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Biology

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 19-Jun-2026 02:15 ET (19-Jun-2026 06:15 GMT/UTC)

Scientists prove shellfish can be farmed far from shore

Rutgers University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Rutgers researchers have made a discovery that could change the future of seafood farming in New Jersey.

A study led by marine scientist Daphne Munroe has shown that Atlantic surfclams can be successfully farmed in the open ocean.

Her research, published in the North American Journal of Aquaculture, proves that offshore aquaculture is not only possible but promising. This method could help meet the increasing demand for seafood while protecting wild clam populations.

Journal: North American Journal of Aquaculture
Funder: NOAA Ocean Exploration, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Mirror image pheromones help beetles swipe right

University of California - Davis
Peer-Reviewed Publication

There are many ways to communicate with prospective romantic partners: If you are a Japanese scarab beetle, it’s a matter of distinguishing left from right. New work from U.S. and Chinese scientists, published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows how these beetles use mirror-image pheromones to find a mate. The work could lead to better monitoring and control of significant agricultural pests.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Funder: National Key R&D Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Jilin Province Science and Technology Program

Honey bee "dance floors" can be accurately located with a new method, mapping where in the hive forager bees perform waggle dances to signal the location of pollen and nectar for their nestmates

PLOS
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Honey bee "dance floors" can be accurately located with a new method, mapping where in the hive forager bees perform waggle dances to signal the location of pollen and nectar for their nestmates

Journal: PLOS One

Pekingese, Shih Tzu and Staffordshire Bull Terrier among twelve dog breeds at risk of serious breathing condition

University of Cambridge
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists have identified a further twelve dog breeds as being at risk of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome – a condition that can cause serious breathing problems – including the Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Boston Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua and Boxer.

Journal: PLOS One

Selected dog breeds with most breathing trouble identified in new study

PLOS
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In short-skulled (brachycephalic) dogs, a very flat face, collapsing nostrils, and a plump physique are associated with difficulty breathing, with Pekingeses and Japanese Chins at especially high risk, according to a study published February 18, 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Francesca Tomlinson from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, and colleagues.

Journal: PLOS One

UC Riverside professor receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Wound Healing Society

University of California - Riverside
Grant and Award Announcement

Manuela Martins-Green, an internationally recognized researcher at UC Riverside whose work focuses on wound healing, tissue engineering, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of injury response, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wound Healing Society.

Funder: Wound Healing Society

Climate change and persistent contaminants deliver one‑two punch to Arctic seals, SFU study finds

Simon Fraser University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research shows a single year of warmer-than-average Arctic temperatures can cause malnutrition in Arctic seals, intensifying risks to Inuit food security and northern ecosystems already under pressure from environmental toxins, warn Simon Fraser University researchers.

Journal: Environmental Research

Scientists find a mechanism for how exercise protects the brain

University of California - San Francisco
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at UC San Francisco have discovered a mechanism that could explain how exercise improves cognition by shoring up the brain’s protective barrier.

Journal: Cell
Funder: Simons Foundation, Bakar Family Foundation, Cure Alzheimer's Fund, Hillblom Foundation, JSPS, Japanese Biochemistry Postdoctoral Fellowship, Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Frontiers in Medical Research, American Federation for Aging Research, Bakar Aging Research Institute, Marc and Lynne Benioff

Reclaiming harsh habitats with black soldier fly larvae

Texas A&M University
Grant and Award Announcement

Extreme environments — on Earth and beyond — limit human habitation due to high levels of contaminants in the soil, making it difficult for food production. With instrumental funding from the WoodNext Foundation, researchers from Texas A&M University hope to rehabilitate extreme environments by integrating entomology, robotics, artificial intelligence and sensor technology.