What's up in
Biology
Latest Articles
How Heat Kills Cells
The proteins that unravel as the temperature starts to rise turn out to be among the most vital.
Swirling Bacteria Linked to the Physics of Phase Transitions
The new experiments suggest that simple models can explain the behavior of thousands of interacting organisms.
The Secret Power of the Cell’s Waste Bin
Trash collectors in the cell moonlight at the controls of the genetic machinery.
A Map of Human History, Hidden in DNA
The computational biologist John Novembre uses our genetic code to rewrite the history of humanity.
Evolution Runs Faster on Short Timescales
Examine evolution over the course of years or centuries, and you’ll find that it progresses much more quickly than it does over geologic time.
Why Did Life Move to Land? For the View
The ancient creatures who first crawled onto land may have been lured by the informational benefit that comes from seeing through air.
How Circadian Clocks Differ From Sleep
The circadian clock is in nearly every cell, and researchers have untangled many of its secrets. But sleep has been harder to pin down.
Researchers Tap a Sleep Switch in the Brain
Powerful new experiments have uncovered some of the molecular underpinnings of sleep.
How Life Turns Asymmetric
Scientists are uncovering how our bodies — and everything within them — tell right from left.