Science bytes
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Science bytes
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James D. Watson, Nobel laureate and co-discoverer of DNA’s double helix, has died at 97.
His scientific achievements are undeniable but his legacy is marred by repeated racist and sexist statements that perpetuated harmful stereotypes in science.
A reminder that brilliance does not excuse bigotry.
November 8, 2025 at 6:05 AM
November 3, 2025 at 1:59 AM
A new study by Wellcome Sanger & King’s College London shows that as men age, “selfish” mutations in sperm accumulate naturally, increasing the chance of passing on harmful genes linked to autism, developmental disorders & cancer.
October 31, 2025 at 9:39 AM
The world’s first known leucistic Iberian lynx, pure white and magnificent has been sighted in southern Spain.
October 31, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Tribute to Professor Jim Peacock

We are saddened by the passing of Professor Jim Peacock, a visionary scientist and former Chief Scientist of Australia (2006–2008). His groundbreaking work on water-efficient cotton and his leadership in Australian science leave a lasting legacy.
October 27, 2025 at 12:19 AM
It’s official: the Slender-billed Curlew is extinct.

Once a graceful migrant across continents, officially declared extinct by the IUCN.
A haunting reminder that the extinction crisis isn’t distant-it’s happening now. credit:CMS
October 14, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Ever wondered why you can remember exactly where you were when you got shocking news but forget what you did yesterday? Scientists say emotional moments reach back in time to strengthen even the mundane memories around them and they’ve mapped out how the brain picks which memories to keep.
October 13, 2025 at 2:32 AM
After years of sniffing out tuberculosis in Africa, Caroline, an African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys ansorgei), officially retired in March.
Her incredible nose helped detect thousands of TB cases missed by conventional methods and she did it much faster than lab technicians.
October 10, 2025 at 10:51 AM
The ultimate 'out-of-office' auto reply!
October 8, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Only one person in history has won both Physics & Chemistry Nobels. Her name was Marie Curie. Her discoveries of polonium and radium transformed science and medicine forever.
October 7, 2025 at 11:58 PM
NVIDIA reportedly spent over $900M to hire Indian-origin Enfabrica CEO Rochan Sankar & license his AI-chip tech linking 100K chips without slowdown.
Big bet on talent and scalability.
October 7, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Jane Goodall, the renowned conservationist and pioneer of groundbreaking chimpanzee research, has died at the age of 91. Her discoveries revolutionised science. Her lifelong dedication to conservation and compassion leaves an enduring legacy of hope and inspiration.
October 2, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Perfectly Mummified Cheetahs Are The First Naturally Mummified Big Cats Ever Found. The oldest date back over 4,000 years. www.iflscience.com/perfectly-mu...
October 1, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Forget wrinkle cream. Scientists just tested stem cells that made old monkeys younger & healthier. www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
September 19, 2025 at 10:11 PM
3 minutes to a healed bone? Chinese researchers say their new bone glue makes it possible! www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/...
September 17, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Goodbye knee replacements?
German scientists have created a gel that can regrow joint cartilage!
September 10, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Researchers have grown tiny human hearts in pig embryos for the first time and they started beating! The pig–human chimeras survived for 21 days, marking a milestone toward potentially generating human organs for transplant.
September 10, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Ants just broke the rules of life!
Scientists found a queen that can clone males of ANOTHER species to raise her own workers. One mom, two species.
Nature’s wildest plot twist yet! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
September 8, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Can genome engineering help save biodiversity?
A new Nature Perspective explores how precision gene editing could restore lost genetic diversity and boost species resilience — while raising vital ethical questions. nature.com/articles/s44358-025-00065-6
Genome engineering in biodiversity conservation and restoration - Nature Reviews Biodiversity
This Perspective argues for the use of genome engineering for restoring species genetic diversity and increase species resilience to environmental change. Genome engineering could be combined with tra...
nature.com
September 2, 2025 at 12:53 PM
August 31, 2025 at 12:22 PM
A collaborative team have published #BindCraft, an AI tool that designs powerful protein binders in one shot.
Critical for faster drugs, smarter diagnostics, and biotech breakthroughs ahead. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 29, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Not to belabour this story, but the truth is Africa is bigger than most people realize.
August 28, 2025 at 11:48 AM
99% luck, 1% skill!
August 27, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Just testing the waters… would you like us to start posting science jobs & fellowships here?

Here’s one to start:
@NuffieldCollege (Oxford) is offering 2 Postdoctoral Prize Research Fellowships in Sociology (£41.7k p.a., 3 yrs). Apply by 22 Sept 2025 www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/the-college/...
August 22, 2025 at 6:57 AM
African scholars and advocates are pushing to replace the 16th-century Mercator map, which distorts Africa’s true scale, with maps that show the continent’s vast size a step toward combating disinformation and decolonising the truth.
Africa is bigger than the US, China, India and Europe combined.
August 19, 2025 at 3:42 AM