Few among us appreciate being called cheap, yet this term has a useful application in bird world. A new study published in the Journal of Raptor Research, “Factors Influencing Nestling Sex Ratios of Suburban and Rural Red-Shouldered Hawks, 2004-2016,” finds that male Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) are the cheaper of the sexes, meaning hawk parents prioritize producing female offspring when conditions are optimal. This means that higher quality territories could result in more females, offering biologists clues about habitat health, which is important intel as the species adapts to urban environments with increasing frequency. 

Researchers in Japan found that lower plasma copper levels and reduced white matter volume in individuals with autism spectrum disorder were associated with clinical symptom scores, including social symptom severity. Using a mouse model, they show that developmental copper deficiency disrupts brain vascular and metabolic signaling, impairs oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination, and alters social behavior through mitophagy and mTOR suppression.

As global climate change intensifies and agricultural environments become increasingly arid, understanding the adaptive mechanisms of terrestrial plants is critical for global food security. Plant cuticular wax forms a vital hydrophobic barrier that protects crops from severe water loss, UV radiation, and pathogen infection. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), a major drought-tolerant crop, is valued for its thick cuticular wax layer, which markedly enhances resilience to abiotic stresses. However, the key regulatory mechanisms governing cuticular wax accumulation and very-long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) biosynthesis have remained largely uncharacterized.

Researchers at Tohoku University look beyond the life-taking venomous stings of box jellyfish, and focus on life-creating processes in a new comprehensive study of their reproductive traits.

Researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo, pioneered a new method for encapsulating cells within small, soft capsules. This is useful for various kinds of research where the properties of a cell, including its behaviors and interactions, need to be isolated and measured. Previous methods required more specialized equipment, time and expertise. The new method needs only basic lab equipment and can open up access to advanced 3D cell culture research to a broad range of researchers.