EurekAlert! News by Subject: Biology - News by Subject: Biology

Biology

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Dec-2025 10:11 ET (21-Dec-2025 15:11 GMT/UTC)

25-Jun-2025

Researchers show that the cell nucleus is the pacemaker for cell division

The Francis Crick Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have shown that the 'pacemaker' controlling yeast cell division lies inside the nucleus rather than outside it, as previously thought. Having the pacemaker in the same compartment as the cell's DNA helps keep the genome stable.

Journal: Nature

25-Jun-2025

Orangutans nap to make up for lost sleep

Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Power naps: wild orangutans nap to catch up on lost sleep

Sleep in the wild: scientists studied wild adult orangutans to uncover what affects their sleep and how they compensate for lost sleep

Evolution of sleep: study offers new insights into the evolution of behavioral strategies to ensure that animals get the sleep they need

Journal: Current Biology

25-Jun-2025

Study finds high protein diet improves birds' ability to tolerate infection

University of Arkansas
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research from the University of Arkansas found that canaries fed a high protein diet fared better when it came to immune function and tolerating infection than canaries fed a high lipid, or fatty, diet.

Journal: Molecular Ecology

25-Jun-2025

Scientists discover unknown organelle inside our cells

University of Virginia Health System
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The discovery of an unknown organelle inside our cells could open the door to new treatments for devastating inherited diseases.

Journal: Nature Communications
Funder: NIH/National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Owens Family Foundation

25-Jun-2025

Grip strength gives researchers a new handle on psychosis

Indiana University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Psychosis often begins not with characteristic disturbances of the mind – delusions like paranoia or hallucinations – but with disturbances in the way we move our body. For researchers like Indiana University Assistant Professor Alexandra Moussa-Tooks in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, these motor disturbances offer critical insights into the condition of psychosis itself.

Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry

25-Jun-2025

Smaller islands offer crucial refuge for endangered mammals in Wallacea

Queen Mary University of London
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) reveals that smaller islands within the Wallacea biodiversity hotspot are crucial refuges for endangered vertebrates, providing higher-quality habitats and supporting populations. These findings challenge conventional conservation approaches and emphasise the importance of prioritising habitat management on these smaller landmasses.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

25-Jun-2025

Uncovering the role of vitamin C in skin regeneration

Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

As we age, our skin naturally becomes thinner and more fragile due to a decline in cell production. Now, researchers have found that vitamin C (VC) can help counteract this aging process. Using a 3D human skin model, they showed that VC boosts epidermal thickness by activating genes linked to cell growth through DNA demethylation. These findings suggests that VC may help prevent age-related skin thinning and support healthier, stronger skin in aging individuals.

Journal: Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science