For the first time, scientists say they have traced the origin of an “altruism gene,” possibly shedding light on the nagging mystery of how generosity and cooperation evolved.

The findings, they add, suggest that at least some altruism genes evolved from genes that originally served to suppress some biological activities in lean times.

The scientists traced an [...]

This Week’s News

The space elevator: going down? – Wires of carbon nanotubes are being touted as the best bet for a space elevator, but one scientist contends it will be impossible to manufacture a perfect nanotube for the required length (some 100,000 kilometers). The expected defects will reduce the strength of the fiber such that [...]

        Please bear with me if the terminology i use may be incorrect.  There are radioactive materials that shed neutrons as radiation.  I also remember hearing about protons being shed as a form of radiation.  But I don’t know if there any materials that shed electrons as a form of radiation?  If [...]

Cassava plant (Manihot esculenta) is a primary food source in many African nations, explains Richard Sayre, professor of plant cellular and molecular biology at Ohio State University.

The researchers used a gene from the bacterium E. coli to genetically modify cassava plants. The plants, which were grown in a greenhouse, produced roots that were an average [...]