Facial Hair Is Biologically Useless. Why Do Humans Have It?
Pubes protect you; head hair keeps you warm. But beards and mustaches seem to exist for mainly ornamental reasons......»»
The true global impact of species-loss caused by humans is far greater than expected, study reveals
The extinction of hundreds of bird species caused by humans over the last 130,000 years has led to substantial reductions in avian functional diversity—a measure of the range of different roles and functions that birds undertake within the environm.....»»
Genetic database shows some fungal crops became completely reliant on ants 27 million years ago
When humans began farming crops thousands of years ago, agriculture had already been around for millions of years. In fact, several animal lineages have been growing their own food since long before humans evolved as a species......»»
The darker side of human rights for great apes
The Spanish government has announced plans to ban harmful experiments on great apes as part of a wider initiative to give them increased rights closer to the ones humans enjoy......»»
The medicines we take to stay healthy are harming nature. Here"s what needs to change
Evidence is mounting that modern medicines present a growing threat to ecosystems around the world. The chemicals humans ingest to stay healthy are harming fish and other animals......»»
Do coyotes have puppy dog eyes? New study reveals wild canines share dog"s famous expression
New research from Baylor University reveals that coyotes, like domestic dogs, have the ability to produce the famous "puppy dog eyes" expression. The study—"Coyotes can do 'puppy dog eyes' too: Comparing interspecific variation in Canis facial expr.....»»
Study finds Mexican free-tailed bats unlikely to spread Chagas disease in Texas
Bats are widely known around the world for their role in the spread of a number of zoonotic diseases—illnesses that can spread between humans and animals......»»
Snakes in the city: Ten years of wildlife rescues reveal insights into human-reptile interactions
A new analysis of a decade-long collection of wildlife rescue records in NSW has delivered new insights into how humans and reptiles interact in urban environments......»»
"Who"s a good boy?" Humans use dog-specific voices for better canine comprehension
The voice people use to address their dogs isn't just because of their big puppy eyes. Humans slow their own speech when talking to their dogs, and this slower tempo matches their pets' receptive abilities, allowing the dogs to better understand thei.....»»
The evolutionary history of rats has more holes than Swiss cheese, but researchers are trying to close them
Rats and humans have lived together for thousands of years. However, written historical records of rats migrating alongside people are sparse and some are entangled with myth and folklore......»»
SpaceX shuts down launches after problem with Crew-9 mission"s 2nd stage
SpaceX celebrated the first human spaceflight from its Cape Canaveral launch site on Saturday, and while the two humans aboard the Crew Dragon Freedom are safely on their way to the International Space Station, a problem arose with the rocket's secon.....»»
Bears have learned to open doors in California town
Owning a home in Southern California isn't just a dream for humans. Apparently, the bears want in on the market too......»»
Europe en route for moon with new simulator, says astronaut Pesquet
Europe has embarked on the mission to put humans back on the moon with a new lunar simulator launched in Germany, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet told AFP......»»
Scientists uncover a critical component that helps killifish regenerate their fins
Spontaneous injuries like the loss of a limb or damage to the spinal cord are impossible for humans to repair. Yet, some animals have an extraordinary capacity to regenerate after injury, a response that requires a precise sequence of cellular events.....»»
How old is beer?
Humans are no strangers to kicking back with a cool pint of beer. The Ancient Egyptians, for example, had a hankering for beer that was a little bit tart, almost like a modern-day gose, a lemony beer from Germany. Homer, the Ancient Greek poet, spoke.....»»
Can the "hard steps" in the evolutionary history of human intelligence be recast with geological thresholds?
What took so long for humans to appear on Earth? The Earth is 4.6 billion years old, and life began about 4 billion years ago, yet humans—the only intelligent, technological species we know of in the universe—have existed only for the last 200,0.....»»
New study shows that word-initial consonants are systematically lengthened across diverse languages
Speech consists of a continuous stream of acoustic signals, yet humans can segment words from each other with astonishing precision and speed. To find out how this is possible, a team of linguists has analyzed durations of consonants at different pos.....»»
Businesses trying to come clean about their impact on nature can end up concealing more than they reveal
Humans have overfished the ocean, cleared forests, polluted water and created a climate crisis by burning fossil fuels. These actions are affecting biodiversity around the world, from remote islands to our own backyards......»»
This Elegant Math Problem Could Help You Make the Best Choice in House-Hunting and Even Love
Math’s “best-choice problem” could help humans become better decision-makers, at everything from choosing the best job candidate to finding a romantic partner.....»»
We Finally Know Where Humans and Neanderthals Interbred
We Finally Know Where Humans and Neanderthals Interbred.....»»
How humans are affecting the Northern Hemisphere"s wind patterns
The summer of 2024 was the hottest on record and, unfortunately, this came as no surprise. Summers have been getting hotter and drier around the world, including in the Northern Hemisphere, leading to intense droughts and heat waves in North America.....»»