Biology • Troy Media Digital Solutions

Tracking common nighthawks to shed light on declining populations

U of A biologists used GPS data to track the 10,000-kilometre migratory route of common nighthawks—the first step in finding out where and why the birds’ population numbers are declining. (Photo: Liam McGuire)

Reading Time: 3 minutes U of A biologists track the migratory birds over 10,000 km with GPS to study their route – and the cause behind their declining numbers

New way identified to track severity and progression of ALS

Reading Time: 4 minutes By identifying biomarkers for white-matter degeneration, researchers hope to move toward earlier diagnosis and effective treatments

New research provides insight into evolutionary origin of the eye

An adult hagfish in a container filled with sea water. New U of A research reveals unexpected similarities between the eyes of hagfish and those of other vertebrates including humans, shedding new light on how our vision evolved. (Photo: Ryan Wayne)

Reading Time: 2 minutes Hagfish eyes uncover unexpected similarities to those of other vertebrates, including humans

Stem cell therapy research for Type 1 diabetes receives funding

Greg Korbutt (left) and Andrew Pepper are members of a research team aiming to develop insulin-producing stem cells that won’t trigger an immune response, so transplant patients wouldn't need to take anti-rejection drugs. (Photo: Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, May 2019)

Reading Time: 5 minutes Three U of A researchers will help lead projects to advance treatments for patients

How baby’s first breath triggers life-saving changes in the brain

Reading Time: 3 minutes Discovery may help explain cases of sudden infant death syndrome

How trees produce spectacular autumn colours

Fall colours are there all the time but are masked by chlorophyll, the green pigment most plants have that’s used to produce their food

Reading Time: 4 minutes The intensity of the colours is related to weather conditions before and during the time the chlorophyll in the leaves is declining

Dinosaur fossil fingers reveal new species

An artist’s depiction of what the newly-discovered dinosaur by U of A alumnspecies of oviraptorid may have looked like (Image credit: Michael Skrepnick)

Reading Time: 3 minutes U of A alumnus leads study uncovering a new species of oviraptorid

Survival of the fittest, from a very young age

Reading Time: 4 minutes Some orphaned babies are unlikely to survive if very young but others can fend for themselves at an early age

We can – and must – stop our plastic legacy

Reading Time: 4 minutes Countless animals ingest plastics and die. Do we care? Do we care that these plastics are now in the human food chain?

Tag: Biology