X-ray studies showed that the spheres consist of even smaller nanocrystals of uric acid and water. Additionally, they discovered that uric acid plays an important role in converting ammonia into a ...

Reptiles and birds have evolved to expel nitrogenous waste in the form of solids, known commonly as urates, which are predominantly uric acid crystals. Having solid or semisolid urine helps the ...

If you’ve ever owned a pet lizard or a snake, you’ve probably noticed that they don’t really “pee” like we do. Instead of liquid, they excrete chalky white pellets that look like bits of plaster. For ...

Kidney stones and gout show up across age groups, lifestyles, and headlines every year. Both conditions are often linked to uric acid, so researchers spend a considerable amount of time studying how ...

Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment. Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the ...

SUNDAY, Nov. 16, 2025 — Scientists think snakes and lizards could help them find new ways to prevent painful kidney stones and gout in people. And it all owes to an evolutionary trick.