Large mammals shaped the evolution of humans in Africa, says ecologist
That humans originated in Africa is widely accepted. But it's not generally recognized how unique features of Africa's ecology were responsible for the crucial evolutionary transitions from forest-inhabiting fruit-eater to savanna-dwelling hunter. Th.....»»
Hubble spots a cluster of emission nebulae within the Large Magellanic Cloud
A bubbling region of stars both old and new lies some 160,000 light-years away in the constellation Dorado. This complex cluster of emission nebulae is known as N11, and was discovered by American astronomer and NASA astronaut Karl Gordon Henize in 1.....»»
Ancient tree resin artifacts provide earliest-known evidence of humans dispersing through the Pacific
Exactly when and how humans dispersed into and through the Pacific remains an intensely debated topic. Previous studies have been hampered by imprecise chronometric dating, making the exact timing and movement of people into the Pacific difficult to.....»»
Fossil hotspots in Africa obscure a more complete picture of human evolution, study says
Much of the early human fossil record originates from just a few places in Africa, where favorable geological conditions have preserved a trove of fossils used by scientists to reconstruct the story of human evolution......»»
This year’s summer COVID wave is big; FDA may green-light COVID shots early
Wastewater SARS-CoV-2 levels suggest the summer surge is high and peaking right now. Enlarge (credit: Getty | Thomas Trutschel) With the country experiencing a relatively large summer wave of COVID-19, the Food and Drug.....»»
The best skills to get first in Black Myth: Wukong
The Destined One has a large skill tree to climb in Black Myth: Wukong. The early skills are the most important for, so we'll guide you on the best ones to get......»»
How "winner and loser effects" impact social rank in animals—and humans
Research has shown that in many animals, the winners of a fight are more likely to win subsequent contests, while the losers tend to lose their following fights. In experiments where male stickleback fish were randomly introduced to another fish, 65%.....»»
Understanding of early life ecosystems sheds light on evolution of life on Earth
With a new understanding of past life on the planet through fossils, a Mississippi State biological sciences faculty member is helping researchers better predict Earth's future......»»
How a mix of old and new techniques produced a superior maize harvest in a dry part of South Africa
New research into rural small-scale farms in South Africa's North West province has found that climate-smart farming techniques lead to a better maize yield, a more regular supply of food for the farmers, and a wider variety of crops......»»
ISP to Supreme Court: We shouldn’t have to disconnect users accused of piracy
Cox tries to get contributory infringement ruling in Sony lawsuit overturned. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Bosca78) A large Internet service provider wants the Supreme Court to rule that ISPs shouldn't have to disconn.....»»
Red colobus are Africa"s most endangered monkeys—protecting them will also safeguard forests
Many people have never heard of a red colobus, yet they are Africa's most imperiled group of monkeys......»»
New analytical tools identify distinct components of dissolved organic matter within the ocean water column
Large quantities of carbon are stored across the environment as naturally-occurring dissolved organic matter. In the ocean, this organic carbon has an average age of thousands of years, but seasonal fluctuations in dissolved organic matter concentrat.....»»
Turning wastewater into valuable proteins with genetically modified yeast
The growing world population means that the environment is under great strain. Agriculture takes up large land areas and discharges nutrients to the surrounding environment. At the same time, there is tremendous pressure on the aquatic environment fr.....»»
An asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs, not a comet, new study finds
Analysis of ruthenium isotopes showed the impactor was a carbonaceous-type asteroid. Enlarge / Artist impression of a large asteroid impacting on Earth, such as the Chicxulub event that caused the end-Cretaceous mass extinction 6.....»»
How researchers reconstructed the ancestor of all life on Earth
Understanding how life began and evolved on Earth is a question that has fascinated humans for a long time, and modern scientists have made great advances when it comes to finding some answers. Now, our recent study hopes to offer new insights into t.....»»
Researchers propose method to manage the invasive weed congress grass
The invasive North American plant species Parthenium hysterophorus, commonly known as Santa Maria feverfew and famine weed, is now present in Africa, Australia, and India, where it is locally known in English as congress grass......»»
California is home to millions of urban trees: What happens when they die?
To stop California's 6 million urban trees from knocking out power lines, crashing through houses, or lying across streets when they die, humans have to intervene......»»
Climate model biases in global monsoon: Insights from interhemispheric energy transport
Global monsoon is a critical component of the global atmospheric circulation system. Variations in summer precipitation over the global monsoon region have large impacts on freshwater resources, which support about two-thirds of the world's populatio.....»»
Historic map reveals how mussel farm is bringing shellfish reefs back to the seabed
The UK's first large scale offshore mussel farm is allowing shellfish reefs to return to parts of the seabed off England's south coast for the first time in up to 150 years, a new study has revealed......»»
International team sequence the world"s largest animal genome: Data help explain tetrapod evolution
Join us as we travel back in time. We have arrived in the Devonian period, some 420 to 360 million years ago. In a shallow area near the water's edge, something happened that would forever change life on our planet: a fish from the class of lobe-finn.....»»
City birds found to be carriers of antimicrobial resistant bacteria
Research led by scientists at the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research at Oxford University has found that wild birds such as ducks and crows living close to humans, for example in cities, are likely to carry bacteria with antimicrobial.....»»