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A river surrounded by trees with mountains in the background.
DNA Metabarcoding Reveals Hidden Biodiversity
Genomicist Mehrdad Hajibabaei empowers Canadian communities to monitor bioindicator species in their local freshwater ecosystems.
DNA Metabarcoding Reveals Hidden Biodiversity
DNA Metabarcoding Reveals Hidden Biodiversity

Genomicist Mehrdad Hajibabaei empowers Canadian communities to monitor bioindicator species in their local freshwater ecosystems.

Genomicist Mehrdad Hajibabaei empowers Canadian communities to monitor bioindicator species in their local freshwater ecosystems.

citizen science

An animated arcade machine in a grey room.
Borderlands Gamers Fuel the Next Generation of Citizen Science
Hannah Thomasy, PhD | Jul 2, 2024 | 7 min read
Researchers explore how video games can improve scientific understanding of the tree of life.
Istiophorus spp
Fishermen and Hobbyists Provide Scientists with Invaluable Data
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Jun 1, 2023 | 5 min read
In Los Cabos, Mexico, a panga boat captain and a deep sea fishing enthusiast support researchers working to explain declines in Pacific fish populations.
A lobed leaf next to a rounded leaf, both from the same Boquila trifoliolata vine
Can Plants See? In the Wake of a Controversial Study, the Answer’s Still Unclear
Christie Wilcox, PhD | Nov 30, 2022 | 10+ min read
A tiny pilot study found that so-called chameleon vines mimicked plastic leaves, but experts say poor study design and conflicts of interest undermine the report.
Giant manta ray swimming
Science Snapshot: Giant Manta Ray Sanctuary
Lisa Winter | May 20, 2022 | 2 min read
Tourist photos help identify endangered manta rays and highlight the efficacy of recovery efforts at Komodo National Park.
Specialized Leaves Keep This Plant’s Fruit Warm
Shawna Williams | Feb 1, 2021 | 4 min read
A volunteer nature guide teamed up with researchers to discover a unique reproductive role for one vine’s leaves.
A Citizen Scientist Makes Her Mark in Microbiome Research
Amy Schleunes | Jun 1, 2020 | 5 min read
The BioCollective, a company that transforms whole stool samples into microbial metadata, is developing the US’s first national microbiome reference material.
Scientists Use Online Game to Research COVID-19 Treatment
Emma Yasinski | Mar 9, 2020 | 3 min read
The creativity of citizen scientists could help researchers design proteins that may be able to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
RNA design game video artificial intelligence create structure change sequence
Image of the Day: Design Challenge
Chia-Yi Hou | Jul 9, 2019 | 1 min read
An online video game helps researchers create strategies for creating RNA.
smalleye stingray marine ocean biology animal wildlife largest photo id identification migration long distance
Image of the Day: Photo ID
Chia-Yi Hou | Jun 27, 2019 | 1 min read
Marine biologists identify smalleye stingrays using the white spots on their backs.
Researchers Aim to Reestablish an Ancient Fish in an Ohio River
Shawna Williams | Jan 1, 2019 | 5 min read
The sturgeon restoration study’s outcome won’t be known for decades.
Image of the Day: Suckers
The Scientist and The Scientist Staff | Apr 10, 2018 | 1 min read
A recently expanded online database allows researchers and the public to share and view videos of sea lampreys.
A Snake Species Not Seen Alive for 64 Years Appears in Brazil
Ignacio Amigo | Jun 1, 2017 | 4 min read
Locals helped researchers find the extremely rare boa.
Birders Break North American Record
Kerry Grens | Oct 1, 2016 | 4 min read
A nude birder and an Australian zoo owner are competing to set the new bar for the number of species spotted in a single year.
Extreme Birding
The Scientist | Sep 30, 2016 | 1 min read
Oregonian Noah Strycker broke the world Big Year birding record when he saw his 4,342nd species of the calendar year in 2015.
Butterflies in Peril
Bob Grant | Aug 12, 2015 | 2 min read
Several recent studies point to serious—and mysterious—declines in butterfly numbers across the globe.
Bats Make a Comeback
Molly Sharlach | Dec 22, 2014 | 1 min read
Citizen-scientist data obtained through the U.K.’s National Bat Monitoring Programme show that populations of 10 bat species have stabilized or are growing.
Extra Eyeballs on the Eye
Rina Shaikh-Lesko | May 6, 2014 | 1 min read
A legion of citizen-scientist gamers helps a team of researchers explain a long-standing riddle of how the retina processes motion.
Gamers Solve RNA Structures
Abby Olena, PhD | Jan 28, 2014 | 2 min read
An online competition gives citizen scientists a chance to design RNA molecules to generate a target structure.
Waiting in the Wings
Erin Weeks | Dec 1, 2013 | 4 min read
A century’s worth of collected butterflies shed light on how climate change threatens the survival of early-emerging species.
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