy have discovered a key relationship between dreaming and the feeling of having had a good night’s sleep. Published in PLOS Biology on March 24^th, the study shows that the feeling of deep sleep is not determined solely by slow-wave brain activity. Rather, immersive dreaming that comes with increases in wake-like brain activity leads to a greater feeling of deep sleep.

Journal: PLOS Biology

24-Mar-2026

Highly and casually active citizen scientists contribute equally valuable data

Florida Museum of Natural History
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study shows that contributions from both highly and casually active citizen scientists can be equally valuable and — in some cases — even complement each other.

Journal: Citizen Science Theory and Practice
Funder: United States Department of Agriculture

24-Mar-2026

Expert commentary in leading cardiology journal suggests Transcendental Meditation reduces stress-related cardiovascular risk

Maharishi International University
Reports and Proceedings

Psychosocial stress is a major contributor to hypertension and cardiovascular disease, according to a new commentary published in Nature Reviews Cardiology. The article reviews decades of scientific evidence showing how chronic stress affects cardiovascular biology and examines research on the Transcendental Meditation technique as a potential strategy for reducing stress-related cardiovascular risk.

Journal: Nature Reviews Cardiology

24-Mar-2026

Barren environments don’t just restrict animals—they intensify and prolong pain

Welfare Footprint Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

When an animal is confined in a barren cage, crate, or tank, with nothing to do, no room to move, and no companions, pain can become all there is. A major cross-disciplinary review shows that barren housing doesn't just restrict animals — it disables the body's natural pain defenses while activating the very mechanisms that make pain more likely, more intense, and longer-lasting. The authors term this convergence a "Pain Echo Chamber" and show that it affects billions of animals across farms, laboratories, clinics, and other captive settings. The findings require welfare frameworks, certification schemes, and analgesic protocols to account for how housing shapes pain, and raise fundamental questions about whether barren confinement systems can continue to be justified.

Journal: Frontiers in Animal Science