“Mona Lisa effect” applies to animals too
Chick experiments hint at why eyespots evolved independently in different species. Enlarge / A peacock butterfly (Aglais io) has eyespots on the upper surface of each forewing and hindwing that appear to look you in the eyes—a percep.....»»
Q&A: Holobiont biology, a new concept for exploring how microbiome shapes evolution of visible life
Microorganisms—bacteria, viruses and other tiny life forms—may drive biological variation in visible life as much, if not more, than genetic mutations, creating new lineages and even new species of animals and plants, according to Seth Bordenstei.....»»
Experiments show backyard birds learn from their new neighbors when moving house
Scientists have found a trigger for social learning in wild animals. An experiment on great tits has pinpointed a single factor—immigration—that can cause birds to pay close attention to others, leading them to rapidly adopt useful behaviors......»»
Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX review: too expensive for plastic
Asus finally has a Hall Effect keyboard with the Falchion Ace HFX, but its high price and all-plastic build hold the keyboard back......»»
Teen in critical condition with Canada’s first human case of H5 bird flu
The teen had no clear exposures to animals. No contacts have tested positive. A British Columbia teen who contracted Canada's first known human case of H5 bird flu has deteriorate.....»»
Computational method pinpoints how cause-and-effect relationships ebb and flow over time
A new computational method can identify how cause-and-effect relationships ebb and flow over time in dynamic real-life systems such as the brain......»»
Bioluminescent proteins made from scratch enable non-invasive, multi-functional biological imaging
Bioluminescence is the natural chemical process of light creation in some living creatures that makes fireflies flicker and some jellyfish glow. Scientists have long been interested in borrowing the secrets of these animals' light-producing genes to.....»»
Virtual fruity fly model can simulate sensory navigation
All animals, large or small, have to move at an incredible precision to interact with the world. Understanding how the brain controls movement is a fundamental question in neuroscience. For larger animals, this is challenging because of the complexit.....»»
Saturday Citations: Color vision created demand for colorful animals; observing black hole light echoes; deadlines!
This week, researchers hypothesized that human culture is distinguished from cultures of other species like whales by unique open-endedness—the ability to communicate and understand an infinite number of possibilities. An ancient unicellular organi.....»»
Researchers warn against misusing lack of climate change adaptation measurements to cut funding
The UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku (Azerbaijan) from November 11 to 22, 2024, will also address the sensitive issue of financing adaptation strategies. Prof. Dr. Lisa Schipper from the Department of Geographical Development Research at.....»»
Encouraging quiet during zoo visits might lead to a better appreciation of the animals, say researchers
Encouraging quietness during zoo trips can help visitors better appreciate their inhabitants and lead to more fulfilling, respectful and informative experiences, a new paper argues......»»
Mass Effect TV show in development at Amazon MGM Studios
Amazon MGM Studios is taking a swing at another video game franchise, Mass Effect, to adapt into a television show. .....»»
Amazon’s Mass Effect TV series is actually going to be made
The pedigree of the producers and writers involved is cause for concern, though. Confirming previous rumors, Variety reports that Amazon will be moving ahead with producing a TV s.....»»
The rise of color vision in animals: Study maps dramatic 100-million-year explosion in color signals
Colors are widely used in communication within and among animal species. For example, peacocks proudly display their vibrant tails, adorned with iridescent eyespots, to attract peahens for courtship. This is a classic example of sexual selection usin.....»»
Early Black Friday deals: save up to $300 on every M4 MacBook Pro 14-inch & 16-inch
Early Black Friday deals are in effect on Apple's 2024 MacBook Pro M4, with every configuration — retail and CTO — eligible for a coupon discount.Save up to $300 on Apple's new MacBook Pro M4 - Image credit: AppleUnlock savings of up to $300 off.....»»
Airborne microplastics aid in cloud formation
It turns out microplastics have an effect on the weather and climate. Clouds form when water vapor—an invisible gas in the atmosphere—sticks to tiny floating particles, such.....»»
A causal theory for studying the cause-and-effect relationships of genes paves the way for targeted treatments
By studying changes in gene expression, researchers learn how cells function at a molecular level, which could help them understand the development of certain diseases......»»
Researchers discover genetic reason for the red, yellow and orange bills of Australian finches
What gives an Australian finch its brilliantly colored red, yellow or orange bill? A major new study has uncovered the genetic switches controlling these distinctive colors, revealing a key piece in the puzzle of how animals develop their coloration......»»
Evolutionary anthropologist presents hypothesis about why humans are dominating the world over other animals
Why is human culture—the shared body of knowledge passed down across generations—so much more powerful than animal cultures?.....»»
Australian dragon study reveals surprising link between motor systems control and sleep rhythms
Sleep is one of the most mysterious, yet ubiquitous components of our biology. It has been described in all major groups of animals, including worms, jellyfish, insects or cephalopods, and in all vertebrates, from fish to humans. Common characteristi.....»»
Ancient unicellular organism indicates embryonic development might have existed prior to animals" evolution
Chromosphaera perkinsii is a single-celled species discovered in 2017 in marine sediments around Hawaii. The first signs of its presence on Earth have been dated at over a billion years, well before the appearance of the first animals......»»