The genome of a once-endangered songbird shows extensive signs of inbreeding, according to a new study by Penn State researchers. Because inbreeding can negatively impact survival and reproduction, the results could guide continuing conservation efforts for Kirtland’s warblers.

Some of the world's smallest animals and their tiny poops could aid in the fight against climate change. A Dartmouth-led study reports that clay dust sprayed on the surface of seawater converts free-floating carbon particulates into food for zooplankton, which the microscopic animals later deposit deep into the sea as feces. The particulates are the remnants of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere by marine plants that re-enters the atmosphere when the plants die. This new method redirects the carbon into the marine food chain.

Thanks for a powerful antioxidant, Deinococcus radiodurans can withstand radiation doses 28,000 times greater than what would kill a human. In a new study, scientists discovered how the antioxidant works. Finding could drive the development of designer antioxidants to shield astronauts from cosmic radiation.

In meerkat society a dominant female is in charge, growling, biting, pushing and shoving to keep others in line. The matriarch’s bullying behavior is fueled by high levels of testosterone that can surge to twice those of her male counterparts when she’s pregnant. But while testosterone gives her a competitive edge and helps her keep the upper hand, it can also take a toll on the health of her developing offspring, Duke University researchers report.

Lice live their entire lives with a set of genes that in humans would indicate a late-stage degenerative disorder such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease. How do lice tolerate this genome structure that in humans and many other animals would result in major neurodegenerative problems? “We’re a long way from connecting those dots,” said Stephen Cameron, professor of entomology at Purdue University. Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are aging-related mitochondrial diseases, so called because of the malfunctioning mitochondria that produce cellular energy.

Eric Stach of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering and Applied Science and colleagues used neural networks to better identify the characteristics of catalysts that drive the creation of liquid fuels from sunlight.

Three University of Texas at Dallas faculty members and collaborators from other universities and two industry partners have teamed up to design and test indium-based materials to enable the manufacture of the next generation of computer chips. The researchers have received a $1.9 million, three-year grant to support their work through the National Science Foundation Future of Semiconductors (FuSe2) program.