Biology

A researcher who studies human decomposition has analysed samples of Putricia the corpse flower during its bloom in January for its scent compounds.

Scratching an itch is almost irresistible — even though it can make a problem worse. Now researchers have discovered a mechanism that explains the "itch-scratch cycle".

The study will test spider venom molecules against brain tissue made from the blood of individual epilepsy patients.

You don’t have to scroll too far online to come across videos recommending deferring dates until the follicular phase, or someone explaining the distinct characteristics of each phase of the menstrual cycles. 

But, is all this commentary around our hormones based in fact?

On the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, near fissures spewing hot water, a submersible stumbled upon a thriving community of animals living in cavities below.

The research sought to decipher how brains are wired and the signals underlying healthy brain functions. It also could pave the way for mapping the brains of other species.

One in 10 pets don't survive tick bites, but new research can now anticipate how dangerous the upcoming season will be.

Emus might look ungainly when they pick up pace, but they’re actually very efficient runners, a new study suggests.

Researchers and local Indigenous people say a beautifully preserved metre-wide and 40-centimetres-high tree stump may be a thousand-year-old messenger with a story to share about climate change.

A $21 million philanthropic investment in a new medical research centre in Melbourne will see "spatial biology" technologies used to better diagnose diseases.

Japanese researchers have captured a surprising escape tactic used by juvenile eels, and they aren't the only animal that can escape digestion.

The permafrost is melting and scientists are racing to collect ancient viruses trapped in the ice to understand how they’ve adapted to shifting climate over millennia.

The staggering array of penis shapes and sizes in nature can tell scientists a surprising amount about the evolution of animal biology and behaviour. Heads up: you might get a few questions if you're reading this on your commute or at work.

The number of little penguins on Kangaroo Island has dropped by more than 70 per cent since 2011, but there's hope that work to rid the island of cats will help their fortunes.

Scientists are piecing together a picture of how Australia's extinct giant kangaroos moved.

More than 3,400 southern corroboree frog eggs have been released into their natural habitat in the NSW Snowy Mountains in the hope of bringing the iconic species back from the brink of extinction.

What is a baby platypus called? Where is Planet Nine? Are you an uber geek? There's only one way to find out — take this quiz.

A video shared online shows the scale of these reptiles as one of the researchers swims alongside a 200-kilogram specimen.

Researchers say they have found dangerous chemicals in little penguin habitat and populations around Tasmania.

Scientists report cloning a monkey using a technique that most famously gave us Dolly the sheep in 1996. So what's new about this study, and what does it mean for humans?