Frogs use brains or camouflage to evade predators
Throughout evolution, prey animals have adopted a range of strategies to evade their predators. But often these elaborate strategies come at a cost. For example, looking out for and fleeing from predators involves a great deal of cognitive capacity a.....»»
Paleontologists discover new predatory dinosaur with a distinctive "eyebrow"
Theropod dinosaurs are one of the most important large groups of dinosaurs, including well-known predators, such as Tyrannosaurus and Allosaurus, as well as modern birds. A variety of theropods are known from the Mesozoic Era, the age of the dinosaur.....»»
Sponges" symbiosis with bacteria helps them store toxic molybdenum to keep predators away, study shows
A new study at Tel Aviv University found that sponges in the Gulf of Eilat have developed an original way to keep predators away. The researchers found that the sponges contain an unprecedented concentration of the highly toxic mineral molybdenum (Mo.....»»
Some solitary mammals have surprisingly social lives: What one researcher has learned from a tiny south African rodent
We probably all know someone who lives a solitary life. But not everyone realizes that there are solitary individuals in the animal kingdom, too. Examples of solitary species are some shrews, and large predators, such as black bears (Ursus americanus.....»»
Findings reveal eurypterids evolved giant size independently at least nine times
Sea scorpions, ancient predators that patrolled Earth's marine and freshwater habitats hundreds of millions of years ago, are the focus of a sizable scientific mystery......»»
Saturday Citations: A rare misstep for Boeing; mouse jocks and calorie restriction; human brains in sync
This week's headlines include the extended sleepover for astronauts in the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, insight into our imitative behaviors, and the Olympic form of mice......»»
Malware-as-a-Service and Ransomware-as-a-Service lower barriers for cybercriminals
The sophistication of cyber threats has escalated dramatically, with malicious actors’ deploying advanced tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to exploit vulnerabilities and evade detection, according to Darktrace. Subscription-based tools su.....»»
Fungi adapt cell walls to evade antifungal drugs
Every year, life-threatening invasive fungal infections afflict more than 2 million individuals globally. Mortality rates for these infections are high, even when patients receive treatment......»»
Ancient Antarctic microorganisms are aggressive predators
In Antarctica there is a small lake, called Deep Lake, that is so salty it remains ice-free all year round despite temperatures as low as -20°C in winter. Archaea, a unique type of single-celled microorganism, thrive in this bitterly cold environmen.....»»
Art of makeup, art of camouflage: Investigating amount and application of makeup for various situational contexts
Makeup is one of the strategic tools for shaping one's image. To what extent can its intensity and form vary depending on the occasion and context? When and why can it be used as camouflage? Researchers from SWPS University attempted to answer these.....»»
Ghosts of species past: Shedding new light on the demise of NZ"s moa can help other flightless birds
New Zealand was once home to giant flightless birds called moa. They had grown accustomed to life without predators. So the arrival of humans in the mid-13th century presented a massive—and ultimately insurmountable—challenge to their existence......»»
The Highly Infectious FLiRT Variants Behind the Summer Covid Wave
The latest dominant Covid variants have stronger infectiousness than their predecessors and the ability to evade vaccine-induced antibodies......»»
Study shows frogs can quickly increase their tolerance to pesticides
Although there is a large body of research on pests evolving tolerances for the pesticides meant to destroy them, there have been considerably fewer studies on how non-target animals in these ecosystems may do the same......»»
Q&A: How can different types of brains bolster startup success?
Associate Professor Carina Lomberg is on a quest to understand the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of entrepreneurs and what shapes their journey. She has found that including neurodiverse individuals in teams that start a company enhanc.....»»
Ladybugs: Understanding the beneficial predators among us
Lady beetles, also known as ladybugs, are distinct, varied and abundant, with approximately 500 species in North America and 6,000 worldwide. Their oval, dome-shaped bodies can be colorful and decorative, but the "lady" designation has nothing to do.....»»
‘Frog Saunas’ Could Protect Species from Devastating Fungal Disease
A low-tech immune boost may help some species of frogs survive a brutal fungal disease that’s already ended 90 species.....»»
Brain size riddle solved as humans exceed evolutionary trend
The largest animals do not have proportionally bigger brains—with humans bucking this trend—a study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution has revealed......»»
Is your coffee "not hot" or "cold"? Observing how the brain processes negated adjectives
Negating an adjective by placing 'not' in front of it affects the way our brains interpret its meaning, mitigating but not entirely inverting our interpretation of its definition. In a study published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, Arianna.....»»
Why do dyeing poison frogs tap dance?
The toe tapping behavior of various amphibians has long attracted attention from researchers and pet owners. Despite being widely documented, the underlying functional role is poorly understood. In a new paper, researchers demonstrate that dyeing poi.....»»
Scientists pit primates against smaller-brained mammals to find out who is the smartest forager
Primates, including humans, have larger brains than most other mammals, but why? Scientists searching for the answer have long followed a trail pointing to diet—specifically fruit—as the reason for why primates evolved larger brains......»»
Ransomware operators shift tactics as law enforcement disruptions increase
Ransomware remains one of the most pressing cybersecurity threats in 2024, with attackers continually evolving their methods to maximize impact and evade detection. In this Help Net Security round-up, we present excerpts from previously recorded vide.....»»